Here's another Quick Resource Idea for you!

If you have a library card for the Mid-Continent Public Library the next time you go on line to www.mymcpl.org, click on "Online Resources", and then "Research Databases".  Next, click on "Art & Entertainment".  You will there find a whole library of music information and samples.  You may find this information VERY handy when looking for ideas for youth or music training materials.  A great resource!  Check it out!

Kearney 1st Ward Young Men!

The Kearney First Ward Young Men and their leaders did an awesome job tonight singing for the Liberty Stake priesthood leadership meeting. They say ", Come Oh Thou King of Kings".  Here they are after the performance.

Hymnplicity Violin Parts

You are probably way ahead of me on this, but I just noticed that the Hymnplicity series has supplemental violin parts that will add additional color and meaning to these simplified choral arrangements.  You can check it out at www.jackmanmusic.com and search for "hymnplicity".  Then keep turning those pages!

Why "Special Musical Numbers"?

The final sentence of the section in the Handbook of Instructions on Music Training states:

"Ward [Branch] music chairmen help find opportunities for developing musicians to use their talents and encourage them to continue developing their skills."

One of those "opportunities" is the Special Musical Number (SMN).  Whether you and the interested singers, pianists, organists or appropriate instrumentalists ("interested talent" as identified in your updated talent inventory) decide to do special musical numbers on a unit or stake level, working with combinations of your interested talent to prepare and present a SMN is one way you help them to grow and develop. 

That is why the list appears at the top of the blog.  In addition to your "internal" or unit SMNs, there is also an opportunity to motivate and encourage the further development of music skills by inviting your interested talent to fulfill one of the slots in the "external" list above.  Are you trying to build a choir?  Invite your interested talent to sing for an Adult session of Stake Conference or for a Sunday Session of Stake Conference.  Need help preparing them?  Call me and I will come as often as you want.  You can even couple an event like this with developing choir directing skills, or choir accompanying skills.  Two or three objectives with one event.  Sound interesting?

Most importantly, you are fulfilling your calling to "...find opportunities for developing musicians to use their talents [while encouraging] them to continue developing their skills."

Shout-out to the Young Men (and Young Men Leaders) of the Kearney 1st Ward!

This awesome group will be singing "Come, Oh Thou King of Kings" at the January 19th Stake Priesthood Meeting.  Way to go!

Here's a Great Idea to Strengthen Music in your Ward/Branch!

Special Musical Numbers!

I have the schedule for THE ENTIRE YEAR! (Man, this Stake Presidency is ON THE BALL!)

If you want to strengthen the music in your branch/ward, then grab one (or more) of the special musical numbers scheduled during the year, and begin now to prepare something that will be meaningful and appropriate.  Let me know what date you want and I will publish it on the blog.  It will be FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED so don't leave your unit out!

Schedule Changes!!

Unit Conference Dates

Kearney 3rd Ward, Kearney 1st Ward and the YSA Branch have switched dates with the Far West Ward and Gallatin Ward.  See the revised schedule to the right.

Completing the Auxiliary Training Worksheet

One of the unique characteristics of our music callings is to recognize the wide diversity of our needs and resources.  For that reason, the very first assignment in filling out the Auxiliary Training music worksheet is both the most challenging and the most important.  Assessing the strengths and weaknesses of the unit we serve.  Perhaps the hardest part is just writing that stuff down!

What are "basic music skills"?  Once you have listed those basic skills, how does your unit "measure up" in that skill?  Do you want to use words like "poor", "fair", "good" or "great"?  Or do you want to use a number on a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being "great"?

Why don't you take a minute or two right now and do that?

All done?  Great!

Now, number each of the "basic skills" you have identified in priority order.  Put a #1 next to the skill you feel needs the most attention.  Do you need to create a choir director where none exists?  That might be your #1.  Do you anticipate, through your regular conversation with your music adviser, that you will soon need to replace, train or assist a new Primary music leader and you want to get someone ready to step into that position?  That might be your #2.  Go through your list and come up with your music needs in priority order, short term and long term. 

Once you have your priorities then, in conjunction with your music adviser, you can decide if you want to "go it alone" and dive into the waiting challenge, or if you want to "get some help" from stake resources or from the resources of other units.  That's where I may be able to assist you.  I sure want to help.  That's a big part of my calling. 

News you can Use! - Sacrament Meeting Music Selection

Here's some "News you can Use!" - right from the church Music Q & A web site.  A question that often comes up...

Does the Church have a policy that only hymns can be used as music in sacrament meeting?
“The hymns are the basic music for worship services and are standard for all congregational singing. In addition, other appropriate selections may be used for prelude and postlude music, choir music, and special musical presentations. If musical selections other than the hymns are used, they should be in keeping with the spirit of the hymns. Texts should be doctrinally correct” (Handbook 2: Administering the Church [2010], 14.4.2). (See also “Hymns for Congregations,” Hymns, 380-81.)

Welcome to the Liberty Stake Music blog!  There's a lot going on "in the background" regarding music in the Stake!  I hope you will "tune in" (OK, pun intended!) and keep informed, inspired and motivated as we work together to build our Heavenly Father's Kingdom here in this part of His vineyard through the power and effect of glorious music.  You are an important part of this effort.  In fact, you are the most critical part!  Without you, your efforts and commitment, nothing will happen.  So, let's make great things happen.  Begin by focusing on the "Your Current Assignments" section to the right.  Let's make the upcoming unit music leadership training sessions really meaningful!