What influenced you in learning how to sing?
Music education Tuesday, September 29th, 2009
Take this simple poll.
Then, you are welcome to expound further in the comments on my blog, as I’m sure there are multiple factors (answers) for most of you. However, IF you had to pick one answer, which would it be? Thanks for taking the time to visit my new blog home! I pray that these discussions can be both interesting and helpful.
Short URL: http://keithlancaster.com/?p=251
I have to say that family influenced me more than any other, although I could check “all of the above.” I’m sure that many of you have multiple answers, but what was the most influential?
Family, Church, friends and Acappella. It’s really hard to separate the 4. Both of my parents have amazing voices. My mom sang in groups and competitions and has done recording, so I grew up with her singing my whole life. I grew up singing in church and kind of learned to read music without knowing it. I was in chorus after that and learned more part reading and to sing harmony, but I wouldn’t say that chorus was what made me want to sing. To be honest listening to acappella music growing up made me want to sing more than anything else. I remember having a Conqueror’s tape and a Better than Life tape when I was about 4 years old that we would listen to on our way to church. Then when I was about 13 I really got back into listening to Acappella, and started singing with some friends from church. And ever since I have wanted to sing as much as possible haha. There is just nothing as fun as getting together with people and singing, whether it is at church during service, or church camp at midnight after everyone else went to bed, or whatever it is. I really can’t think of many things I’d rather spend my time doing.
I would say it was the gift of God to me, that I wanted to used it and give it back to Him, by singing in worship and semi concerts so others can hear the message of each song, get inspired and encourage that singing praises to God is the most beautiful thing anyone can do.
We love most of your song, and tried to sing it the same way you do.
I was inspired mostly by harmony. I loved the sound of several voices harmonizing to make another beautiful sound. Then I heard Acappella and I knew I wanted to do that.
I love your answer – “Inspired by harmony.” Harmony is beautiful in so many ways and on so many levels. Thanks, Ed.
sitting next to my dad in church…attending the singing class the church had…joining the band, learning music in school…majoring in music in college…and teaching music.
Mike, you are definitely an “all of the above,” which is an answer I could have included on the poll. I’m so impressed by how well you prepared your volunteer singers for previous P&H recordings! You always have them fully ready to be their best and I appreciate it very much. So your answer is family, school, church and more . . . How are things going in Knoxville?
I’d like to hear what “other” means for some of you, as I did not know the best way to represent “other” options in this poll.
Both my parents had excellent voices, and my dad had had formal voice training. Growing up attending Church of Christ services, and sitting between those two good singers, it was as natural as breathing to me to sing out in worship. But at age 28 I was in my first community theatrical production of a musical, and it was that experience that led me to professional voice training for many years. So I guess you could say I had a dual influence of both family and professional.
Mike: “Natural as breathing” – another fascinating answer! I can relate to that. Hasn’t it been discouraging as you’ve had to deal with voice issues? I know through “temporary” loss of my voice how much I miss singing. (And, people tell me I that sing all the time.) I didn’t hear the latest reports on your health? Hope you are doing well. Love the Colorado pics you’ve shared. (Unfortunately, Sharon and I haven’t had time to ride lately – too busy singing!)
Hard to choose between family and church. (I voted “family”.) My dad was a song leader so he would pick out the notes on the piano at home in preparation. I learned alto parts at home on the piano, but practiced singing them with other ladies at church.
Lisa, you are another “more than one answer” person. Thanks for taking the poll. Using the piano can help in ear training, can’t it? But, there’s nothing like worshipping with fellow believers!
Family. During the stage of life when daughters think their mom is surely from the stone age, I was able to accept that my mother had a talent for singing alto; it was rare common ground during those years. I found I could gracefully (and graciously and gratefully) learn from her example. My mom later regained some of her cool status, and I now enjoy blending my voice with my teenage daughter’s, who is an incredible soprano. God is awesome.
Terry, that is amazing how those stages and cycles work! Most parents can relate. Thanks for sharing, and yes, God is awesome!
