Singing a New Song

The kids had a new experience on Sunday. Daddy had to work, so we covered chorus time for him. The girls (ages 9 and nearly 7) were "songleaders" of sorts, up front with their teenaged cousin, while Mommy played piano and sang. Spazzerific manned the overhead machine, which for him is a lot of public exposure.

We practiced nearly everyday last week, using a variety of different techniques. Sometimes, we sat down at the piano. Sometimes, we took turns singing the lines of a song, one after the other, like an echo. This is a great memory exercise. We had two practices with our guitar-playing cousin (second cousin, if you want to get technical). The kids were rewarded with the congregation's compliments and encouragements afterward.

We're blessed with a congregation that does not fuss or bother about the quality of the music. The focus in genuinely on serving God. Some of us musicians can get our shorts in a knot from time to time about the standards we set for ourselves, but the rest of the church isn't too worried about it. Over the last six years, we've had children and adults alike learning to build their musical skills through worship. I know I've grown. The sheer lack of snobbery or concern about "appearances" is delightful.