I have taught voice lessons for over twenty years. One of the things that I have found at times the most challenging, and others the simplest to correct is pitch. If a singer is having trouble tuning, there are ultimately one or two basic problems.
They simply may not be able to hear clearly the pitch they are trying to match. This is the initial and fundamental challenge to overcome. An awareness that there is a pitch outside of themselves to which they must tune is crucial, but ultimately only half the battle.
Many times I have played a note and asked a singer to match it, only to find they simply can not. I have struggled to understand how they are hearing the note before they sing, and then their own voice as they begin to sing, and why they could not hear the difference.
Then I came across a different approach. I learned asked the student to sing a note of their choice, then after striking a note on the piano have taken their hand and instructed them to move their voice as I move their hand. Imagine their surprise when suddenly they are able to sing up to the note and match pitch. I know it may sound ridiculous, but it has worked for me time and time again.
The same thing that has happened in those voice lessons, happens in our spiritual lives constantly. God is the Perfect Pitch. If we are going to sing along with Him, making music together, and with our life glorifying Him, we must match His pitch. But it is funny how we can be oblivious to how far out of tune we can be with Him, just like some of my students.
First we must identify God as the Perfection that He is. We must listen to His Word, and become familiar with it. But it is not enough to hear it, we must respond.
As we begin to attempt to join God’s song, we must listen not only to God, but to ourselves. Only then can we identify the differences and work to make the necessary adjustments to be in tune. Even still, I would argue that we, like some of my students, lack the capacity to recognize this difference on our own, and need someone to take our hand and pull us up to where God is. That someone is the Holy Spirit.
Though for some, this epiphany is a one-time experience that changes they way they listen outside and inside, for many it is the beginning of a journey. A journey where a Teacher is very useful to guide the way to making the continual slight corrections that allow them to sing in tune.
We have such a Teacher, but sometimes we simply fail to give Him access, or be intentional to get in the practice room and do our part.
We would love to provide you a place to practice getting and staying in tune with God’s perfection. Join us as we head there regularly to meet with our Instructor and let Him guide us.
And if you like what you are hearing, sign-up to receive email alerts when new material posts.
Leave a Reply