Unslumping Yourself with the King of Instruments
On those days when you can’t quite put your heart into singing, improvising at the organ can be comforting and rewarding.
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Real Life in a Large Church Choir Program (Part IV of IV)
We come now to the final installment in my series on our music program at St. Stephen the First Martyr Catholic Church in Sacramento, California.
Real Life in a Large Church Choir Program (Part III)
Far from being a mere complement to our parish choir, our young Choristers are, quite frankly, its core.
Real Life in a Large Church Choir Program (Part II)
Yes, children as young as seven or eight will focus and listen as you’re teaching them solfege scales, rhythm patterns, beautiful Latin vowels, and more!
Real Life in a Large Church Choir Program (Part 1)
At St. Stephen the First Martyr Church in Sacramento, the road to the choir loft begins at age four and is paved with furry puppets.
How to Get Better at Chant Without Opening Your Mouth
It’s a singular joy to make music, but as we all know, it’s the behind-the-scenes work that makes our rendition of the music truly special—all to the glory of God and the edification of His faithful.
The Fastest, Cheapest, Painfulest Way to Get a Voice Lesson
You know your own sound so well. You know your strengths, and what you need to work on. Why not suck it up and become your own vocal coach for a while?
What to Do When Music Creeps Into Your Prayer
Music is a language, but it does not supplant our own. Rather, it enlivens our words so that they can penetrate the soul with the fullness of their meaning—and enlighten our eyes in any circumstance.
Choir Roster? No. It’s a Love List!
You can form a stronger connection with your choir even while rehearsals are suspended. All it takes is one simple thing that you probably already have.
Bring Your “Lost Motets” to Life
I can think of at least five reasons to use the current downtime as an opportunity to educate your parish about sacred music. And it doesn’t take much work.
What Spilling My Coffee Taught Me About Directing My Choir
Yesterday morning I spilled coffee all over my desk before leaving for our live-streamed Mass. It ended up being a great move.
Maintaining Easter Joy in a Pandemic
Would you believe Easter Monday is usually one of the darkest days of my year?
Keven Smith
Keven Smith is the music director at St. Stephen the First Martyr Catholic Church, an apostolate of the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter (FSSP) in Sacramento, California. He trains and directs a mixed choir that sings full Gregorian propers, ordinaries, and sacred polyphony at more than 100 traditional Latin Masses per year. An enthusiastic teacher, Keven […]