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Digital Commons @ George Fox University Western Evangelical Seminary Theses Western Evangelical Seminary 5-1976 Music as a Tool in Christian Education Carl Jon Duhrkoop Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.georgefox.edu/wes_theses Part of the Christianity Commons APPROVED BY Major Professor: Cooperative Reader: Cooperative Reader: Cooperative Reader: MUSIC AS A TOOL IN CHRISTIAN EDUCATION A Research Paper Presented to the Faculty of Western Evangelical Seminary In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Master of Divinity by Carl Jon Duhrkoop May1976 :y S/"3 PREFACE As one enters a typical Sunday School, he will hear music. This is not surprising, for music is a prominent part of the education of the Church. Questions, however, are surfacing today. Is music a valuable part of the education of the Church or is it simply an appendage, used out of indifference, convention or even the need to fill up the time allotted? Is music being planned with the lesson or is it more commonly picked upon arrival? Is music chosen for its beauty, familiarity, intended use or for its rhythmic style? These questions are not easy to answer nor are they only being asked of music. Unfortunately such questions often go unanswered. The intent of this paper is to answer some of these questions and give instruction to the teacher that will enable him not only to answer these questions but also to use music effectively in his teaching. Many teachers of our Sunday Schools wish to know how to use music to teach Bible truth and although this paper is not presented as a final authority it may give some desired direction. It is hoped that it will create excitement within its readers, an excitement that will inspire them to really use music as a tool in teaching. The method this paper will follow is that of a study manual. Each chapter will include the pertinent information, examples of methods, suggestions for further study, study assignments, and a bibliography dealing with the topics of that chapter. The manual is written to be used with a leadership training class involving seven ii sessions of ninety minutes eaoh. It may also be used by individuals, Sunday School councils and any group of teachers. Many of the illustrations and charts have been designed to be used as transpar­ encies or class distributions and anyone may feel free to copy these for this use. The only limitation placed on those who use this material is that they would do so in the spirit of this paper. Change it, substitute freely, improve it, make it your own, be creative and above all use music to teach it. I especially thank Rev. Alan Odell, Director of Christian Education for the Pacific Conference of the Evangelical Church of North America and adjunct professor of Christian Education at Western Evangelical Seminary, for his help and encouragement from the beginning of this study. He has given me support throughout the development of the manual and has given me an insight into the possibilities inherent in Christian education. Most important of all he has encouraged me to prove these possibilities with music. TABLE OF CONTENTS Page PREFACE • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • i LIST OF CHARTS • • • • . • • . • • • • • • • vi LIST OF FIGURES . vii LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS . viii Chapter INTRODUCTION •• • • • • • • • • • • . 1 Biblical Basis for Using Music in Christian Education • • • • • • • • • t • • • • • • 2 Historical Basis for Using Music in Christian Education • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 8 Psychological Basis for Using Music in Christian Education • • • • • • • • . 12 But We Use Music Already • . • • • • . 15 Appendix •• . • • • • • • . • • • • • • • • • • • 19 Bibliography • • • . • • . 21 2. THE USE OF MUSIC IN THE CHRISTIAN EDUCATION OF CHILDREN • • • • • • . 23 The Educational Potential of Music in the Spiritual Development of Children • • • • • • • • • 24 Planning the Use of Music in the Christian Education of Children . 32 Musical Tools for Use With Children . 35 Appendix •• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • . 37 Bibliography • • • . 39 iii iv Chapter Page 3. THE USE OF SINGING AS A MUSICAL TOOL • • • • • • . 40 Use Songs to Teach • . • • . 41 Choose Songs That Teach . 46 Teaching Songs That Teach . ' • • • • 53 Appendix •• . • • • . • • • • • . • • 64 Bibliography • • • • • . • • • • . 66 4. INSTRUMENTS, LISTENING, CREATIVE ACTIVITY, MUSICAL GAMES - VAllJABIE TOOLS IN THE CHRISTIAN EDUCATION OF CHilDREN •••• . 67 The Use of Instruments as a Tool in the Christian Education of Children • • • . •, . 68 The Use of Creative Activities as a Tool in the Christian Education of Children • . 74 The Use of Listening Experiences as a Tool in the Christian Education of Children • . 77 The Use of Musical Games as a Tool in the Christian Education of Children • • • • • • . 