Church Music

8 Skills That Set You Apart as a Church Musician

8 Skills That Set You Apart as a Church Musician

A career in church music and ministry requires a variety of skills:

  • Performance skills: playing for worship and accompanying choirs, instrumentalists, and congregational singing. It sometimes includes harmonizing melodies, improvising, transposing, and even composing some of your own service music from time to time.

  • Leadership skills: choosing music that ties in with the rest of the service, perhaps selecting hymns each week, and leading the congregation in song.

  • Educational skills: introducing a variety of musical styles into worship, teaching new hymns or songs to the congregation, and if you’re directing an ensemble, teaching music-reading, rhythm, technique, musical expression, and aural skills.

How Can We Keep From Singing?

How Can We Keep From Singing?

Has there ever been a moment in history when we were told we couldn’t sing?

For centuries (millenniums, even) we as a people have found singing to be a symbol of hope, community, and joy; a tool of reconciliation, justice, and peace. And now, in this season of isolation, we recognize that music can still bring us together even when we can’t be together.

But what about singing?

Now is the time we need music the most. And yet, we’re told that it’s not safe to sing together. That singing poses a greater risk than talking, whispering, or staying silent.

How will we respond to this moment?

Music by Black Composers: Art Songs & Spirituals for Solo Voice

Music by Black Composers: Art Songs & Spirituals for Solo Voice

Over the last several weeks, I’ve been compiling repertoire lists by Black composers for use in worship and sacred settings. So far, I’ve published lists of sacred organ music, 2- and 3-part sacred choral anthems, and SATB sacred choral anthems.

Today, I’m sharing Part 4 in this series: art songs & spirituals for solo voice.

This list includes familiar spirituals and new compositions by composers such as Harry T. Burleigh, Edward Boatner, Undine Smith Moore, Rosephanye Powell, Uzee Brown, Jr., H. Leslie Adams, Florence Price, and many more.

Music by Black Composers: 108 Sacred Choral Anthems (SATB)

Music by Black Composers: 108 Sacred Choral Anthems (SATB)

Over the last few weeks, I’ve been compiling repertoire lists by Black composers for use in worship and sacred settings. So far, I’ve published lists of sacred organ music and 2- and 3-part sacred choral anthems.

This week, I’m excited to share Part 3 in this series: 108 sacred choral anthems for SATB choir.

This repertoire list includes familiar spirituals as well as new compositions by Black composers in the 20th and 21st centuries. You’ll find 40 sacred octavos and links to three SATB collections for a total of over 100 anthems to use with your choir in the future.

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Music by Black Composers: 34 Sacred Choral Anthems (2- and 3-Part)

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Music by Black Composers: 34 Sacred Choral Anthems (2- and 3-Part)

Last week, I shared the first post in a new series I’m putting together this summer: Music by Black Composers: 105 Sacred Works for Organ.

As I mentioned in that post, I believe it’s important to listen and learn from the African-American and Black community during this time, to ask ourselves: Are we honoring all the voices that have contributed to our field? Are we celebrating the diversity of composers in addition to diversity in styles?

If you work with a children’s choir or youth choir or are looking for a few simple pieces by Black composers to introduce to your adult choir in the future, here’s a list of anthems to get you started.

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Announcing the 2020 Summer Session

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Announcing the 2020 Summer Session

Last week marked the end of the school year (and 12 weeks of online teaching) and the start of something new. A simpler schedule, a slower pace, a season to plan and prepare for what’s next.

What is next?

For many of us, there’s still a lot of uncertainty about what the next few months will hold. Will we return to in-person teaching? Will schools and churches reopen? Will it be safe to sing together, play together, be together?

We don’t have the answers just yet. But what we do have is an opportunity to plan and prepare.

Music by Black Composers: 105 Sacred Works for Organ

Music by Black Composers: 105 Sacred Works for Organ

The past few weeks, we’ve been reminded yet again of the racial inequality that has plagued the United States and other parts of the world for centuries.

This week, like so many others, I’m taking some time to read, learn, and listen to the black community and begin the work of change. Here are a few small ways I’m taking action:

  • We donated to an African-American cause we care about.

  • I started reading Blindspot: The Hidden Biases of Good People.

  • We started conversations about racial injustice with friends and family members.

  • I’m spending time researching music by black composers (and women, in particular) to learn more about their contributions to the field.

I started thinking about the repertoire we study, perform, and teach; the composers we study in music history, the music shared in worship, and the musicians from history that we introduce to our students. Are we honoring all the voices that have contributed to our field? Are we celebrating the diversity of composers in addition to diversity in styles?

A partial result of my research is the list you see below: 105 sacred works for organ for use in both worship and recital settings.

Are you looking to incorporate more diversity into your repertoire? Are you looking for ways to feature African-American and black voices in the music you choose?

Perhaps this is a starting place.

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19 Ways to Connect (and Sing!) with Your Choir Virtually

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19 Ways to Connect (and Sing!) with Your Choir Virtually

These are strange times we’re living in.

Who would have thought that we’d find ourselves worshipping through a screen — together, but apart, that congregations would scatter, events would be canceled, and choirs would not be able to sing?

And yet, for the safety of our friends and neighbors and community members, here we are. Each in our own homes, flattening the COVID-19 curve, but missing the connection, the fellowship, the joy that comes with making music together.

I’ve been thinking about creative ways you can connect (and sing!) with your choir virtually and today, I’m sharing a round-up of 19 ideas (for adult choirs and children’s choirs) that you can start using right away.

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22 Creative Ideas for Teaching Music Online (for All Ages)

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22 Creative Ideas for Teaching Music Online (for All Ages)

Like many of you, I’ve been thinking a lot about how to teach music creatively online these past few weeks.

  • What tools work best to facilitate connection, dialogue, and musical experience?

  • What strategies lend themselves best to online teaching?

  • What assignments will foster music-learning during this time?

As many of us are navigating this new territory of learning how to teach online due to the COVID-19 pandemic, I thought I’d put together a master list of ideas for teaching in a variety of settings: church music, community teaching, and K-12 music.

I’m also including a list of tech tools that I’m using personally, have used in the past, or have heard recommended from other music teachers in the field.

Summer Conferences for Church Musicians (2020 Edition)

Summer Conferences for Church Musicians (2020 Edition)

Summer is the perfect time to learn and develop your musicianship skills and catch up on some professional development, don’t you think?

Summer conferences help us stay connected with others in the field; develop new skills (playing, singing, directing, and teaching); be inspired; get fresh ideas for creating meaningful and engaging worship services; and learn about all the latest music releases: choral, handbell, children's choir resources, curriculum, instrumental collections, etc.

Today, I’m sharing my annual round-up of summer conferences and events that are specifically geared toward church musicians, directors, accompanists, choir members, students, worship leaders, pastors, and liturgists (and pretty much everyone in between), including the one I’ll be attending in June.

Follow along with my creative work and daily adventures: @ashleydanyew

Halloween 2024… …The Lion King 🦁 Swipe to see the outtakes, including lion-wrangling and the 20th photo we took before we realized Rafiki had his mask on upside-down. 😂
The October Musician & Co. Book Club pick is… 📘 Hidden Genius: The Secret Ways of Thinking That Power the World’s Most Successful People This book is a collection of stories, insights, and lessons learned from top performers, entr
Meet Jessie Ning - pianist, graphic designer, and founder of @opushaus, a lifestyle brand for musicians. A former Creative Director at TikTok, Jessie combines her extensive background in graphic design and scenic design with her musical talents. I