Practice Tips from a Pro and St. James

LOVELY Christmas decorations are already in place on the light poles along the streets of Pineville. Driving through this quaint downtown, I mused that, although some lament that Thanksgiving isn’t even over before the December bombardment begins, any church musician worth their salt has been Christmas-ing away for months now.

Practice in the Spring of 2013

Church organists will confirm that this time of year finds them putting in extra hours at the bench in preparation for all the beautiful music to come during Advent and Christmas. Practice. Practice. Practice. Repeat until it’s not just okay, but excellent. (Don’t go into a career in music if you can’t stand long hours by yourself in repetitions of minutia that might drive many sane people crazy.)

This morning while meditating on a section in the book of James, a lovely “a-ha bolt” struck me. Here staring at me was a bold encouragement for my own organ practice. How so, you ask. Here is the section that got my attention:

But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it, they will be blessed in what they do.    James 1:25

Really, Lord? If I am careful to faithfully spend time with You looking into Your word, praying, you will bless what I do (i.e. my practice)? Wow. 

This all reminds me of a conversation I had with Dr. Leon Harshenin, Professor of Music  at Taylor University. He gave a recital in my home on my new PETROF back in 1998. As we were chatting during one of his practice breaks, I asked him about his strategy for memorizing difficult repertoire. 

My grandson Adrian practicing during a visit

He said that when something is giving him difficulty in practice, he often stops and prays about it, and that the Lord hears those prayers and helps him to be able to master that passage. James said the same thing nearly 2000 years ago to all who are working away at all kinds of good things. 

Those words from Leon returned to me as I sat at the fabulous Aeolian-Skinner pipe organ in Byrnes Auditorium at Winthrop University practicing last week. “Lord, bless my practice! Help me get this tricky section down on an unfamiliar instrument.” We will see come December 7 if God and I both did our parts . . . He blessed my faithful practice. 

Or as James put it a few sentences earlier “Do not merely listen to the word . . . do what it says.” Well, regarding practicing organ, God’s word says this for one thing: 

Whatever your hand finds to do,

do it with all your might.  Ecclesiastes 9:10

There you have it . . . a practical tip for how to practice . . . infuse your life and practice with the things of God. 

May the Lord bless all church musicians who are faithfully preparing for the yearly celebration of the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

For the record, I love the season of Advent and Christmas and seeing decorations everywhere, no matter how early doesn’t bother me one whit. It just reminds me that the gospel story is true and the whole world has taken note, even if in some peculiar or mercenary ways. I say, “God rest ye merry!” and “Joy to the world!” because “the Lord has come!”

Practicing with friends is a lovely part of being a church musician. Here are several photos with special friends . . .

With Sue Pierce at Ebenezer PC - Organ duet warm-up for morning Prelude

Good Friday Tenebrae Service with my friend Izabela at Edenton Street UMC

At Muhlenberg Lutheran during a Dedication Service in the new Gathering Area. Good memories of many happy hours spent with these ladies in practice. Handbell ringers are dedicated church musicians!

MUSIC LINK

Here are three Christmas pieces I played in 2013