School

Music That Nurtures the Soul (Part 2 of 2)

In Part One, I tried to establish that music affects the health of our souls (mind, will, and emotions) for good or ill. The common belief that music is neutral has falsely...

Music That Nurtures the Soul (Part 1 of 2)

The German blitz of London during World War 2 brought fear and uncertainty to Londoners that is unknown to most Americans. They fell asleep at night, not knowing if they would...

The Living Gift of the Congregation’s Songs

Living gifts must be cultivated and nourished. Our congregational practice of four-part, a cappella harmony did not simply appear by magic. Considering a few historical...

Should We Sing a New Song?

Did you know that many of the four-part hymns sung in many conservative Anabaptist meetings today were written between 1725 and 1925? We typically really like them. “Blessed...

Choral Facial Expressions

I enjoy watching and listening to music groups sing. But, without fail, whenever I watch a music group sing, many of them adopt a facial expression not unlike if they had stomach...

Choral Singing Textbook

Have you wanted to learn more about music and what the notes mean? Do you wish you knew why some notes have flags, and some don’t? Do you want to learn about intervals, chords, and more?

Teaching Your Child Music

How can I start teaching my child music? With what do I start and at what age? Here are some tips.

Helping Those Who Sing “Off-tune”

Anytime we respond to someone who says they are tone deaf or can’t carry a tune, we should use language very carefully. For starters,…

Basics of Music: Lesson 6

This video series is designed for anyone who has little to no experience with music.
In the first session, we learn about four properties of sound.

Understanding Key Signature Notation

Key signature notation is a relatively simple skill that can look hopelessly complicated. It is not that tough. It does require some thinking, and always wants a good deal of practice.