Ridgecrest Music Week 2013 Reading Sessons

I wanted to list a few of my favorite anthems I discovered in reading sessions this week that I thought would be strong contenders for use with my choir or at my church.

I Know a Man Who Can (arr. Hamby, Brentwood Benson 45757-2229-7) I'm not a big a Southern Gospel Fan, as I've said many a time.  However, this medium tempo SG piece was really fun, and I think my folks would like this arrangement of this favorite,  http://www.brentwoodbenson.com/product/viewproduct.do?itemid=75722297

Somebody Died For Me (arr. Mauldin, Word 0-80869-22423-2) Patriotic story-telling piece, tear-jerker, parallel to Christ's sacrifice. This would be a good Memorial Day piece for next year.  http://wordmusic.com/somebody-died-for-me.html

Let the Bells Ring Loud (arr. Keveren, LifeWay 6-34337-335636) Nice Christmas opener. http://www.lifeway.com/Product/let-the-bells-ring-loud-anthem-P005562206

Glory All Around (arr. Singer, Lillenas 978-08341-8321-6). One of the freshest new Christmas songs I've heard in a long time.  Has the option for Children's Choir.  Has probably the most singable fun melody of any piece at Ridgecrest this year.  

As far as cantatas...

I should not be surprised that LifeWay's newest Let's Sing offering from Dennis Allen is another good one this year.  http://www.lifeway.com/n/Product-Family/Christ-Was-Born-for-This-Let's-Sing-Christmas-Musical?Sz=20

A similar difficulty mini-Cantata that I really liked is from Lillenas.  It's called "Hallowed Manger Ground" and was really a stand-out for me, which was a surprise.  http://www.lillenas.com/nphweb/html/lmol/itempage.jsp?itemId=9780834182448&nid=srch

I have a couple of other cantata samples to wade through, though.  I am still also toying about putting together my own based on old favorites and a few new pieces.  

Ridgecrest Music Week 2013 Day Four

This morning I began with two classes from Darlene Abbott again.  She has to be the best preschool/children's teacher I've ever had at Ridgecrest.  The first class dealt with Classroom Management techniques.  It turns out, this ended up being a repeat of one of her classes I took several years ago. Still, there were some new ideas presented and it was good to be refreshed on some of the things she had taught before.  It really was more of a gimmicks class than a management class and dealt with transitions with preschoolers and ways you could use music to have them stand up or sit down, be quiet, etc.  Many of these techniques I've used with preschool VBS in the years in between being in her class last.  The second class was new material for me, and it dealt with ideas for Preschool Programs.  There were some creative and very non-traditional ideas to presenting programs, such as having a program in the classroom, or have the program rotate between different classrooms and let the parents follow them around.  There were some good ideas all around in regards to dealing with preschoolers in general as well.  

In the afternoon, I had the concluding portion of the "Worshipper's Deathstyle" class.  This chapter dealt with the ultimate paradox:  in order to truly live, we must die.  Another great quote in this class dealt with the fact that our bodies are the "worship centers" not our buildings.  It was great.  I was able to purchase a DVD and CD with Grant's music and teachings to explore and share later.  We also discussed the James passage that described true worship as caring for orphans and widows.

After the Lillenas reading session this afternoon, we prepared to see Nathan perform with the children's choir in Celeste Clydesdale's "Blast Off" children's musical.  This would be the first time Nathan has had a major speaking part in anything like this. After the youth choir opened the evening, the children's choir took the stage, and the program was fantastic. Nathan played a star named "Fireball" and it was funny to hear the other kids use that as a nickname for him throughout the week.  He did a great job.  Now both Nathan and I can say we've had drama roles we've performed on the stage at Ridgecrest at one time or another.  

After the choir performance, we enjoyed a mini-concert from Tommy Walker, who also sang last year.  Several very touching songs, and he once again showed his mastery of the guitar.  

We enjoyed one more visit to the Nibble Nook this evening, and it was quite fun to see Nathan and Ginny  running around and having fun with the friends they made this week.  I think This place is becoming special for them too I think. 

Ridgecrest Music Week 2013 Day Three

Today was another very full, but very good day.  I began the morning with two classes from Steve Brown, who is teaching several classes in what they used to refer to as the "small church" track.  The first class dealt with generational differences.  I've taken similar classes before, but I really wanted a refresher, as our church is very multigenerational.  Steve went through the four main generations in the church right now: Builders, Boomers, Busters, and Bridgers, and how each of their attributes affected church life today.  The most interesting thing I gleaned (or inferred) was that Busters and Boomers (My generation and younger) are often "blamed" for the rise of contemporary music in the church, when actually, the Baby Boomer generation, who grew up during the birth of rhythm section music and rock and roll really were more instrumental in the changes that led to the praise and worship movement.  The baby boomers are the group that are currently in leadership positions in the church today which has also fueled this.  Now my generation, the "busters,"are sadly credited with the decline of denominational institutionalism.  Our indifference and indecisiveness have led to an increase in the numbers of non-denominational churches.  I honestly had not thought about that before.  A side note, on behalf of my generation, I hereby refute the dorky name "buster" for our generation.  Whoever thought of that must have been a baby boomer.  ;)  "Gen X" is much cooler.  The second class from Steve Brown dealt a lot with our role as a worship leader, specifically in regards to how we carry ourselves on the platform in our confidence level, and specifically with our conducting gestures.  We talked about what motions were appropriate and when.  For example, less directing is required with the congregation and more precision in gestures is necessary for choirs.  Pretty common sense stuff, but some good reminders nonetheless.  

