children on display for a truly special and memorable occasion. The setting was beautiful, the children bright and composed, and their
voices angelic. Over a thousand of us joined together, and the sight of all our children (K-12) singing songs of praise filled our hearts with joy.
It was altogether a splendid evening.
Perhaps while we sat and enjoyed the program, we did not bother
to ask ourselves a fundamental question… Why? Why do we sing?
More specifically: Why do we have all our students study music, rehearse, sing, and perform? After all, is
not music or choir intended only for those interested, as in an afterschool elective?
I could answer this question with the mounds of research linking an education in music (and the arts) to higher test
scores. Or, I could cite how the study and practice of music has “positive emotional, social, cultural, creative,
collaborative, and neurological effects” and “are about life, growth, and expanding who we can become as human beings.”1 Or, I could discuss how today’s pragmatic focus on job preparation ignores other parts of our human development, and then add, ‘The study of music provides us the tools to create, and thereby reflect the image our
Creator.’ How about the fact that by teaching someone to experience their world through music, they learn to
appreciate and discern the whole concept of beauty? Or, I could simply refer to the often repeated command in scripture to “Sing praises to the Lord” (i.e. Psalm 47:6). Furthermore, I could point to God’s design in creation, how He gave us voices of such variety, but also discipline and precision. He has imprinted music with His order and design to enable us to produce something miraculous.
Or, you could ask your own children. Go ahead. Ask them in reference to the Christmas program, “Why do we sing these songs?”
While preparing for the Christmas program, I overhead our music director Jonathan Fant ask our students this question. All the children loudly replied, “Because they are True.” Then, he asked them “Why do we care?” Again, the 300 students responded in unison, “Because God uses music to change hearts.”
I don’t know about you, but I prefer this simple, but poignant response to the question from our children.
In Christ,
Stephen Sprague
Headmaster
1 Arts with the Brain in Mind, Eric Jensen, 2001 (p. 110)