Turn Your Testimony Into Song

I've been having so much fun planning the next round of workshops here in the Latter-Day Musiversity. Here's what's on the docket. As per usual, I will continue offering Primary Songwriting Workshops, though, these are kind of on their own track and not really attached to the typical 3-semester routine I usually follow. But for this spring and summer, I will host 2-and-a-half workshops. The first is a "Chromatic Voice-Leading Workshop." We are just finishing up a live Diatonic Voice-Leading...

Today is the last day to sign up for the next Christmas Cantata Workshop. As you consider whether to join or not... ...allow me to share what is easily my BEST tip for writing cantatas. It's a tip that has nothing to do with music. Yet it makes every musical decision better. If it seems too obvious or simple, then perhaps you don't yet fully realize the great potential of what a cantata can be and what it can do. The whole point of a cantata is to go deep into 1 specific gospel topic. Instead...

There's an idea that a cantata MUST have a choir in it to be any good. And that's totally false. Some of Bach's most beautiful cantatas don't have a choir at all. Two of my cantatas don't have a choir, and my collaborators said they were some of my best pieces. The thing is, not everyone has a choir. Some wards just don't. Some have a good set of women. Some have a good set of men. Occasionally, you might get lucky and get lots of both. But none of these challenges mean you can't write a...

I'm still bursting with pride in my students, and Musiversity "Inner Circle" member Claire Nabrotzky and Aleena Wadsworth after our live Easter Cantata Showcase last night. These 2 excellent composers spent a challenging 16 weeks working closely with me to complete their new cantatas. And they both did an amazing job, as we saw firsthand last night! I mean, just wait until you hear the gorgeous women's choir rendition of Claire's "My Peace I Give Unto You," from John 14:27. The soothing...

This rarely taught method... ...(used extensively by J.S. Bach in his hundreds of masterful church cantatas)... ...determines whether your cantata works or falls apart at the seams. The great thing about this rarely taught method is... ...it doesn't require any fancy-shmancy harmony, modulations, counterpoint, or other musical displays of wizardry. In fact, it really doesn't have much to do with music at all. What is this rarely taught method? Well, I discovered it through a somewhat...

The gifts and fruits of consistent creativity are many. Having ideas about music you might want to write is really great. But chipping away consistently, writing, re-writing, trying, trying again, building on your knowledge, and trying new things that stretch you... ...nothing can replace this. And you will... I promise... surprise yourself with the beautiful and inspring music you create. For example... Recently, Musiversity "Inner Circle" member, and 2-time Cantata Workshop participant...

I always wondered what the day after the Savior's death felt like for the disciples. Witnessing the terrible events of His crucifixion was surely completely overwhelming. My guess is that on Saturday, they were SO confused. I'd probably feel like I had entered some alternate reality, hoping I'd wake up from what must be an awful nightmare. And yet, it had happened. They'd seen Jesus escape many times before. They'd witnessed the might miracles. Walking on water. and so much more. They knew He...

What is it about minor keys and minor chords that we're often so afraid of in our Church? It seems SO silly to me. Is it because we have some kind of Paulianna-ish point of view on life that we can't be realistic and recognize that sometimes things aren't all rosy, sunshine, and rainbows? Maybe, I'm not sure. I mean, I'm all for being positive, having a good attitude, and plowing in hope despite challenges. But sometimes when things get tough, we need someone to put their arms around us and...

I've been learning many important lessons lately about thinning my piano-writing WITHOUT sacrificing the kind of resonant, lush-harmony sound I often look for. My typical go-to when wanting to write lush harmonies for the piano is to use MORE notes. But this can quickly get people's fingers all knotted up... ...especially if they don't have quite as much piano-playing experience. I figure, why not work extra hard to give beginner and intermediate players something just as lush and beautiful...

Can I arrange your favorite hymn for you? I'd love to. I mean, writing music on its own is a wonderful reward. But I always find it FAR more meaningful to write music FOR someone... with them in mind. It's more meaningful to me, and hopefully, to you. As I mentioned yesterday, I'm right in the middle of composing 68 easier hymn arrangements for early intermediate piano in 7 different books. And I'd like to dedicate one of them to you. You've got 58 to choose from, as I'll explain below. This...