New Online Course! Basic Rudiments

Just wanted to let you know about a new course I'm offering beginning in January. The online format may allow students to participate from home that wouldn't otherwise be able to fit it into their schedule. This class is open to all of North America, in case you know of some student stranded in some outpost without a music theory teacher. Feel free to pass this post on to anyone you think may be interested.

Basic Rudiments Class

Covering the requirements prescribed by RCM Examinations and the National Music Certificate Program. Please note that this examination is a co-requisite for the RCM/NMCP Grade 5 practical examination.

This online class, featuring live audio/video interaction, will run from January 16 – May 7^th, 2008 with the expectation of the student registering and completing the RCM/NMCP Basic Rudiments examination on May 10. Students are welcome to participate without the intention to complete the examination, but no credit can be earned toward any certificate program without completing the examination. This class will be taught by Scott Ashby, A.R.C.T., B.Sc., M.Mus. Scott has successfully guided many students through the RCM rudiments requirements. Classes are 1 hour in duration and scheduled for Wednesdays at 8:30pm EST.

Technology Required
Computer
High-speed internet connection
Microphone/speakers(and/or optional webcam)
Access to fax machine or scanner for submitting assignments
Valid email address

Tuition per student

$295 (Canadian dollars) due January 15 payable by major credit card*

*rate is dependent on minimum enrollment of 4 students.

Textbooks Required (may be purchased through Ashby Musical Enterprises or through your local music store)

Keyboard Theory: Basic Rudiments

v by Grace Vandendool

v Published by Frederick Harris Music

v $18.95 + tax

v required beginning January 16

Basic Rudiments Official Examination Papers

v 2005 Edition

v $7.95 + tax

v required beginning April 16

Other Fees

Basic Rudiments Examination Fee

v $86 Canadian payable online to www.rcmexaminations.org prior to
March 4

or

v $74 U.S. payable online to www.nationalmusiccertificate.org prior to March 4

To register or inquire, please email lessons@ashbyme.com.

At a Solemn Music

Thanks to Dr. Kevin Bauder for pointing me to this work. Not reading Milton on a daily basis, it took me a few reads, but it's worth it!

At a Solemn Music

John Milton (1608-1674)

Blest pair of Sirens, pledges of Heaven’s joy,

Sphere-born harmonious sisters, Voice and Verse,

Wed your divine sounds, and mixed pow’r employ,

Dead things with inbreathed sense able to pierce;

And to our high-raisèd phantasy present

That undisturbed song of pure concent,

Aye sung before the sapphire-coloured throne

To Him that sits thereon,

With saintly shout, and solemn jubilee,

Where the bright Seraphim in burning row

Their loud uplifted angel-trumpets blow,

And the Cherubic host in thousand choirs

Touch their immortal harps of golden wires,

With those just Spirits that wear victorious palms,

Hymns devout and holy psalms

Singing everlastingly:

Thus we on earth with undiscording voice

May rightly answer that melodious noise;

As once we did, till disproportioned sin

Jarred against nature’s chime, and with harsh din

Broke the fair music that all creatures made

To their great Lord, whose love their motion swayed

In perfect diapason, whilst they stood

In first obedience, and their state of good.

O may we soon again renew that song,

And keep in tune with Heaven, till God ere long

To His celestial concert us unite,

To live with Him, and sing in endless morn of light.

A Test Post

This is a test post. I'm experimenting with Scribefire, which is a Firefox add-in. It works pretty slick. I can pull up an edit window within Firefox and quickly "fire" off a post to my blog.

Pleasing God in our Worship: A Review

Godfrey, Robert. Pleasing God in our Worship. Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 1999. 48 pages. $5.45.

While preparing for a series of adult Sunday School lessons on the subject of Worship and Music, this small booklet was brought to my attention. As I read it, I noticed a distinct difference between this book and others I have read on the subject. I have many books on my shelf decrying the dangers of rock music in the lives of Christians, calling for attention to be paid to the state of music in today’s churches, etc. While I agree with most of the conclusions that those books state, their presentation sometimes grieves me.

Frequently, books on this subject commit the error of circular reasoning, assuming the conclusion to be true before beginning to reach that conclusion logically. Other times, the tone of the writing comes across more like a rant than a well-defined argument. In my opinion, a rant gains little credibility with those whom we disagree.

Pleasing God in our Worship, however, is different. Tackling music only as a subset of worship, it lays a theological groundwork before making applications. Chapter titles include The Need for True Worship, The Character of Worship, Worship and the Word, Leadership in Worship, Music and Worship, Entertainment, Evangelism and Worship, and Worshiping with the Heart.

I found this approach very refreshing and balanced. If I had to find fault with this booklet, I would be to ask Professor Godfrey to make it longer, address some topics more in-depth and provide more application. However, as short as it is, it certainly provides food for thought.

Ashby Musical Enterprises currently stocks this publication. It is available from www.ashbyme.com.

Job Description of a Music Director

What exactly is the job of a church music director? In some circles, music directors have come to be called “the music man.” I don’t particularly like that term because it implies that those charged with the duty of church music should keep their noses out of other areas. If that is true, then those other areas have little to do with music. Hence, we find ourselves in a church culture that doesn’t connect musical choices with . . . say, theology!

Below are some suggested duties of the music pastor (one who uses music in his pastoral ministry). These duties may vary according to the abilities of the music director and may be delegated. In churches where the music director is female, some of these duties may need to be carried out by a knowledgeable deacon or layman.

• Responsibility for the orders of service (published or unpublished). This should be done in cooperation with the senior pastor.
• Scheduling of special music, accompanists, instrumentalists, and song leaders.
• Rehearsal of choirs, small groups and soloists where necessary.
• Setting of policies, including dress standards, rehearsal attendance, and participation
• Teaching congregation a biblical philosophy of music and worship
• Constant evaluation of music selection and choices in all ministries of the church (Sunday School classes, mid-week services, outreach programs, etc.)
• Developing relationships with those involved in the music program for the purpose of encouraging and shepherding.

This is a partial list. Obviously, as church members, the music director frequently does non-musical items that may not fall under the title of music director. What are your thoughts? I welcome discussion.

Suggested Resolutions

As you make your New Year’s resolutions, may I ask you to remember your church music program? You can still make your annual determinations to exercise and get organized, but perhaps at the start of a new year it’s a good time to examine what your music program is doing and reevaluate?

In my music program, does my philosophy of music and worship intersect with reality?

Are my musical and textual choices appropriately reflective of God’s character?

What sort of ruts am I in that are hindering the effectiveness of my ministry?

Is my personal relationship with God apparent, so that I am truly living what I’m trying to teach?

What sort of plan am I following to maximize my own and others’ musical ministry?

What sort of goals do I want my program to attain this year (bigger is not necessarily better)?

What sort of changes do I need to make to reach these goals?

After brainstorming through these questions, write down your goals and post them somewhere where you will see them frequently. Better yet, share them in a comment on this forum. They will serve to be an encouragement and to provoke thought among your fellow pastors and music directors. May this year be, by the grace of God, a year of growth, both spiritually and musically.

Happy New Year!