A singing school is a brief course of musical instruction devoted to the rudiments of note-reading and sight-singing, with a focus on sacred music. Singing schools, established as early as 1700, were the first American musical institution; they fostered musical skills, notational innovations like shape notes, the composition of psalmody, and the publication of tunebooks like The Sacred Harp. Early singing schools often lasted two or three months, usually during a season of slack agricultural work (the winter months, or midsummer "laying-by" of crops). Today's schools may last only a week or two. Other forms of instruction, comprising only a single session, frequently occur in connection with conventions or festivals. Though sometimes advertised as "singing schools," the term "workshop" might be more appropriate. For more information see "Singing-school" by Richard Crawford and Warren Steel in The New Grove Dictionary of American Music (London: Macmillan Press, 1986), vol. 4, pp. 233-4, which includes further references.
Singing teachers and others who know about upcoming singing schools in The Sacred Harp, or in other tunebooks used by traditional singers, are invited to send e-mail to (mudws@olemiss.edu) for inclusion in the following list.
Camp Fasola: The Sacred Harp Musical Heritage Associaton will hold a camp for the purpose of teaching Sacred Harp singing and traditions to families and persons of all ages. "Camp Fasola" will be held at Camp Lee near Anniston, Alabama.
The first session will begin on Friday, June 27 at 2:00 p.m. and will run through Monday, June 30 at 9:00 a.m. This session will be programmed with an emphasis for adults (fewer recreation options, extensive singing elective classes). The second session will begin on Monday, June 30 at 4:00 p.m. and will run through Friday, July 4 at 9:00 a.m. This session will be programmed with an emphasis for youth and adults under age 30 (full recreation schedule, no/few singing elective classes). The registration form is available at: www.fasola.org/camp For additional information, email camp@fasola.org
Camp Doremi: is a three day residential singing school at Wildacres Retreat in Little Switzerland, North Carolina, August 7-10, 2008. For information contact Jane Spencer at 706 769-8782, email ejanespencer@yahoo.com.
Hugh McGraw will conduct a singing school in the Sacred Harp (1991 Edition) at Holly Springs Primitive Baptist Church in Carroll County on the following Saturdays in 2005: January 5, February 2, March 1, April 5, and May 3. Each session will run from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Camp Fasola: The Sacred Harp Musical Heritage Associaton will hold a camp for the purpose of teaching Sacred Harp singing and traditions to families and persons of all ages. "Camp Fasola" will be held at Camp Lee near Anniston, Alabama, from Monday, July 2 to Friday, July 6. For further information contact David Ivey at david@davidivey.com or call (256) 881-5291.
Pleasant Hill Upper Cumberland Presbyterian Church, Centreville, Alabama, will host a singing school in the Christian Harmony during the weeks of July 9-13 and July 16-20 (Monday through Friday), each session runs from 7:00 to 9:00 PM. Final singing and worship service Sunday, July 22, 9:30 - 3:00. There will be several teachers, and all ages are welcome. For information call Mildred Ruth Wyers 205 926-3043.
Camp Doremi: is a two-day residential singing school in the Christian Harmony on August 17-18 at Wildacres Retreat, Little Switzerland, North Carolina preceding the Ashe County singing on Sunday, August 19 at West Jefferson, North Carolina. For information contact Jane Spencer at 706 769-8782, email ejanespencer@yahoo.com.
Hugh McGraw will conduct a singing school in the Sacred Harp (1991 Edition) at Holly Springs Primitive Baptist Church in Carroll County on the following Saturdays in 2005: January 7, February 3, March 10, April 14, and May 5. Each session will run from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Camp Fasola: The Sacred Harp Musical Heritage Associaton will hold a camp for the purpose of teaching Sacred Harp singing and traditions to families and persons of all ages. "Camp Fasola" will be held at Camp Lee near Anniston, Alabama, from Monday, July 3 to Friday, July 7. For further information contact David Ivey at david@davidivey.com or call (256) 881-5291.
Hugh McGraw will conduct a singing school in the Sacred Harp (1991 Edition) at Holly Springs Primitive Baptist Church in Carroll County on the following Saturdays in 2005: January 7, February 4, March 11, and April 1. Each session will run from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Camp Fasola: The Sacred Harp Musical Heritage Associaton will hold a camp for the purpose of teaching Sacred Harp singing and traditions to families and persons of all ages. "Camp Fasola" will be held at Camp Lee near Anniston, Alabama, from Monday, June 27 to Friday, July 1. For further information contact David Ivey at david@davidivey.com or call (256) 881-5291.
