Behind the Song: “Perfect Peace”
“Perfect Peace” (Words & Music by Robert Sterling) There are lots of ways to write a song. The “right” way is whatever way works for the writer or writers. The words may come [...]
Piano Accompaniments for Choral Music – Part 2
My previous blog on the importance of piano accompaniments in choral arranging drew a healthy response from readers. And more than one person wrote to ask (and I paraphrase): “What about those [...]
Piano Accompaniments – the Unsung Heroes of Choral Music
There are lots of different ways to accompany choral music. Piano, organ, brass ensemble, symphonic orchestra, rhythm section, bluegrass band, and every thinkable combination between. But the [...]
Sing to the Lord an Old Song?
(Adapted from my blog for WorshipSongsOnline) In a time when it seems every worship leader in America has personally taken the exhortation to “Sing to the Lord a new song” by writing another [...]
ON THE JOB TRAINING: “The Journey of a Commission”
Lessons learned from a life in music. (#10 in a series of posts) “Great Is Thy Faithfulness” Composing commissioned music – writing to suit a particular situation or to fulfill the creative [...]
Songwriting Essentials: Tips for a Better Co-writng Session
One of the most common goals of beginning songwriters is to collaborate. We want another writer’s ideas to spur us on to new heights. We want a partner whose creative gifts complement our [...]
ON THE JOB TRAINING: “Ready to Write”
Lessons learned from a life in music. (#9 in a series of posts) “And So We Sing” (Shawnee Press 35027907) A song idea can come from just about anywhere. Whether it’s the latest catch phrase [...]
ON THE JOB TRAINING: “Only Time Will Tell”
Lessons learned from a life in music. (#8 in a series of posts) “I Have Seen the Light” Every year for the past quarter-century or so, when Christmas rolls around, Chris Machen and I are suddenly [...]
On the Job Training: “Craft, Collaboration & Cooperation”
Lessons learned from a life in music. (#7 in a series of posts) “God Be With Us/God Go With Us” Every song we write is an expedition in craft. We start with an idea. Then we whittle and [...]
On the Job Training: “Inspiration Plus Perspiration”
Lessons learned from a life in music. (#6 in a series of posts) “Jesus Paid It All” My best-known choral work is undoubtedly my arrangement of the Public Domain hymn “Jesus Paid It All,” by [...]