Tough to choose between family and church. Music was just a part of my life; I don’t even remember “learning” to sing. It was just a natural extension of being in my family and in my church.
I can relate, Karen. It’s kind of a “from the cradle to the grave” experience. I always sang to my children from their birth forward (actually, even before.)
I am so moved by your testimony. Would you mind if I shared your message with others on my blog? I’m touched by how the songs ministered to your life in such a powerful way!
Long ago, I found a strong influence to sing, and especially to lead singing.But that was when I was in my younger teens. Since, I haven’t been associated with a church that placed that much emphasis on singing. It tends to only be stressed only insofar as the IM question is considered, which is most unfortunate.
Doug, it sounds like you miss the singing emphasis. I’m of the opinion that singing in worship services should NOT be reserved for the most gifted musicians, but that everyone should be encouraged to join the music of the universe!
Keith…I believe you are right. The gifted ones can do a great job of guiding the less gifted along so that we can lift our voices in harmony one with another. What I’ve learned, though, it that it takes the gifted ones to facilitate it. Gifted song leaders can conduct masterful worship where the congregation might not consist of the the most talented singers. But bad songleaders cannot lead in such a way as to promote moving praise!
My bad. In the poll, I clicked “church.”
Hi Keith, interseting question. As many have stated “many influences”, I can say w/ confidence that hearing and singing w/ my family was by first and biggest influence in the beginning. School helped but didn’t really inspire. Church, worship/groups were the 2nd.
And boy DID you ever learn how to sing! Give me a link to your web site so others can check out your music. You remind me of a recent discussion with my friend, Dan, and I have had re: having passion for what you do. Hope things are going well in Houston.
Keith,
i grew up in the coC, and the worship leader i mentioned on Your FB the other day was the main influence on me musically. i say that, but what i mean is the way he facilitated several things: 1) excitement, enthusiasm, & joy while singing; 2) excellence – he used to yell at us (encouragingly) while we were worshipping if he felt we were short-changing the LORD or each other; 3) fellowship – for him it was all about doing something together to honor the LORD; 4) unity – he was convinced that the act of singing together was part of our “endeavoring to preserve the unity of the Spirit;” and 5) skill – he would walk up and down the aisles and “mix” the sound by looking at the youth group and putting up 1, 2, or 3 fingers to the boys…which meant for all of us (or sometimes specific ones) to switch between alto (1), tenor (2), or bass (3) parts. This was particularly helpful on days when all the bass singers were gone to softball tournaments, because we basically only sang Stamps Baxter songs with lots of alto, tenor, or bass runs.
Also, my parents sang but weren’t very talented, although my mother did help teach me. However, they were big influences in two ways: 1) they enjoyed singing and participated fully (this taught me a lot about the “heart” issue – even if You aren’t a talented singer) and 2) they ALWAYS had Merle Haggard, Johnny Cash, George Jones and the like on in the car and also exposed me to The Eagles. What more do i need to say? The Eagles – as good as music has ever been anywhere at any time….
Love to Ya, friend….
Thanks for sharing, Shane. I LOVE the description of the worship leader you mentioned and his goals. Also, I’d like to hear more about the 1, 2, 3 finger signals – - sounds pretty advanced to me?
It was very simple, actually. He had a singing class @ 5:00 PM every Sunday evening (which led up to the normal 6:00 PM Sunday evening service). He used the Singing Class: 1) to teach new songs (so he could then have a core group to introduce them to the congregation on Sunday mornings); 2) to teach us music (i.e., shape notes, time sigs, note identities, work on voice sections with new songs (the class sat arranged by the four voice parts), etc. – a real music class); and 3) to immerse people in a singing culture.
