(Installment #3) “Catholic Hymnals” • Keven Smith
Top 10 Features • “An Ideal Extraordinary Form Hymnal”
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Quick Vocal Tip: Be Breathy, but Briefly
You’ll never meet a serious choral singer who strives for a breathy sound. But a little breathiness in warmups and personal practice can work wonders.
Stress Relief Tip: Let Your Structure Do the Work
When was the last time you gave your muscles permission to relax and let your bones do their job?
Why Are You a Church Musician, Anyway?
(Keven Smith) • Now is the perfect time for us all to stop and reflect on where we came from as church musicians. What was it that first made you interested in singing, directing, or playing the organ?+
Survey Results: Music at the TLM Doesn’t Matter?
In a recent survey, only 3% of young adults said it was music that drew them to the Latin Mass. Find out why that’s great news for church musicians.
Ubi Caritas Goes Viral: My Thoughts
Have you seen the viral video of four men singing Ubi Caritas in a stairwell? Here are some thoughts on this phenomenon.
Two Fast, Easy Ways for Church Musicians to Relieve Stress
One common place for musicians to feel wear and tear is in the neck. Here’s how to release it.
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.
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.