79 Appendix •• . • • • • • . • • • • • 83 Bibliography • • • . • • . 85 5. THE USE OF MUSIC TO TEACH BIBLICAL TRUTH TO YOUNG PEOPLE • • • • • • • . 86 Musical Tools for Teens • • • • • • • • • • . 88 Planning A Lesson For Young People • • • • • • • • 98 Appendix ••• . • • • • • • • • • . 104 Bibliography • • • • • • • • . • • 106 6. MUSIC IN THE CHRISTIAN EDUCATION OF ADULTS . 107 The Congregation Learns Through Singing . 108 Structuring the Song Service • • • • • • • • • . 113 v Chapter Page Where Does One Start . 119 Appendix • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 124 Bibliography . 125 7. THE CHURCH MUSIC PROGRAM AND CHRISTIAN EDUCATION •••• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 127 The Graded Choir Program . 128 The Instrumental Program . 137 Appendix • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 142 Bibliography • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 144 LIST OF CHARTS Table Page 1. Uses of Music Within a Lesson Plan . 34 2. The Use of Singing Within a Lesson Plan • . • • . 45 3. The Learning Process . 100 LIST OF FIGURES Figure Page 1. Hoag' s Ladder of Learning • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 14 2. Elements of Personality Development ••••••••••• 26 3. Voice Range for Young Children • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 49 4. Voice Range for Children . 49 .5. Musical Roll Call • • • • • . 80 6. Activity - Performance Gradation • . 136 vii LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS Illustration Page 1. "Did You Ever Talk to God Above" . 60 61 2. "Sing a Song of Singing" . .. • • • • 3. "Jesus Loves You" • • • • . • • • • • • • • • . 63 viii CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION Music can be an effective tool for teaching Biblical truth within the Church. This transfer of knowledge from teacher to student takes place in many ways and at many various times within the Church and is most often referred to as Christian education. Throughout this process of Christian education there are many methods or tools used to convey this truth, resulting in the presentation of "every man complete in Christ."1 Whether it be the use of flannelgraph pictures in a primary class, debate in a high school class or an overhead trans­ parency in an adult class, the process of Christian maturity is taking place through the use of a teaching tool. The use of these tools will have been carefully planned. This is done for the optimum retention of the facts and concepts by the students. Unfortunately this is not always so with the use of music. Indeed it must be said that music is just one part of the educational system in the Church. The development of a Sunday School lesson must compete for planning time with the study of the Bible portion or concepts, the planning of the time available, the use of tools such as Bible stories, missionary stories, panel discussions or handwork. It is therefore not unusual for the planning of the music to be less than adequate, for often music is looked upon as only an 1 Colossians 1s28. 2 extra, something of interest for the children or just a part of the routine. Music should not be taken so lightly, for any method which is taken lightly or given little preparation will soon lose its effec- tiveness. Some may state that music is not such an important educational tool and that one should spend his time on more effective means of teaching Biblical truth. This chapter, however, will deal with the fact that music is a teaching tool, and an effective tool. The Biblical injunctions which express this fact will be studied, along with the historical use of music in Christian education and the psychological advantages of using music in teaching. The final section of the chapter will deal with how music is used presently in Christian Edu- cation. BIBLICAL BASIS FOR USING MUSIC IN CHRISTIAN EDUCATION Music in the worship of God finds a rich heritage in the Scriptures, both Old and New Testament. There are approximately five­ 2 hundred and twenty verses which mention musical terms in the Bible and many of these are instructions which ware given to God's people, the Jewish nation, on how to worship Him. A relatively limited number of these verses can be found in the New Testament but the one verse which is the most often quoted in reference to the use of music in worship is 2Dennis Bert Hagen, "An Analysis of Music of the Bible" (unpublished Bachelor of Divinity dissertation, Western Evangelical Seminary, 1967), pp. 117-126. 3 found in the New Testament. This verse says, Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you; with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.3 (New American Standard Version) 'Theologians, musicians and educators often use this verse in reference to the types of music which should be used

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