Sunday, November 20, 2011

New Children's Ministry... We NEED your help!

For the past three summers the Mountain State School of Gospel Music has worked with people of all ages to encourage greater participation and motivation for learning among church music departments - large or small.  It has been our sincere desire and prayer that each person who attends the Mountain State School of Gospel Music walks away equipped with tools that will help them serve in their home church - as music director, pianist, organist, or choir member.

It’s especially been our joy to watch children - who may have never had the opportunity to enroll in music lessons - play the piano or sing a solo at the Annual Children’s Recital where they get to show off their new skills and build much needed confidence.

Any one who has attended the Mountain State School of Gospel Music as student or audience member knows that we love the children and involve them in every thing musical that we possibly can during the week.  The children sing in the choir, along with the adults; the children take music theory classes; the children direct the opening song for the congregational singing at the Annual MSSGM Closing Program; the children (ages 7-11) are given free private lessons in voice and/or piano and are encouraged to participate in a Student Recital.

In 2010, the children wrote a song (complete with three verses and a chorus) which was published in 2011 by the Jeffress/Phillips Publishing Company based in Crossett, Arkansas.  Children’s choirs and adult choirs across the southern United States have been singing the song written by children of the MSSGM.


That’s why we’ve decided that it’s imperative that we reach out to as many children as we are able by offering music classes (mini-music schools) once per month at local churches. We want YOUR church to get involved.  Sign up to host a Saturday morning music school at your church! (We do all the work, you just unlock the building!) Contact Tori Holstine (tori@mssgm.org or 304-550-5912) for more details.