Song Leading is the oldest track of study we offer though The Singing School. These core classes will prepare a man to competently lead God's people in worship through song. Some of our students have no background in music theory and no background of experience as a song leader. Some of our students have little or no background in music theory, but they have led singing for years. Some of our students have a good background in both music and leadership. We can accommodate this diversity of students in our school.
We teach that Song Leading is both an art and a science. The first two years of our curriculum are "science-heavy." We believe in training a man in the fundamentals, to be able to direct a song from a technical ("scientific") standpoint. This includes training in how to project one's voice, pitch a song, how to find the tempo of a song, how to beat various time signatures, and how to overcome various problems that often confront a song leader.
The third and fourth years of the training build on the foundational elements from years one and two and expose the student to the "art" of song leading. It is at this point that the Song Leaders' Track broadens into the Worship Leaders' Track (discussed here). In fact, these years are designed to not only polish the song leading student, but to prepare them for being the Music Director or Worship Minister in a congregation.
