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...
The Living Gift of the Congregation’s Songs
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Singing
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...
My Teacher Could Sight-Sing
For my final interview of this type, Adolf Unger talks about how he became interested in music and the influence that music can have. This interview is part of a series of...
I Sing as I Live
I wanted to know what people my age are saying to my interview questions, so I asked my friend Grace Weaver about her experiences with music. This interview is part of a series...
Teach Them to Love It
In this article, Burton Heatwole talks about why he sings with his family. This interview is part of a series of articles on how best to encourage music. Lynn Martin: What’s your...
We Didn’t Sing at All
For this article, I asked my pastor, Kevin Brechbill, about his experiences with singing. This interview is part of a series of articles on how best to encourage music. Lynn...
Music: Where to Start?
This is an introduction to a series of articles on how best to encourage music. “I can’t sing,” my pastor told me. “I wish I could, but I can’t sing a note.” I was surprised. His...
Building Confidence Singing in Church
What are five ways I can build my confidence as a congregational singer? I must sing. It’s what a redeemed person does. I won’t build confidence by only listening to...
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,…