Many music genres today are fusions of older styles: Reggaeton, Ethio-Jazz, K-Pop, Celtic Punk, Country Rap, and Blues Rock to name just a few. This blending of genres shows what amazing things can happen when cultures learn from each other — not stealing, not appropriation, but sharing.
As a classically trained singer, I’ve sung in numerous languages: Latin, French, Spanish, Italian, Russian, Hebrew, German, Swahili, etc. I’ve sung songs from composers all over the world. In fact, I’ve sung all over the world.
I cherish my training that has led to an appreciation of world cultures and diversity, to multiple languages and fusion genres. And I cherish my training that led me to truly understand that all people are made in the image of God, that each culture, each people group, each person has worth, has beauty, has something we can learn from and something they can offer to the rest of the world.
In crucial things, unity. In important things, diversity. In ALL things, generosity.
-George H. W. Bush
One of the most beautiful mirrors of the Body of Christ is found in music. It illustrates how different parts coming together creates something beyond the individual. Even beyond the obvious of different notes coming together to create harmonies or different genres coming together to create new ones, it can be seen with littles simply singing unison.
Because, even in a small choir, there is unity in diversity. There are littles who memorize well, littles who have good pitch, littles who can be line leaders, littles who smile, and littles who are good listeners. Together, these kiddos make a great choir, encouraged and led by each other through their various strengths. This teamwork is a terrific foundation for life, but it also a beautiful reflection of the Body of Christ.
We must not only learn to tolerate our differences. We must welcome them as the richness and diversity which can lead to true intelligence. -Albert Einstein
Check out this great article by Ambassadors of Culture that goes deeper into music diversity.
Your choir is more than music training. Your choir is creating a memory that will help young children more fully understand God and his plan for us. Little JAM Sessions wants to help you with this task. Our KidMin Choir Curriculum is designed to help littles understand what they’re singing about, moving beyond memorization and into worship.
For tips on how to add more diversity to your home or classroom, see below.
Leave a Reply