So, when a young boy would come (which the whole church encouraged, by the way, from a very, very young age – usually about 5 or 6), Harrell would put him in between a couple of the ladies who sang alto (to match the young boys voice – and also let him sit beside pretty ladies that would take care of him and make him feel welcome and comfortable – very motherly. This also often came with the perk of getting to first eat whatever dessert these ladies had personally brought – LOL). The ladies would be on either side and sing the alto part into his ears and show him how to read music (to reinforce the music lessons Harrell was teaching). Eventually, as the boy’s voice matured over the years, Harrell would move him between guys singing tenor and then in between old guys singing bass. i still remember sitting between the town judge and a retired guy watching them teach me bass parts.
Over time, the boy (by high school) would know how to sing alto, tenor, or bass parts. Alto was 1 finger, Tenor was 2 fingers, and Bass was 3 fingers. So, if Harrell noticed from his perspective up front “leading” the singing that a particular voice part was weak that day (and the singing class hadn’t already noticed and fixed it themselves by some of them switching parts – we were considered “the worship team” and intentionally spread out over the sanctuary), he would just point at You (or a group of two or three of You) and hold up a finger. And You just started singing whatever part he told You. He was the first sound engineer with whom i worked – LOL.
Does that help? i want to emphasize the power of sitting between beautiful women (old or young) and getting to eat dessert first. Severely underrated….
I was part of a youth group chorus back in the late 40′s/early 50′s. The leader was the son of our minister who came from a very musical family. We practiced every Sunday afternoon before the evening service. it was a great time of learning new songs as well as practicing the beloved songs of our youth. The new song I remember best was ‘My God and I’. It will always be a favorite. Every time we sing those songs today I am still drawn to those early experiences. Many of this group get together for a reunion every other year; our most recent one was Sept. 9-11. The bond we formed so many years ago is still very strong, even though our lives have taken some of us in different directions.
JoAnn, I really long for more churches to re-establish special singing times, singing classes and activities. I join you in your fond memories of singing with church groups and bonding in song and worship. As you mentioned, that bond is still strong today!
i agree, Keith & JoAnn. The best part of our singing class was laughing together – which we did A LOT! we had so much fun and it was so multi-generational. It was one of the very best experiences of my Lifetime, and i miss it greatly….
I confess I wonder if I would be singing if it weren’t for sitting by my father and trying to mimic his tenor singing — and his regular songleading.
That’s how I learned, David. I remember my dad, grandfather and brother leading singing.
My 6th grade choir teacher when auditioning for a solo on Jingle Bell Rock. She was a great, dramatic African American woman who told me not to hide what gift God gave me from the world, because they need to hear it.
I was profoundly influenced by school teachers. Need to post about that later. Thanks for sharing Drew!
My mom and family taught me to sing, but then again I guess the ability to sing well and “hear” music is God given,, they just gave the earliest outlet to develop it.
My biggest influence in learning to arrange harmonies was probably you Keef. I remember hearing all this music trapped inside my head as a late teen and struggling to translate it to others. Then, one day I listened to the Sweet Fellowship TAPE at Lifeway and going “Thst’s it… that’s the music I am hearing in my head”.
I picked every song apart, ans once I learned each part, I taught them to my singing buddies.
As they say it was all downhill from there.
I’m honored, Rob, that you would say that! And yes, all music is God-given. Are you still active in recording and in singing? Hope you are doing well, and it’s so good to hear from you.
My Jr. High teacher…she was awesome and taught me sooo much. My Freshman High School teacher would be next. Not many kids liked him because he was hard and made you learn sharps/flats etc. but I loved him. He was one of my favorite teachers. My parents couldn’t carry a tune and didn’t sing out too much.
I’m so glad your Jr. High teacher encouraged you. I know of no one who sings with more gusto than you! And if everyone followed your lead, then vibrant congregational singing would abound everywhere. Your parents didn’t sing out? You sure changed that trend, didn’t you? Tell brother Al we said hello.
Since I didn’t grow up regularly attending church, elementary & middle school music teachers were my primary motivator. Youth choruses prepared me to read & understand music before beginning my band career through college. Growing up in a denominational setting, most of the singing was done by a choir, soloist etc. Congregational singing was basically melody only with piano & organ making up the difference. All of you who grew up singing a capella should feel so blessed by the heritage you have and the wonderful congregational singing you experienced through the years.
