If I sing with beautiful tone and have perfect rhythm, but do not have love for Jesus, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of being able to move the room with my dynamics and my stage presence, and if I have a lot of range and can sing low and high notes with incredible strength, but do not have love for Jesus, I am nothing.
Vocal exercises, like the ones you learn here at Worship Vocalist, are incredible tools—and partnered with diligence, a singer’s ability has the potential to massively grow. But what is becoming more and more unsettling to me as a vocal coach is the major pitfall that can come with having more ability.
Each time the Church is rocked by another scandal or failing, we’re again brought to a place where we have to navigate the emotions of it all. Disappointment, grief, sadness, disillusionment, criticism, indignation, apathy… we all have a response, one way or another. But there is a right way we should respond!
What a journey it’s been as we’ve travelled through these Advent weeks! We’re approaching the crescendo, but just wait… let’s
Years ago, I complained to my vocal coach that my voice did not want to cooperate with me on Sunday mornings when I sang for worship, even though I could sing well in my practice times. On Sunday mornings, my voice would feel tired and groggy, the high notes felt challenging, and I felt, well… frustrated.
Some of our top resources to keep handy when dealing with sickness—whether they’re brand-new or due for a refresher!
Can you imagine being the shepherds in the hills outside Bethlehem that night? Can you even fathom what they felt when their quiet nighttime reveries were interrupted by an ANGEL standing before them, and the glory of the Lord shining around them!?! Luke 2 says they were “terrified”… I’d say!
Peace is the theme of the second week of Advent, and I know that word can mean so many different things today… it brings to mind everything from “wartime ceasefire”, to “absence of conflict”, to “a state of calm and quiet”… not to mention a certain era of history characterized by long hair, tie-dye, flowers, bell-bottoms and drugs.
