2024 session nearing capacity. 5 spots left! Register today!
Educate. Edify. Encourage.
Inspire your congregation to worship
Training and Coaching Song Leaders and Worshipers in the Art of Congregational, A Cappella Singing.
Welcome to the Tennessee Singing School
Our Vision
At the Tennessee Singing School, we envision every congregation equipped with educated worshipers and worship leaders to edify the saints.
Come join us June 22, 2024 on the campus of Freed-Hardeman University (Henderson, Tennessee) and be equipped, educated, and edified!
Who Is Singing School For?
Singing is for Christians. Ephesians 5:19 describes singing as the outcome of a Spirit-filled life. In God's view, there's no such thing as a Christian who doesn't sing; spiritual people sing. Singing, like any thing we do, comes more naturally to some than others, but everyone benefits from training and coaching. In fact, many activities we don't enjoy are those that we've never taken the time to learn how to appreciate and participate in them. Tennessee Singing School is for Christians who want to grow in the appreciation of worship and singing.
In 2024 we will offer:
- Basic Music Theory for all students
- Sight Singing (Shape Notes) for all students
- Two levels of Song Leading (Novice and Experienced) for Men and Boys (minors, 10-and-up, are welcome with accompanying adult).
- Singer's Workshop, a choral workshop where participants will learn the best practices of vocal care and group singing as they practice new songs. Men/Boys and Women/Girls are welcome in this afternoon track (minors, 10-and-up, are welcome with accompanying adult).
Our History
While the Tennessee Singing School is a recent endeavor (2024), it has deep roots in other Singing Schools and our many of our faculty members have been working together in other successful programs for many years, particularly the Texas Normal Singing School. It's been a long time coming, but churches in Tennessee have petitioned us to expand our efforts to include a new training program in the Volunteer State.
Our Purpose and Methods
We exist to serve the church to equip her with leaders and worshipers. A cappella, congregational singing is a science, an art, and a spiritual discipline; we believe that it's worth our time, treasure, and effort to educate, edify, and encourage the mind, heart, and spirit to worship in increasing knowledge, sentiment, and theological richness.
We are not an alternative to an university degree in music and we will not be endlessly drilling over music theory. Over seven decades we, and those who came before us, have fine-tuned these methods to teach the practical and essential skills necessary for a leader to be musically, relationally, and spiritually successful and for all worshipers to know their parts, have an awareness of followership, form their minds and hearts to appreciate the tools employed in worship.
Our Faculty
Our faculty are all members of local congregations of the Churches of Christ, each of them contributing as worship leaders, ministers, deacons, and shepherds. This year's Tennessee Singing School faculty is composed of Jim Chester, Mike Dozier, Robin Entrekin, Levi Sisemore, and James Tackett.
What Will the one-Day Singing School Be Like?
Checking In
Singing & Chapel
Your Classes
Once you have registered on our website, we'll be preparing for your arrival on June 22, 2024 at Freed-Hardeman University. Upon arrival at the FHU campus, make your way to Old Main, a landmark campus building. Check-in, classes, and chapel will take place in Old Main.
Your Classes
Singing & Chapel
Your Classes
TnSS classes are designed to be practical. In a one-day school, we’re emphasizing skills and fundamentals. Everyone will have class in Music Theory, Sight Singing (shaped notes), and track classes in Song Leading or Singer’s Workshop. Students in short, one-day programs like this should not expect to master their new skills immediately, b
TnSS classes are designed to be practical. In a one-day school, we’re emphasizing skills and fundamentals. Everyone will have class in Music Theory, Sight Singing (shaped notes), and track classes in Song Leading or Singer’s Workshop. Students in short, one-day programs like this should not expect to master their new skills immediately, but these lessons will introduce all of the theory and skills to develop a person into a capable congregational singer/leader.
Our Schedule
Singing & Chapel
Singing & Chapel
- 8:00 AM Check-in
- 8:30 AM Music Theory
- 10:00 AM Sight Reading (Shape Notes)
- 11:00 AM Chapel Singing
- 12:00 PM Lunch
- 1:00 PM Sight Reading (Shape Notes)
- 2:00 PM Song Leading & Singers Workshop (Split Tracks)
- 5:00 PM Chapel (Singing)
- 6:00 PM Dismissal
Singing & Chapel
Singing & Chapel
Singing & Chapel
We'll have plenty of time for singing together, both as organized activities and spontaneously. Sing your heart out (but don't wear your voice out)!
Our last activity together will be a student-led singing chapel where the songleading students will showcase their skills and the Singer's Workshop will perform the songs they have worked on during the school.
Our Ministry Partners