Tim, it saddens me to see schools cutting their music programs. Singing in chorus is a valuable experience all the way around. Thanks for sharing.
Well Tim,that makes like 2 of us.no singing in middle school and congregational singing was just by choirs.but thank God for junior high where the senior students did all to make me sing.my parents sing well,but they barely do now.
Now,i’ve been through 3 acapella groups,and some songs we sing are borrowed from Acappella.Thanks Keith.u guys have been a great inspiration too,and I just pray we’ll be able to take this to our congregations.
God bless
Church most definately. Being in band at school taught me how to read music and learn parts. Singing in church afforded the opportunity to live it out. Ralph Casey came to our church and really spurred us on to sit together and learn our parts from one another. When all the parts were sang, the music was inspiring. But as for other in the poll, I think the music of my day helped as well. Music was arrainged for harmonies in the late 60′s and early 70′s. People listened to the Carpenters, CSNY, Eagles, ect not really for the music but the harmonies in the arrangements.
Ralph Casey came to my home congregation more than once in West Tennessee. He made a serious impact on the singing of our congregation. And yes, Mark, I loved growing up in a harmony-centric era of pop music.
I kept on loving music in spite of Ralph Casey back in the early 70s and his “singing emphasis” workshop. He belittled a 12 year old boy multiple times while “teaching” him how to lead singing. Of course that was more in the day of ramming teaching of any type down peoples’ throats, without compassion. But to this day I have not led singing since that day. Thanks Ralph. You’re a real prince.
I believe that God has blessed me with the ability to sing and has called me to use my voice for His glory and service. I started singing around the age of 15, when I started leading singing for my congregation. At that time, the congregation encouraged me in my singing. Another influence in my singing was Ray Walker. I attended his singing workshops at the Spiritual Growth Workshop in Orlando during the mid-1980′s. His singing and leadership was exciting, inspiration, and informative and his friendship at that time had a powerful influence in my singing. My first experience singing in an organized choir at Troy University was another influence on my vocal education. I learned a great deal about the voice during my tenure in the Troy Collegiate Singers. Now, one of the strongest influences on my continuing vocal education is the work I do as the worship leader for my congregation and for my week of summer camp at Central Florida Bible Camp. I work on learning new songs and training my voice so I can be as prepared and vocal healthy as possible for these events.
Your message, Lawrence, shows again the need for more inspiring leaders and for training. Yes, singing in choir is a great experience for anyone who wants to learn more about singing and blending. Glad you are remaining active and influencing others.
Keith,
Thank you for your encouraging words. I wholeheartedly agree with your remarks about the need for strong leadership and musical training in the body of Christ. I was given an opportunity by the Bartow church of Christ to conduct a singing workshop, which involved training for all the song leaders and congregational training. This opportunity came through my friend with whom I direct camp each summer that I’ve known for years. The song leaders were engaged in the classes and learned a lot of material on in a relatively short time. The congregational training focused on reviewing songs they knew and teaching new songs. The congregation did a good job learning the new songs. They want to have another training before the end of the year, which I am excited about. I hope this workshop will be the first of many that I can do for congregations in my part of Florida. I would like to ask you to pray that more training opportunities will be given to me so that I can share God’s passion for singing with the body of Christ. I would like to thank you for your leadership and inspiration that you have shared with the body of Christ throughout your career. Your passion for acappella music, singing for the Lord, and teaching others is raising the worship of God in song to the level of importance it (and He) deserves.
I think there should have been an option to vote for Acappella/Acappella Children! I think a great deal of my ability to hear harmonies came from all the years as a child that I wore out all my Acappella Childrens albums!
