How to Manage Your Music Budget: A Guide for Church Musicians

How to Manage Your Music Budget: A Guide for Church Musicians

It’s a new year and that can mean only one thing: a new budget for your music program!

Most churches run on a January-December fiscal year, which means it's time to pull out your budget worksheets and start fresh.

When you do this, you suddenly remember that budget worksheets are boring, black and white Excel files, with heavy black grid lines, plain font, and pages that run on forever, which sort of puts a damper on the whole happy, fresh-start thing.

Does this sound familiar? If so, I made something for you.

The 5 Best Books I Read in 2021

The 5 Best Books I Read in 2021

Every year in December, I take some time to look back at all the books I’ve read in the past year.

If you know me, you know I always set out with a book list, and then undoubtedly change my mind as I discover books on Instagram, podcasts, and blogs, and as books come recommended by friends.

This year, I read 22 books (not counting the ones I started and didn’t finish).

A Holiday Wishlist for Music Teachers

A Holiday Wishlist for Music Teachers

What would you ask for if you were making a holiday wishlist for yourself as a teacher? New music? Curriculum resources? Piano-teaching games?

Today, I’m sharing a few ideas (and a few things that are on my teacher wishlist!) to help get you started. Enjoy!

10 Supplemental Collections for Intermediate Piano Students

10 Supplemental Collections for Intermediate Piano Students

How can we as teachers add variety and musical interest to their repertoire lists? How can we include more diversity in the composers we choose and the musical styles we teach?

A few weeks ago, I wrote a post with 15 supplemental collections for elementary piano students. Today, I’m sharing my favorites for intermediate students.

How to Write an Annual Report for Your Music Ministry

How to Write an Annual Report for Your Music Ministry

For most churches, January is the start of a new fiscal year, which means it’s almost time for that long-anticipated after-church event that may or may not include finger sandwiches and decaf coffee…

Annual Meeting (and your written annual report).

Today, I’m sharing a few outline ideas for writing an annual report, a simple checklist of things to mention or include, and a few real-life examples for inspiration.

How to Write Your Own Handbell Processional

How to Write Your Own Handbell Processional

Sometimes, it can be hard to find the right piece of music.

In this post, I’ll walk you through the process of writing your own composition, step by step. Let's start with something small — a simple handbell processional.