Worship today featured another good balance and blend of songs both old and new,  There is a heavier emphasis throughout this week than I expected on hymns reinvented and rearranged, incorporating rhythm sections, etc.  I would say two out of three songs in worship this year have been hymns with either a new added refrain, a more upbeat tempo, or both.  I like this trend, as I think it's a great compromise and helps bring people together.  The message today dealt with Psalm 51, and how David's picture of brokenness and repentance is clearly illustrated.

After lunch, I had part two of the "Worship Deathstyle" class with Grant Norsworthy.  It was another good session, this time dealing with worship and grace.  Much of the emphasis in today's class dealt with how we as Christians misuse or overuse vocabulary on words like "awesome" (which we use colloquially, but in actually implies something to be feared or revered) and "worship."  

This evening, we had the option of staying on campus for a Christian movie premiere, but instead had the opportunity to meet up with a college friend In Asheville.  When they started making Wednesday afternoons and evenings a bit lighter several years ago, I first was disappointed and felt like we were not getting our "money's worth" :), but Im beginning to appreciate it, as by this time in the week, my brain is pretty full, and the flexibility is appreciated so that we can have some down time.  

Ridgecrest Music Week 2013 Day Two

This is really shaping up to be a fantastic year at Ridgecrest.  Perhaps one of the best in many years. 

We began this morning with a great breakfast.  Two institutional improvements I should mention: The outer hallway that wraps around Rhododendron Hall has been completely transformed to a beautiful sitting area similar to what you would find in Mtn. Laurel and Johnson Springs.  Second, major change in food service.  Instead of all of the serving lines offering the same thing (except for maybe a separate salad line), half of the lines will offer one major thing, like "fast food" and the other half will offer for example "Mexican". Then once you get into the main dining area, there has been bonus lines such as one today that offered Mexican desserts and for breakfast, a Belgian waffle bar.  Really cool.  

There wasn't a class offering in the first slot that really appealed to me, so I chose to spend some time on my favorite bench in the prayer garden, where I spent some times in the Psalms and in Revelation meditating.  The Lord reminded me about what true repentance looks like through some things he showed me.  

My first class was with one of my favorite children's music teachers, Darlene Abbott.  She is so very practical, and once again offered many concrete ideas, tips, and new songs for children and preschoolers that can really liven up a rehearsal.  This is Darlene's first time back at Ridgecrest since battling cancer.  she told me today that she has faced several surgeries and has one more to go with some follow up treatments.  

Worship this morning was fantastic.  Mike Harland & co. have really done well so far with providing a balance and blend of styles this year.  We began with one of the most worshipful arrangements of  "10,000 Reasons" I have ever heard.  The message this morning reminded us to be on guard against idols in our lives and used Psalm 16 to illustrate this point.  The thrust of the message dealt with what truly "satisfies" or quenches us, with the answer being of course, only God.  

I took another children's music course in the afternoon from another instructor, who I got a few good ideas from as well.  But the biggest surprise blessing was the class that followed, from Grant Norsworthy, called "Worshipper's Deathstyle."  Grant is the former bass guitarist from Sonic Food, and is from Australia.  This may have been one of the best classes I have ever experienced at Ridgecrest.  He was an engaging speaker, and dealt in a very convicting way with our attitudes and motives as worship leaders.  One of his key points was this quote from C.S.Lewis:

"Every poet and musician and artist, but for grace, is drawn away from the thing he tells about to the love of the telling 'til down in the deep hell they cannot be interested in God at all  but only in what they say about Him"

Basically, this means that many worship leaders are in constant danger of loving their craft and vocation more than God Himself.  Scary and dangerous stuff.  Looking forward to the second and third sessions.  I laughed and cried in this session.  And although I've never been a fan of the frequently covered secular song "Hallelujah," but I will never look at this song the same way again after Grant ended the session by singing his version and commenting on the history and lyrics of the song.  

This was followed by another reading session from LifeWay.  Like yesterday's mullti-publisher offering, I found a couple more potential pieces.  I may have to blog a separate list of just the pieces I've liked.  

Supper was great and the evening concert from the group "Veritas" was excellent.  They are a classical-ish men's group heavily inspired by Roger Breland's "Truth" (thus the name).  They were funny, professional, and snappily dressed.  If this gig doesn't work out, they could be great extras in the next Men in Black movie.  ;) I don't think I've seen that many black suits together in one place since my last visit to the funeral home.  But I digress....

After the concert, the Nibble Nook, and after I finish here, soon to bed.  

Ridgecrest Music Week 2013 Day One

As I normally do while I'm at Ridgecrest for Music Week, or rather -ahem- "Worship Week" (must train myself to use the fancy new title), I try to summarize some thoughts on what I've gleaned from each day.  To be honest, this is primarily to help myself not forget some things, but it it's also to share with some friends who may not have gotten to go or as a report to some folks back home on how we're getting along here this week.  So, yes, it's an accountability thing for me (self-enforced). :)

We arrived a bit earlier this year in order to have time to get the kids registered for things and to look through the course offering and plan our week.  This year, Nathan had the opportunity to audition for a part in the children's choir camp musical, directed and written by Celeste Clydesdale.  We were excited that he got the part of "Fireball" in the musical "Blast Off".  This is really the first drama part in a musical like is he's ever attempted, so this will stretch him a bit, in a good way.  

Tonight's opening worship was very encouraging.  We began with "Blessed Assurance" to set the evening off, and had a mini-message from us conference Pastor Eric Geiger, who reminded us that while worship isn't always "spectacular" it should always be "supernatural."  After this, Paul Baloche led in a worship concert, singing many of his staples such as "Open the Eyes of My Heart" and "Above All" as well as some I was not familiar with.  One I had not heard that I think I may bring back to use at our church was one called "The Same Love" (not to be confused with the very irreverent secular song with a similar title).