The Benefits of Music

Music has some pretty amazing benefits. It makes mundane tasks more exciting, reduces stress and anxiety, inspires, uplifts and motivates. Of course, the wrong kind of music can have the opposite effect, but it's clear that music and emotions are closely connected. There's even an entire profession (music therapy) devoted to healing through music.

In my experience, the benefits of being a music listener are amazing -- but the benefits of being a music maker are even better. Making music helps brain development, raises self-confidence and can improve cognitive abilities in non-musical areas.

When you combine these benefits with the hymns of the LDS church, you get spiritual benefits as well. There is a reason we use hymns in worship settings. They convey powerful gospel messages directly to human hearts.

By developing musical abilities, you allow yourself to be an instrument in the hands of God -- sometimes quite literally. You can serve in church music callings, visit hospitals and care centers to mourn with those that mourn and comfort those in need of comfort. You can be a much-needed source of light to those who are walking through darkness.

Not everyone chooses to make a living through music, but we can all use music to make a better life.

Exciting Announcement

I have started working on a new LDS Fingerstyle Guitar book featuring 75 more hymns (including ALL of the Christmas songs from the hymn book), and I'm thinking of using my wife's recent picture of the St. George temple on the cover. The process of putting a music book together is quite involved. It will likely require several months of intense work and then a lot of waiting before it will be available for sale.

I love arranging hymns, and each of my books is a labor of love. I'm excited about this one for several reasons. First, it features some great songs that I didn't have room to include in my last book. Second, I've learned a lot about the publishing process and believe it will go more smoothly this time. Third, I'm going to make these arrangements even easier to play (without sacrificing quality).

Here is a behind the scenes look at my process:

1. Choose hymns (complete)
2. Create a base Sibelius template for each arrangement (complete)
3. Create front material and table of contents (complete)
4. Create draft arrangement of each hymn (in progress)
5. Finalize each arrangement
6. Add fingering and chord diagrams
7. Prepare cover art
8. Paginate book and send draft manuscript to printer
9. Review printed copy and make adjustments
10. Send final copy to printer
11. Create practice tracks
12. Update web site
13. Send final book to distributor

I'll post periodic progress updates and announce a release date as it gets closer to completion!

Guitar Music in Worship Settings

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has its own unique musical traditions. Some might call our worship music boring, but the truth is a little more nuanced. The purpose of music in the LDS church is to invite the spirit, not take its place. It is as much for contemplation as entertainment.

There are clear policies about music outlined in the church handbook. These include the exclusion of brass instruments from being played in sacrament meeting. Obviously drums and electric guitars and other instruments generally associated with rock and roll are also inappropriate for this setting. However, many decisions about music and instrumentation are left up to local and regional leaders.

I have personally never attended a sacrament meeting that included a guitar performance. I'm not sure I ever will, although I have heard of it happening in some wards. My guitar teacher played beautiful nylon string guitar hymn arrangements, and his bishop occasionally invited him to play in sacrament meeting. I have brought my guitar to church a few times to perform reverent music for a primary class, but I have not been asked nor have I sought the opportunity to perform in sacrament meeting. I understand that there are certain associations with guitar music that make it seem a bit questionable for some leaders. Fortunately, I also play piano, so I have been able to play that instrument in sacrament meeting. Interestingly, both guitar and piano can be played very reverently or very irreverently, but I defer completely to the judgment of ward leaders who follow the direction they've been given by their leaders and the promptings of the spirit in such matters.

For me, playing guitar hymns is usually done in private or in a guitar lesson setting. It is not necessary for me to play for a large audience to enjoy and feel the spirit of the songs. Like David, who played the harp while watching his father's sheep alone, I can be edified and taught and have my testimony strengthened by cherished hymn melodies. Each performance is like a prayer ascending to heaven, and an opportunity to express my love and gratitude for Jesus Christ.

Strengthened Testimonies Through Music

Words are powerful, and I love to hear true doctrine. But true doctrine accompanied by music sinks even more deeply into my heart than the spoken word alone. The hymns of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints helped form the core of my testimony.

I didn't learn to play an instrument when I was young, but when my children were little I felt it was important to fill my home with hymns. Church music was my primary motivator for learning both piano and guitar. I love being able to make my own music, and I love being able to express my emotions and love for Jesus Christ through song.

Filling my home with hymns and primary songs has brought me immense joy. It's fulfilling to find (or create) an arrangement of one of my favorite hymns for guitar. But life gets busy, and I don't always take the time to play.

One trick I learned several years ago, and that I share with my guitar students, is to store my guitar on a stand rather than in a case. At one point I found myself playing piano on a regular basis but neglecting my guitar, because playing piano required very little effort whereas playing guitar required first removing it from its case, which hardly seemed worth the effort if I only had a few minutes to spare. There is a psychological concept called "activation energy" that says if you want to accomplish something, make it as easy as possible to start.

When was the last time you played one of your favorite guitar songs? What music speaks to you, and what is it trying to say? How have LDS hymns strengthened your testimony?