Know the Lord is God: Learning Through Song

By Tom Hammond-Davies, Director of Music

When our Choristers open their mouths to sing, they are doing far more than making music. They are learning.

Every rehearsal, every service, is part of a remarkable process of growth. The Chorister Program at Saint Michael offers one of the finest musical educations available in Dallas—free of charge. Week by week, these young people are mastering the skills of reading notation, training their voices, and shaping words into prayer. But they are also developing habits of discipline, teamwork, and resilience that will serve them throughout their lives.

This is why the ministry of Music is so extraordinary: it is not only worship, but also education. Music strengthens the mind as much as it lifts the soul, and studies show that children engaged in music outperform their peers in literacy, numeracy, and problem-solving. In Texas alone, All-State choir students consistently score far above the state average on SATs. And beyond the test scores, the benefits run deeper: learning to sing in a choir nurtures confidence, emotional intelligence, and the ability to collaborate as part of a team.

At Saint Michael, learning through music is not limited to the young. Our Adult Choir, too, is continually learning—diving into the poetry, theology, and beauty of texts and music spanning centuries and cultures. Whether aged 7 or 77, when we gather to sing, we are students together: discovering new insights, deepening our understanding, and training our hearts as well as our voices.

HOW CHORISTERS LEARN

For our youngest singers in the Cherub Choir, learning begins with the foundations of music: recognizing notes and symbols, standing with confidence, and singing in a healthy and natural way. Each week they also hear a Bible story, with its themes woven into the songs they rehearse. In this way, musical training and spiritual formation go hand in hand. Perhaps most importantly, they are discovering what it means to worship God together as part of a community, offering their voices and gifts in praise.

For our Choristers, “learning” takes shape in many ways, both structured and organic. Each child absorbs music theory as set out by the Royal School of Church Music (RSCM) syllabus, which provides a clear path of progress. Probationers (our youngest singers who are ‘trying out’ to be a Chorister) begin by learning the basics of pitch, rhythm, and posture. Once they are ready, they participate in the rite of Surplicing when they don the white vestment, thus beginning their journey as a Chorister. As they advance through the syllabus, they are awarded colored ribbons that mark each stage of achievement. These milestones represent hours of rehearsal, practice, and dedication.

Each week, Choristers rehearse, learning hymns, psalms, and anthems in preparation for services. They sharpen their sight-reading, strengthen their theory, and grow in confidence as performers and leaders of worship. They sing at monthly Evensongs, feast days like The Feast of Saint Michael, and beloved parish traditions such as Epiphany Lessons & Carols and the Blessing of the Animals. Alongside the music, they learn responsibility: arriving on time, caring for their music and equipment, and working as part of a team.

LIFELONG LEARNING IN THE CHOIR

The Adult Choir is on a similar journey of learning, albeit from a different starting point. Each rehearsal is an opportunity to learn—unpicking the structure of a 16th century motet, grappling with the idiom of a Spiritual, or finding the right articulation in a newly-composed anthem—engaging deeply with texts that span centuries and cultures. In this way, rehearsals become places of ongoing formation, where members continue to learn and grow no matter their age or musical background.

Week by week, both children and adults are stretched, encouraged, and inspired. Together, they are discovering that learning through music is never finished: it is a lifelong journey of curiosity, discipline, and joy.

BEYOND THE CHOIR STALLS: LEARNING FOR LIFE

The benefits of singing together reach far beyond the choir stalls. Study after study shows that children engaged in music develop sharper cognitive skills, stronger academic results, and greater resilience.

At Saint Michael, our Choristers receive a world-class music education for free, but it is also an education that sets them up for life. Data from the Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA) shows that students who participate in All-State choirs score, on average, 30% higher on the SAT than the state average (2018–2023). For families at Saint Michael who care deeply about both academic and spiritual growth, this is a striking reminder that music strengthens not only the soul, but also the mind. Reading rhythms reinforces mathematical thinking, while setting words to melody improves memory and language skills, a remarkable advantage that lasts far beyond the rehearsal room.

And just as importantly, singing is good for mental health. The act of singing releases endorphins, lifts mood, lowers stress, and builds self-esteem. In a time when so many young people are navigating anxiety and disconnection in a post-Covid world, choral singing offers a healthy outlet, a supportive community, and a rhythm of belonging that heals as much as it teaches. Rehearsals provide structure, discipline, and a safe place to belong. The shared act of learning difficult music together fosters resilience and teaches young people that persistence pays off.

Music also nurtures the whole person. It is a team sport where every voice matters, and where listening is as important as singing. Choristers learn to work collaboratively, to support one another, and to celebrate the achievements of the group as much as their own. These are skills that carry forward into school, college, and life beyond.

And the benefits are not limited to children. Adults in the Choir experience the same release of tension, the same joy of learning, and the same sense of community. Research even suggests that singing can support memory care and reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s, making choral singing a lifelong gift.

THE DEEPER LESSONS IN MUSIC

As well as notes and rhythms, music engages with words, images, and meaning. Our Choristers learn poetry and scripture not only by reading, but also by singing—which engages every learning style: visual, aural, read/write, and kinesthetic (VARK). When words are sung, they are experienced more deeply, felt more keenly, and remembered more vividly.

This is why Bach’s aria from the St Matthew Passion ‘Erbarme dich’ can move us in a way that no spoken plea ever could, or why an anthem of hope can bring healing when words alone fall short. Singing gives children—and adults—a vocabulary for feelings too complex to name. It grounds them, focuses them, and, over time, opens up new ways of understanding.

In rehearsals, music functions almost like meditation. Week after week, repetition leads to revelation: new connections are made, new perspectives discovered. It is both discipline and discovery, and when all voices come together, across ages 3 to 80+, we witness the extraordinary power of learning as community: education not as competition, but as collaboration.

JOIN US IN THE LEARNING JOURNEY

Our Choristers and Adult Choir are proof that music is one of the most powerful teachers. It educates the mind, shapes the heart, and strengthens the spirit. But this ministry is only possible because of the support of this parish family. Every gift, every act of service, and every word of encouragement makes a difference. To keep this program thriving, I invite you to join us in three simple ways:

Give. Support the Chorister Scholarship Fund and help us provide this extraordinary education at no cost to families
Invite. Encourage a child, grandchild, or neighbor to join us. The journey begins with a single rehearsal
Come and See. Attend Evensong, share our music with friends, and experience the joy of learning through song

Together, we can continue to nurture this gift of music—a gift that transforms lives, deepens faith, and strengthens our community. And as we do, we will go on learning: learning to listen, to grow, and to discover what God is teaching us through song.

HOW TO GET INVOLVED

To explore how to join as a Chorister or the Adult Choir, email Catherine Seveney, cseveney@saintmichael.org.

COME-AND-SING CHRISTMAS CAROLS

Join the Adult Choir on Sunday, December 21, to sing Christmas carols in the Choir Loft for the 9 a.m. Traditional service. Simply show up at 8 a.m. to begin rehearsal at 8:15 a.m. No previous experience necessary and robes are not required.