Since my jr high days I’d be singing along to the radio but I was playing the saxophone in school. It wasn’t until my junior year of high school that I got into vocal music training. After trying out I was placed in the Acappella Choir which helped give me some foundation and helped me learn to harmonize. My ear was always good but this helped me read notes better. During that class (1991)I was given a tape by a class mate “Acappella Conquerors”. I was amazed at the music and I was never the same musically. I then went to the christian store and got as much Aca Company music as I could. Acappella, AVB, Aca Series stuff. I listened and sang along with the music everyday. All of those vocalists over the years helped me fine tune and create my own vocal style. Keith, you, George P., John K. Green, Wayburn, Aaron Herman, Rob C. Guy, Brian Randolph, Steve Reischl, Duane Adams and Andrew Mc Neal have all helped mold me in some way. Thank God for all the talented Vocalists that have graced the ranks of TAC.
i learned by sitting next to a lady, who sang alto that was easier on my lower voice to sing and so pretty. i then gravitated to low and high tenor as the song leaders sometimes wandered astray in pitch!
i did go to a shaped note singing school about 25 years ago, and learned the notes that still help me today. alas, the congregation i am at now does not like the older songs, and some members think when we try to sing the right notes, etc we are not singing with spirit! i say we can do both. i will continue to sing and encourage my family to sing and go to singings whereever they are are close to me. went to diana tn singing recently with about 30 people from my home congregation. 4 part singing is still alive when you can get 30 to drive 600 miles, sing all ngt and drive home the next day. i encourage everyone to seek out those who love to sing and have home singings, where it is easy to share info with other like minded. if we do not, then this new contemporary unison sound will continue to infiltrate the church and 4 part singing will disappear. thanks to Keith L and others, we will all do our part whereever we live.
Judy, I learned by sitting next to someone and hearing the harmony as well. I’ve heard my share of song leaders “wandering astray in pitch!” Shaped notes can be helpful to those who take the time to learn them. I agree with you that we can sing in the Spirit and be literate musically. Attending singings can further encourage the four-part harmony tradition. Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
My MOM said I sang my first words by listening to the Radio. The first solo that I sang was at age 5–The Chimes of Times. I loved listening to male quartets and the parts I memorized. MY Parents sang songs together as we traveled. I sang in chorus in school, a capella at church and learned to sing by ear and the shaped notes.
I learned to express God’s word and that I could memorize almost anything in song. Someone told me that you could put almost anything into song with the tune, When Johnny Comes Marching Home. It became so interesting that I started looking up all scriptures in the Bible that had the words “sing” “song” and realized how important it was to God.
Great point, Linda – singing is very important to God!
Hi Keith, I voted for church, but it has been so much more than that. God has surrounded me with music from the time of my childhood. My mom’s side of the family are all very gifted musically. I can’t remember a single Christmas at my grandparents’ house when I wasn’t listening to my uncle Vic play beautiful improvised Christmas songs on the piano. I was blessed to grow up in a church that was small enough that once a month we had a “singing night.” The congregation requested songs out of the hymnal or devo song folders (this was before projector screens) and then our song leader would take names of volunteers for leading songs. We would have kids as young as 8 or so “leading” the congregation in familiar songs. Of course the regular song leader would jump in as soon as the first quivering note was heard so that the child would not be stranded by himself, but it was a great experience for me as a kid and as a teen. All through high school I sang in an a cappella quartet called Dayspring which has since become a southern gospel trio. We are now singing nearly every weekend and though I am unable to regularly attend my home church on Sundays I have pretty much been unofficially drafted as the official Wednesday night song leader. In college I majored in “Record Industry” and during that time God opened my mind to the world of songwriting. When it comes to music and singing the biggest blessing I’ve received has not been a voice or singing skill. As a singer, I’m mediocre at best. It isn’t the songwriting. None of my songs would ever make it on the charts. It’s not the audio engineering, I’m not particularly good at that either, but God saw fit to immerse me in music. Music has always been around me and has always had a direct link to my spiritual life. Through the course of my life, God used the sounds around me to develop a passion and drive to create music and it is that blessing that I am thankful for every single day!
P.S, Dayspring is looking for original material and I am in the process of contacting every songwriter I can find in search of demos. I don’t know if you still do any writing or if you have any old stuff that never got released, but if so I’d love to hear from you.