Hugh McGraw will conduct a singing school in the Sacred Harp (1991 Edition) at Holly Springs Primitive Baptist Church in Carroll County on the following Saturdays in 2005: January 8, February 5, March 12, April 2, and May 7. Each session will run from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
The Epworth Old Harp Singers of Knoxville, Tennessee will sponsor a singing school for beginners and experienced singers taught by Kathleen Mavournin, on Sundays (February 20 and 27, March 6, 13, and 27) at 2:30-4:00 pm at Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church, Kingston Pike, Knoxville, using the New Harp of Columbia; a tuition fee of $15.00 covers all four sessions. Info: Kathleen Mavournin, (865) 414-7830, kmav@icx.net.
Camp Fasola: The Sacred Harp Musical Heritage Associaton will hold a camp for the purpose of teaching Sacred Harp singing and traditions to families and persons of all ages. "Camp Fasola" will be held at Camp Lee near Anniston, Alabama. The camp will begin with check-in from 4:00-6:00 p.m. on Sunday, June 28th and will close at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, July 2d. Singing-teachers Jeff Sheppard and David Ivey will direct the camp. For further information contact David Ivey at davi@davidivey.com
Hugh McGraw will conduct a singing school in the Sacred Harp (1991 Edition) at Holly Springs Primitive Baptist Church in Carroll County on the following Saturdays in 2004: January 3, February 7, March 13, April 3, and May 1. Each session will from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Camp Fasola: The Sacred Harp Musical Heritage Associaton will hold a camp for the purpose of teaching Sacred Harp singing and traditions to families and persons of all ages. "Camp Fasola" will be held at Camp Lee near Anniston, Alabama. The camp will begin with check-in from 4:00-6:00 p.m. on Sunday, June 29th and will close at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, July 3rd. Singing-teachers Jeff Sheppard and David Ivey will direct the camp. For further information contact David Ivey at davi@davidivey.com
Hugh McGraw will conduct a singing school in the Sacred Harp (1991 Edition) at Holly Springs Primitive Baptist Church in Carroll County on the following Saturdays in 2002: January 4, February 2, March 8, April 5, and May 3. Each session will from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
The Epworth Old Harp Singers of Knoxville, Tennessee will sponsor a singing school for beginners and experienced singers, on Mondays in March (March 3, 10, 17, 24, and 31) at 7:00 pm at the Blount County Library, Maryville, Tennessee, using the New Harp of Columbia; a tuition fee of $10.00 covers all four sessions. Info: Kathleen Mavournin, (865) 691-9506, kmav@icx.net.
Hugh McGraw conducted a singing school in the Sacred Harp (1991 Edition) at Emmaus Primitive Baptist Church in Carroll County on Monday-Thursday, July 29- August 1 in 2002: Each session ran from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Hugh McGraw conducted a singing school in the Sacred Harp (1991 Edition) at Holly Springs Primitive Baptist Church in Carroll County on the following Saturdays in 2002: February 2, March 9, April 20, and May 4. Each session ran from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Hugh McGraw conducted a singing school in the Sacred Harp (1991 Edition) during the week of Tue., March 28 to Fri., March 31 at the Shiloh Museum of Ozark History, 118 W. Johnson Ave., Springdale, AR, beginning at 6:30 p.m. each night. An all-day singing was held on Saturday, April 1. Info: Susan Young (501)750-8165.
Art Deason conducted a singing school in the Sacred Harp (1991 Edition) on Monday through Friday nights, May 31-June4 at Eoline Fire Hall, Eoline AL. Tuition was free. Info: (205)926-4074.
Hugh McGraw conducted a singing school in the Sacred Harp (1991 Edition) during the week of Mon., April 26th to Fri., April 30th at the Shiloh Museum of Ozark History, 118 W. Johnson Ave., Springdale, AR, beginning at 6:30 p.m. each night. An all-day singing was held on Saturday, May 1. Info: Susan Young (501)750-8165.
The Epworth Old Harp Singers of Knoxville, Tennessee sponsored a singing school for beginners and experienced singers, between April 13 and April 22, meeting on Tuesdays and Thursdays (April 13 and 15, and April 20 and 22) at 7:30 pm at the home of Kathleen Mavournin and Bob Richmond, 344 Seven Oaks Drive. Gene McCammon led the instruction, using the New Harp of Columbia; a tuition fee of $12.00 covered all four sessions.
--Warren Steel (mudws@olemiss.edu)[ Sacred Harp Singing | Warren Steel | Music Dept. | UM Home ]