Thursday and Friday

Thursday was "Anton Armstrong Day" in my world. 3 out of the 5 sessions I went to were led by Dr. Anton Armstrong of St. Olaf. I feel much more encouraged as a director because of it, and also convicted on not giving my best to my choirs because I am sitting at the piano accompanying and not freed completely to direct. That's something I am looking to remedy. Friday, was finishing a few children's choir seminars, and heading home. Overall, I feel inspired, encouraged, and challenged. And at the VBS closing on Friday night, I was able to see what happens when delegation happens. I was gone all week, but had planned to be there to lead our closing. Our 2 singers were prepared, did a great job, and because there was a baptism, our pastor led the closing. It was great to stand back, watch, encourage and appreciate! That's what music ministry at King of Kings can look like! One of the great sayings that Michael Bedford shared is that as church musicians, we are working to replace ourselves! By encouraging others, building up those who are all around us, that's the goal! And I am very excited to get to work!

A God-led detour

Yesterday did not go like I had expected or mapped out. But that was alright. In fact, it was better than alright. It was amazing and a tremendous blessing! In the morning, I sat in on how to put on a musical and got great ideas and tips! I definitely think that putting on a musical is something we can do at King of Kings next summer. Of course planning has to start now! But it's within the realm of feasibility! Then I sang through a great number of wonderful children's choir pieces. All the while, I was thinking "these are nice pieces, but why couldn't I write music like this". Why couldn't I? I haven't dedicated the time, that's why. Recently, I've stepped back from writing music because I was spending time analyzing my motivations. Was I writing and submitting to publishers because I wanted to be published, or was I writing to fill a need for King of Kings and a greater need for the church? I hadn't, but my time this week has refocused and recommitted me to it! Then my lunch. That's where things detoured. I had signed up for a lunch to talk about youth choir. The few in there were sharing about their 40 voice choir, or their tours their groups go on. This is not us! Last year, in starting out, we had 5. 5 tremendously talented singers, but you can only go so far with 5 singers, good or bad! So I spoke up, and asked how do you get youth to participate! Not a whole lot of answers, because there really aren't too many, but I got encouragement. Then, afterward, I got to talking with a couple. The husband, David Angerman, is a published composer and is the Music Director at Bethany Lutheran in Austin. His wife directs their youth choir. So we got to talking about being Lutheran, and many other things. And I said that I would love to get together and pick their brains about ideas, resources and get input from them. Next thing I know, we're at Starbucks, drinking coffee and talking for 2 hours! It was fantastic! I'm sure that the 2 seminars I missed would have provided beneficial information, but this was what my heart and my soul needed! It was great! Then, I decided to challenge myself, instead of walking or driving across campus to the organ seminar I had planned on, I went to listen to new piano pieces. One of the things I haven't been challenging myself on is to keep up with playing the piano, outside of accompaniments. So, that was great and beneficial. Then Anton Armstrong. An amazing man, has a great way of making you laugh, but also, has a great way of simply making you as a singer do what he wants you to do. The information I picked up during that rehearsal time I know will be beneficial to me as a director, and as a leader. I can't wait for rehearsals to start to implement it all! So, today (unless detours happen) will be about handbells and children's choir. I can't wait to see what God has in store!

Day 1

Yesterday was absolutely amazing! I have to admit, the "non-Lutheran" tune to the hymn "All Hail the Power of Jesus' Name" is really beginning to grow on me! It was the first hymn last year, and again this year in our worship time. Very majestic and pomp and circumstancy! Our first music reading session had some really great pieces, and it's always neat to hear the composers explain about their pieces. To me, it helps me to understand their mindset in writing it. Then I had a 2 part seminar on preparing for, leading and analyzing a children's choir rehearsal. I have had plenty of opportunities to do many different kinds of rehearsals and children's choir is always the one I feel less competent to do. I think a big part of it is me and my getting myself set back even before I begin. I am seeing how to fix that, and this has me extremely excited to prepare rehearsals for the fall. It's always nice to be away from things and have an opportunity to brainstorm and think. And I had an "a-ha" moment! Since our youth praise band consists of 3, two of them already in youth choir, and 3 others who are interested in participating, but don't want to be in front....why not have the youth choir sing contemporary, traditional and a wide mix of styles? Integrating the instrumental musicians into both styles, and the more I processed it over the night, the more I absolutely love this brainstorm! I am rejoicing that God put it in my head! Today, my first seminar is one how to put on a musical. I can't wait, because as I have been thinking and praying in regard to next summer, along with talking to a few people, I see a musical being the biggest potential opportunity to reach out to the community, doing something radically different, and of course, having a blast in the process! Lots more children's choir stuff today, so I am looking forward to the ideas and resources shared to help make me feel more competent in what I am doing. Then tonight, I'm extremely excited. I get to be led in a choir rehearsal by THE Dr. Anton Armstrong of THE St. Olaf University. He's one of the top directors, so to be able to get input from him will be a tremendous blessing! Well, it's off I go!

Anticipation!

Well, the day has arrived! Last year, I didn't know what to expect, so I was totally blown away! This year, I have an idea of what to expect, but I still know that God will work through the music and the presentations to fill me up, energize and challenge me! The primary things that I am looking for and hoping to get out of this week is ideas and direction to being a better children's choir director, ideas on how to put on a summer musical and publicize and promote events, and how to be a better handbell director, and a director overall. Not a few things, I know. But each one of the seminars that I am targeting will help me focus on these things. My biggest focus is on children's choir, as I still feel that I am learning how to do this, even after 6 years now of time spent directing and teaching children and children's choirs. As I think toward the fall and into next year, though, I am getting very, very excited! I look forward to getting big ideas, sharing big ideas, and seeing how God leads, blesses and directs those big ideas, as I and all involved in the Music Ministry at King of Kings grow in relationship to God, one another, and reach out to the community around us, while growing as musicians! I know that starts with me first and foremost! But more on that later...

A busy week!!

Aren't they all? At least in my life they are seeming to be. This one is a different kind of busy, though. Today (Monday), I head to Lakeway, outside of Austin, to meet with my leadership team for the Central Texas Choristers Guild chapter to do two things. Sign our charter, creating our chapter, and planning for our event in August! I am thankful that God has blessed this, one year in the making! It was a year ago, in talking to the membership coordinator at Choristers' Guild that I brought up this idea and was pursuing it. It's awesome to see! Then, from there, I head to Waco to spend the week shuttling back and forth between my parents' house and Baylor University. I get to have the blessing to be filled with new and exciting ideas, be recharged and reinvigorated to start seriously planning, preparing and setting forth a vision for the Music Ministry of King of Kings for 2011, 2012 and beyond. And if the ideas that I've already had are just a taste of what's to come, I'm excited to see God's hand! Of course, it means time away from my girls and missing our VBS, but I've learned that you can't always be in two places at once! Being in Waco is where I am supposed to be, and I can't wait! Who knows....maybe I'll bump into David Crowder.....probably not. But one can hope! Anyway, keep checking back for stream of thought ideas and things that I will be sharing during the week!