Singing is only a means to express oneself.I feel that one should try to express his or her feeling from the deep corner of their heart then only one can produce a beautiful song.
I voted church, because while I was inspired to sing by both church and family, I believe my parents were inspired by church to emphasize music and singing in our home. I began singing along at church as a toddler, and eventually studied music and voice at the college level.
I voted family, however, church and school were big factors. I’ve sang ever since I can remember. My mother always encouraged me when I was little. I would always pick on my grandparents piano when we visited them, learning notes, etc. Had violin lessons in elementary and junior high. Had glee club in jr high and high school. Participated in Community Choir. I’ve always loved learning new music and doing the best I can. However, when singing church hymns as a youth, my soul would always be touched and inspired by the words I sang. I love the harmony of good singing. I would learn to sing the high tenor sometimes just for a more beautiful sound in the harmony at church. I grew up in a church that believed in teaching singing classes for the congregation to better help the worship services. Charles Kelly is one of the best song directors I’ve sang with. His encouragement when I was a teenager to sing with a group for different occasions, such as weddings, funerals, fellowship gatherings, etc., inspired me to want to be my best, as well. Church has been my life. I found a wonderful outlet for my singing when I discovered the Sweet Adelines, women’s barbershop, four-part harmony, accapella! Yea! A place to sing without musical instruments to distort the sound of our voices, a place to get more education in the art of singing and blending and harmonizing and creating beautiful music with our voice instrument. I learned so much from them. Passion! That’s it. I have a passion for singing, because music can touch one’s soul more than anything, I believe. Singing praises to the Lord, with the heart and understanding and making a joyful noise unto HIM – well, that’s what it is all about. In Jan. 2010, Keith will be at our congregation in Muskogee to hold a workshop. I am so excited about this. I would love for our congregation improve and learn more songs regarding praise and honor to our Lord in the services. I miss singing with a group at this time, but Lord willing, an opportunity will present itself soon.
I am lucky enough to have been a part of this twice in my life. Once in Orlando as a child – Bert Harvey – who taught our congregation! and just this last weekend with Keith. Though I love all styles of music – something about the harmony when praising our God can send chill bumps down your spine, put a tear in your eye, and a song in your heart for days to come. Thanks Keith, and to those who lead us to worship God and Jesus in this way.
Good question Keith!
Singing was never really an option. It was like breathing. It wasn’t something I thought about: I just did it because everyone around me did it! My mother and my sister (father to a lesser degree) were always singing. I sang with them, trying to pick up the tenor part, and we would have a ball. My older sister’s boyfriend thought we were freaks because we would all be riding in the car and start to spontaneoulsy harmonize! In fact, it wasn’t until I was 8 or 9 years old that I realized that everyone COULDN’T sing! A few of my cousins are tone deaf, and when I was standing beside them singing one day, I couldn’t figure out why that horrid sound was coming from them. I thought they were trying to be funny. It was funny in the first verse, but now it was annoying! I said, “Quit playin’ and sing right!” They looked rather hurt and said, “I am.” Oh…
As I grew and learned to play piano, I started directing choirs and writing for them. I love to hear choir harmony. In college I sang “High” music, (Bach, and those dudes) but I didn’t really learn to love vocal harmony until I started listening to Acapella. The simple harmonies were enough, but all the counter stuff behind still holds me today. ACMS was one of the best times of my life.
After doing a short internship down there, I’ve been ruined. What can I say? I can’t listen to any other a cappela group without comparing them to THE Acappella.
So I guess family is the first influence and church is a strong second. (The Monkees and The Sound of Music are up there too!)
Bye now. And thanks, Keith.
I was at high school and one of the prefects chose me to sing a song water from the well as i was tiny and my voice was smooth..at that time i just sang because i was just told to by someone who had authority over me..
