Have you ever noticed how many times we are commanded in the Psalms to “Sing to the Lord”?
Psalm 105, the Psalm for this Sunday, exhorts us:
1 Give thanks to the Lord and call upon his Name; *
make known his deeds among the peoples.
2 Sing to him, sing praises to him, *
and speak of all his marvelous works.
3 Glory in his holy Name; *
let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice.
How many times in important scriptural stories is a song mentioned as a response or integral part? Remember how Miriam danced and sang after the Israelites deliverance at the Red Sea, how the exiles sat by the waters of Babylon and wept and sang sad songs, and how Jesus and his disciples sang a song after the Last Supper before they went out to the garden to pray. Even today we punctuate birthdays and other significant events with songs, because music touches us in a place where other things cannot, and something special happens when we lift our voices together in celebration, in sorrow, or any other expression of human emotion.
It troubles me, then, when I see music programs in schools being cut. I don’t find it at all surprising that test scores in schools continue to fall, despite significant investment in STEM programs, when music and the arts have been taken out of the curriculum. If you look at most of the great scientists and thinkers, they were also artists and musicians. There is a good reason for this. We know that the brain has two hemispheres and that one side-the left side-is more analytical, and that the other side-the right side-is more creative. These great men and women used both parts of their brains, the creative and analytical, to make amazing discoveries.
It is imperative that both sides of the child’s brain are exercised and developed. Music, with its strong ties to mathematics, its recognizable patterns, and its creativity, provides training for both sides of the brain. Musical training gives experience with converting sound into symbol and symbol into sound, which reinforces language skills. We singers mostly sing poetry replete with metaphor, which opens our minds to deeper levels of meaning and expands our horizons. Singers in choirs also develop close ties with their fellow singers, increasing their sense of community and enhancing their understanding of teamwork.
Numerous studies have shown that participation in a choir has benefits for persons of all ages: for children and youth, the obvious developmental and socialization ones, and for adults a variety of mental and physical health benefits, including lowered blood pressure and decreased mental decline.
For all of these reasons, and many others, we offer opportunities for children, youth, and adults to begin, develop, and continue their musical experiences through a variety of choirs. The St. Gabriel Choir, for children aged 5 through 2nd grade concentrates on teaching good vocal practices, building music reading skills, and experiencing teamwork. The Choir School of Baltimore, for children in 3rd through 12th grades, employs RSCM Voice for Life training to acquire fluency in reading and understanding the fundamentals of music, developing healthy vocal skills, learning leadership techniques, and creating lasting friendships. The Redeemer Choir and the Connections Choir, offer adults the opportunity to continue their musical development with others who share their love of singing in vibrant community. You may contact Bert Landman or Robert Chrystal or visit the Redeemer website for more information about the choirs.
As we approach the new program year, encourage the children in your life to become involved in one of our choirs as a part of helping them become successful adults engaging all of their brains, bodies, and spirits. For those of us past 12th grade, there is also a place for you to continue your life-long journey of learning, leaning into healthy practices, and engaging your spirit.
Sing to the Lord, all the whole earth. – Psalm 96:1b
~ Bert Landman
Organist/Director of Music Ministry