What Does The Singing School cost?
The cost of 50 hours of training in church music, all your classroom supplies, workbooks, notes, and a notebook, a private bedroom and bathroom, a video tape of your songs (song leading students), and all of your meals is just $375. This may seem like a lot at first, but when you consider that it is all-inclusive, that all of our staff and faculty are totally volunteer (receiving nothing but the satisfaction of teaching), and that we rent our facilities from Abilene Christian University, it seems much more reasonable.
You may find other singing schools that are cheaper, but we guarantee that you will learn more from The Singing School than you would elsewhere and that at the end of the week you will consider it money well-spent. One of the best things about The Singing School is our multi-level curriculum that exposes the student to more and more each year he/she comes. No other singing school has this kind of in depth, comprehensive training. Furthermore, most other singing schools are held in a camp setting and geared towards children and teenagers. While we get our fair share of youths, the environment at The Singing School is targeted at adults.
What is the "minimum age" to attend The Singing School?
We have no official limit, but remember that The Singing School is a serious learning environment with almost 10 hours of classes each day (50 hours in a week). In recent years, we have had students as young as 10. A majority of our students are adults, however there are always many Christian teens with whom your child may socialize. Use your best judgment when deciding about the age your child may be ready for The Singing School. Of course, we would love if you would come with your children! The Singing School can be a great family experience in a Christian environment.
If you are sending a minor (under 18), you MUST print out and complete a Medical Release Form and present it at Registration on Sunday afternoon.
Click here to download it.
What Should I Bring with Me to The Singing School?
Clothes: Be aware that the average July temperature in Abilene, Texas is 94F with 60% humidity. Our classes are all conducted in-doors in fully-air conditioned (read: "at times chilly") classrooms. Most of our students and teachers dress casually (Dockers/nice jeans, button-down/polo shirts). We do request, though, that shorts not be worn during class time. On Thursday evening we do take an official group photograph of the entire school.
For the Apartment: Twin-size sheets, blankets, pillows, or other bedclothes. These items, and many others (trash bags, snacks, bottles of water, throat lozenges, etc.) may be purchased at a near-by Wal-Mart (map).
For the Classroom: Pens/pencils, notebook paper (a binder with many, many handouts is provided); a backpack or satchel may be very useful in moving from class to class. Laptop computers are not needed for any classes, even for taking notes (most notes are provided).
Regardless of your course of study, a pitch pipe will be useful. If you are in the Song Leading or Worship Development tracks, a pitch pipe is required. If you do not have one, you may purchase one at a discounted price at registration.
Singing School Traditions
Our meal tickets with the ACU cafeteria do not begin until Sunday evening. If you come for the Worship Leaders' Conference or come Saturday in time for supper, please join "the gang." Friday night is traditionally the Harvest Moon Chinese buffet and Saturday night is Cahoots Catfish and Oyster Bar (yes, they have non-seafood dishes, too). The Singing School weekend usually coincides with a major Hollywood release, and many go as a group to the Premier Cinema 10 Theater.
On Thursday afternoon, a whole-school picture is taken by James Tackett (these are available for purchase here). This may influence your choice of clothing for Thursday.
The nearby Dairy Queen stays open late Monday-Thursday just for The Singing School. Come join us for Blizzards and singing! We even enjoy our own version of the gospel classic, Singing on the Premises of Dairy Queen (Standing on the Promises).
"Number 801." To close out each evening of The Singing School, we all gather together (usually in the Rotunda of the Onstead-Packer Bible Building) to sing Where No One Stands Alone, which is "The Singing School Song." We issue each of our students a copy of Songs of Faith and Praise from Howard Books. Where No One Stands Alone is number 801 in that book.
Stand Up and Glorify the Lord and Hosanna serve as our two warm up songs each morning in chapel. A call to action and an out-pouring of pure praise is the best way to start our worship together!
Area Resturants and Stores
Mall of Abilene • 4310 Buffalo Gap Road
Premier Cinema 10 • 4310 Buffalo Gap Road • (325) 695-2122
Sam’s Club • 5301 South First Street
United Grocery Store • 1095 N Judge Ely Blvd.
Wal-Mart Supercenter • 1650 State Hwy 351
Cahoot’s Catfish & Oyster Bar • 301 South 11th Street
Chili’s Grill & Bar • 1702 State Hwy 351
Cracker Barrel Old Country Store and Restaurant • 1602 State Hwy 351
Dairy Queen • 1626 State Hwy 351
Kentucky Fried Chicken • 1301 N Judge Ely Blvd.
McDonald’s • 1201 N Judge Ely Blvd.
Rosa’s Café & Tortilla Factory • 1026 N Judge Ely Blvd.
Sonic Drive-In • 202 N Judge Ely Blvd.
Starbucks Coffee Company • ACU Campus Library
Subway Restaurant • 1649 Hwy 351 (in Wal-Mart), 1117 N Judge Ely Blvd.
Taco Bueno • 825 N Judge Ely Blvd.
Whataburger Restaurant • 893 US Hwy 80 E
Area Congregations
If your travel to come to Abilene brings you in time to worship with one the local congregations, they would surely appreciate your visit. If you can come to Abilene early, why not attend our Friday-Saturday Worship Leader's Conference?
For your convenience, this list has been sorted by driving distance from the University Park Apartments.
Hillcrest Church of Christ • 650 E Ambler Ave. (.5 miles) • (325) 673-4565
University Church of Christ • 733 E North 16th St. (.9 miles) • (325) 673-6497
Graham Street Iglesia de Cristo •2158 Graham St. (2.5 miles)
N. 10th & Treadaway • 943 N Treadaway Blvd. (2.2 miles) • (325) 672-7122
Minda Street Church of Christ • 701 Minda St. (2.5 miles) • (325) 676-2151
New Life Church of Christ • 910 Cypress St. (2.6 miles) • (325) 695-2434
Mission Church of Christ • 1100 N 6th St. (3 miles) • (325) 670-9601
Oakland Drive Church of Christ • 2702 Forrest Ave. (3.2 miles) • (325) 672-1337
North 5th & Grape Street • 433 Grape St. (3.5 miles) • (325) 673-0211
Minter Lane Church of Christ • 2502 Minter Ln. (4 miles) • (325) 677-8611
South 12th & Cherry Church of Christ • 1202 Cherry St. (4 miles) •
Woodlawn Church of Christ • 3185 N 10th St. (4.2 miles) • (325) 673-6776
South 14th & Chestnut Church of Christ • S 14th & Chestnut Sts. (4.6 miles) •
Highland Church of Christ • 425 Highland Ave. (4.6 miles) • (325) 673-5295
South 11th & Willis Church of Christ • 3309 S 11th St. (6.1 miles) • (325) 698-3255
Oldham Lane Church of Christ • 5049 Oldham Ln. (6.4 miles) • (325) 695-0055
Southern Hills Church of Christ • 3364 Buffalo Gap Rd. (6.7 miles) • (325) 692-2670
Westgate Church of Christ • 402 S Pioneer Dr. (8.8 miles) • (325) 692-2300
Baker Heights Church of Christ • 5382 Texas Ave. (10 miles) • (325) 692-6974