But when i finished my Cousin who had a group sang for me the songs like Abba Father,Rescue,Act of God to mention but a few…i was so touched by the voices and harmonies there…from there onwards i have been singing with a group Bridge Five which is in Zimbabwe..Acappella touches our souls and hearts although the group is facing difficulties to record because of lack of sponsorship…
Acappella taught me how to live in christ..right now Acappella is my mentor…I love you Keith…thank you for the music…and please help struggling groups in Zimbabwe…
Thank you and God Bless…
My earliest memories of singing include the Sunday School songs at Concordia Lutheran Church here in Crosby, ND. It was also where I picked up my ability to sing alto, sitting next to my mom! So family factors in there, too. During my high school years we had a group that gathered on Wednesday nights at the church (“Folk Group” we called it) to sing to the tune of two guitars. . .don’t think we had hardly heard of your kind of music back then! We shared often in church and developed close friendships that exist to this day. The exciting thing is, behind it all, is God doing the directing!!
Diane – your brownies are an Acappella classic! I love the ways of small town America. However, having lived in Nashville and now getting to experience Tulsa, I’ll have to say that I’m spoiled to having all the conveniences of larger cities. It’s just a plus when the more urban areas can have a good supply of friendly drivers.
Both of my grand fathers sang in a quartet together. My father and uncle sang together in a quartet. So, I learned to sing all four parts (and more) listening to them. But my mother really got me started by singing alto in my ear while I sat on her lap.
I cannot imagine an hour passing without having music in my head and heart.
The downside is that I cannot stand it if the refridgerator kicks on along side the microwave, because they are not in the same key.
What a wonderful sound it will be when all of God’s singers get home and sing the song together!!
I am blessed beyond words.
Like many of you, I constantly struggle to find an outlet for singing.
God, I pray that we all leave this legacy to our children.
An addition: I love the picture at the top of this page. It reminds me of the incredible responsibility that we have to our children. They are watching and listening! I wish I could do better at keeping this at the front of my mind and heart each day. HOW WILL THEY ANSWER THIS SAME QUESTION YEARS FROM NOW?
When my voice started to deepen, I lost a lot of my interest in singing. My mother tried to influence by playing Statler Brothers or Oak Ridge Boys; however, being a fan of Petra and KISS (never figured out how I liked those two at the same time), I would tune out her country meddlings, lol. Around 85 or so, my grandfather pointed out that Elvis had some depth in his voice, as well as some of the great music of Motown. Then in 86, I started attending service at the Piketon (OH) Church of Christ. Talk about an awakening. I was hearing the power of the voice for truly the first time. I remember hearing the high soprano of Billie Horn. I thought to myself that I wanted to be able to at least sound acceptable with her beautiful voice. She may have been one of the elder ladies in the congregation, but her voice transcended the generations for me. From there, I would go on to meet Rodney and Wes and learn some bass “secrets” that I still remember. But most of all, I can still hear Billie singing with all of heart and making a joyful noise unto the lord (and a young 16 year old’s ear).
I loved singing as a kid at school. But I never really sang much at all until I became a Christian. I still love to listen to Ray Walker sing and use him to teach myself. Its great when one sings to hear your voice blend with everyone else.
I think to many don’t see singing as important as the sermon. Though we honor God in giving a sermon and learning in class, singing is worship. Literally, to sacrifice the feelings of our heart to God. Happy or hurting, I always enjoy engaging in worship more than listening to a sermon. Though both have there place.
And I think singing is a much under rated tool for evangelism. It is one thing to sit and listen to a CD, it is an entirely different experience to join in with the congregation in the unity of song.
And I am the only Christian in my family, so singing is important to me to for that reason. Its the one activity in worship where I do not have to sit quietly and be lead, but can engage and be active with the whole body at the same time. Thats something I can’t do at home, being a single Christian.
My Grandfather taught music all of his life, most was church music. In his later years his voice was not strong. He had quit playing the piano. But just before he died. He sat at the piano and played the “City of David” singing to the top of his lungs. Not a note missed. A great inspiration. Unfortunately for me I am losing my hearing and music does not hold the magic that it did. It has become one big flat note. But God hears me! I sang opera for several years and played in the OKC Symphony but all that is gone. I try any time I can to encourage the young to keep it up.
