Monday Musical Moment: MMM: There’s something about singing…

Happy Monday everyone!

I hope that the start of the school year has been a smooth and pleasant transition for all those who are taking part!

Today I want to talk a little bit about something I think about a lot these days…singing.

Given my current responsibilities at First UMC, this will come as no surprise as I am fortunate to work with the wonderful singers. Not just in the various choral ensembles here at the church, but also the congregation. As I was describing to a colleague recently, this is a singing church, both for the community both inside and outside of the church walls.

As many of you know, my shift towards the world of leading music in church was relatively atypical. Although I grew up in a small Presbyterian church, most of my training, at least from 6th grade until the end of my Masters in 2015, was dedicated to instrumental music. I always had a strong interest in other styles of music, but my practical training was primarily as a trumpet player, playing in orchestras, wind bands, brass quintets, taking freelance gigs, and most often these days, performing with my trumpet/organ duo. My jump into choir and church music came in late in 2014, while I was playing a gig at Memorial Drive UMC. One of the associate pastors there was appointed to a small church in the Heights, and having heard me play several months earlier, soon after reached out about me becoming their new music director.

Now, I don’t need to tell you how different playing the trumpet and leading, or in this case, building a church music program are, but what I believe strongly, and often write in this column, is that good music is good music. In fact, throughout my time growing and learning about choral and church music, I realized that there is nothing more that ties us together as human beings than singing with one another. Unlike a violinist, pianist, or trumpet player, who uses an external inanimate object to create sound, a person singing uses their own body as their instrument. When we sing, we are giving the most genuine expression of ourselves, and when we sing together, whether in the teens or in the hundreds, there is a unique and organic connection that occurs. There is a bond with the people around you on a deeper level that only happens with singing in groups. Think of the most powerful experiences that you’ve had in your life, and I’d bet there’s at least one group singing experience in there: singing the national anthem at a sporting event, singing at the top of your lungs for hours at a concert with tens of thousands of people, or the last verse of Silent Night with family on Christmas Eve.

When the pandemic began, group singing everywhere seemingly stopped overnight. During those difficult times, I think humanity realized how much we took both being and singing together for granted. The shared humanity of singing together moves and fulfills us, both as a musical expression and an expression of culture around the world. Fortunately, we have moved past the worst phase of the pandemic and singing has returned in full force around the world. I am continually grateful to be back to singing together here at the church, both in the pews and up in the choir loft. (Warning, shameless plug alert!)

If you have ever considered moving your voice from the pews to the choir loft, this is a perfect time to give it a try 🙂 This coming Saturday, we are hosting our Fall choir retreat in the sanctuary from 9am–12:30pm. Our retreats are a time for us to enjoy spending time and singing with each other, and we hope that you can share in that connection with us! If you are not available Saturday, you are more than welcome to come to a rehearsal anytime on Wednesdays from 7–8:30pm.

I feel fortunate to have opportunities like to share a wide variety of music with you through my work at the church and through this column. I always try to share a wide range of genres, styles, and mediums of this amazing art form, but in the end, there’s just something about singing… Here is a moment from our “Feel the Spirit” concert back in May where everyone in the building joined together to have some fun!