It sure as heck wasn’t Ralph Casey. He did more damage to me when at 12 years of age I endured his harsh criticism when trying to learn how to lead singing in worship which, I remember well, started before I even said a word in front of the people. He criticized the way I held my hand, the way I announced the hymn number, the way I stood and the way I sang. I was so embarrassed and humiliated I have never led singing again. In my opinion Ralph Casey was a blow-hard, self-serving, charlatan, and should be kept away from training young boys how to lead. I have a Yorky who could teach better music than Ralphy.
My experience with Ralph Casey was very positive, as he was effective in working with the entire congregation — even introducing music fundamentals to non-musicians, which is one of the objectives of my workshops.
Keith I think it would be very enjoyable and beneficial to attend one of your workshops. As I’ve followed your career, and seen you in person, your compassion for people and passion for music is very obvious.
I grew up in the Catholic church and still remember people in the aisles around us turning and looking strangely at where my family stood. My father would always find a tenor harmony, my mother the alto, and the kids would sing soprano (4 of us at the time). My dad sang in barbershop, where I learned some of my music and furthered my love for harmony. School chorus gave me opportunities later, but it was when I gave my life to Christ and started singing with brothers and sisters that all that harmony poured out of my heart and made sense.
I try to get members in the Netherlands to sing in the Spirit AND learn some basics. As one of the previous comments mentioned, our singing time (first Wednesday of the month) is a time of fun, fellowship and learning that is intergenerational (and in our case also multicultural). I would be interested in some good ways to teach the basics to people who have never heard or sung harmony. I love the idea of the ladies on either side, but you have to have at leasttwo ladies. Have any of you started out with nothing? How did you handle that?
Above all, harmony, seeing and hearing brothers and sisters singing with their hearts (and them realizing that they are SINGING) is such a joy! Thanks for a legacy of harmony.
Church was no doubt my single biggest influence. The addition of playing in band throughout school brought it all together for me, in terms of theory. Some of my best memories of learning to sing and lead worship came from two summer trips from Colville, Washington to Peach Valley, Texas when I was 13 and 14, to listen and learn from Holland Boring Jr and Sr at the Foundation School of Music.
My mom, definitely! A beautiful alto, she could sing all four parts, and did while she made biscuits, washed dishes, got ready for school. Verse 1=soprano, verse 2=alto, verse 3=tenor, verse 4=bass. For songs that did not have 4 verses, she simply started other. She and her 3 sisters had a quartet when they were young, and they all had multiple copies of hymnals which were usually dragged out within the first half hour of our visits. I learned the words and harmonies to song that probably haven’t been sung since the 60′s. (And I’d love to find “It’s an Unfriendly World.”) Our congregation was small and not particularly musical, but when I got to college and heard all those voices singing beautiful harmonies, wow! I majored in music and now teach piano and voice, both in singing workshops with Wiley Dean, and to private pupils. I have found that most people can sing much better than they think they can, if only they are shown how and encouraged to let their voices out of their bodies. What a joy it is to see someone’s face light up when s/he first hears the voice s/he has been holding back, in case someone else should hear! I know that God is a heart judge, not a music jury, but how pleased He must be to hear when we learn to use what He gave us!
I was wondering Keith-is it possible to invite you over to Cameroon for some lessons on music,harmony and worship?
Simply put… my father. My dad was a song leader growing up (he still is back in his home congregation). Growing up people often commented how beautifully my dad could sing. We would hear stories of his performances in high school and of his many performances in school musicals. The house was filled with his influence of music. So when the chance came to join a young 6th grade choir, I joined and never looked back. My choir directors where my dad’s choir directors until I reached high school. From there the world of music was further opened up! I studied music, played piano, taught piano, joined musicals, joined show choirs, competed, and took whatever classes I could. I wanted to minor in music college but God had different plans. Imagine my shock now as adult, when I found out only a few years ago, that my father can not even read music!
I love that man!
— Sarah