Introduce Yourself: Sarah

Hi y'all!!!

My name is Sarah Kate S., and I'm fifteen years old. I play the fiddle, keyboard, and saw. I LOVE unusual instruments, so that's why
I chose the saw. I love it, and it's so easy to play! Are there any other saw lovers out there?!?

 

I have four siblings, Anna, Tucker, Sawyer, and Laura. My mom and Anna play the flute, my dad plays the drums, Tucker plays the banjo, and Sawyer plays the ukelele, though he wants to get a mandolin. So we have a wide variety of instruments in our household! I'm also attempting to teach my little sister Laura how to play the violin, but sometimes that is a problem because she's  only five and my violin is too big for her!!!

 

My favorite kinds of music are classical and Christian rock. My favorite classical composer (so far anyway) is Sibelius. In the way of rock and roll, my top favorite has always been Newsboys. I also like the Piano Guys and the Brown family; both amazing!!!

 

Some of my hobbies include: horseback riding, acting, archery, singing, riding dirt bike, writing books, (then reading them to my siblings and friends) baking, scrapbooking, fishing, swimming, ice skating, and reading. I could name a lot more, but that might get boring. :):):)

 

Well, now y'all know about me, I want to hear about you!

Sarah

Throwback Thursday: O the Deep, Deep Love of Jesus

O the Deep Deep, Love of Jesus has been my favorite hymn for a long time. I love the
encouragement in the lyrics and the tune it is sung to is lovely. The man who wrote this song had a
very interesting life.

Born on November 19, 1834 in a village north of London, Samuel Francis was the son of merchant
and artist. Soon after his birth, Samuel’s father moves the family to the city of Hull midway up the English coast. When he was young Samuel enjoyed poetry and even compiled a little volume of his
own poetry. He also had a passion for music and at age nine he joined the church choir along with
his father and brother. When he was in his teenage years his family moved to London and Samuel
stayed a year with a doctor in Camberwell. His health was failing and he returned to Hull.

While he was back in Hull a Mr. Akester asked him “if he would like to see a man buried alive,”
explaining later that he was referring to a baptismal service. There he heard the gospel of Man’s
Ruin and God’s Remedy most likely preached by Andrew Jukes. After returning to London he was

contemplating suicide, maybe because of his health, when he had a spiritual turning point and

believed in Jesus Christ. Experiencing that faith he indeed did not commit suicide but went on to

become a merchant though his passion was in being an open-air preacher and writing poems and

hymns, one of them being O the Deep Deep, Love of Jesus.

O the Deep Deep, Love of Jesus attempts to describe the depth of Christ’s love for us. It is a

reassurance that nothing can separate us from the love of Christ, not even our own sins will prevent

him from loving us. The love of Christ should motivate us to “spread His praise from shore to shore”.

There is so much encouragement and praise in this hymn.

I will leave you with the words of Paul

“For I am persuaded, that neither death, not life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things

present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate

us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” ~Romans 8:38 & 39

References:

Wikipedia

Hymnary.com

http://fpc-bethlehem.org/_PDF/Publications/DeepLove_of_Jesus_09-01-14.pdf

http://www.plymouthbrethren.org/user/331

http://gospelhall.org/

Throwback Thursday: Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise

    Little is said about the man who wrote the hymn Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise. It is a lovely hymn, inspired by Paul’s first letter to Timothy, describing God’s greatness and praising him for it. The author, Walter Chalmers Smith, lived from 1824 to 1908. Born in Aberdeen December 5th he was educated at a Grammar School and University of the same city. He studied Theology at Edinburgh and was ordained Pastor of the Scottish Church in London on Christmas Day of 1850. He pastored several churches and wrote poetical literature. Smith wrote many hymns though I believe Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise is the only one still in use today.

A few of Smith’s other hymns are Lord, God, Omnipotent, Our Portion is not Here, There is no Wrath to be Appeased, Earth was waiting, Spent and restless, Faint and weary Jesus Stood, and To me to Live is Christ.

“Dr. Smith’s hymns are rich in thought and vigorous in expression. They deserve and probably will receive greater notice than hitherto at the hands of hymnal compilers.” ~Rev. W. Garrett Horder

Personally my favorite line in Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise, is in the 3rd verse.

“We blossom and flourish as leave on a tree, and wither and perish, but naught changeth thee.”

It is a beautiful reminder that the life we live is a life that changes and eventually ends, but that Christ is a rock on which we can find support for he never changes and will never end.

I will leave you with the passage that inspired Walter Smith to write this song.

“Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.” ~ 1 Timothy 1:17

References:

http://www.hymnary.org/

Wikipedia

The One Year book of Hymns

Throwback Thursdays: How Firm A Foundation

How Firm a Foundation has been one of a favorite hymns for a while. But when I was getting ready to write about it I was surprised that no one really knows who the author is of this great hymn.

It was first published in 1787 by John Rippon in A Selection of Hymns from the Best Authors which was intended to be an appendix to Dr. Watt’s Psalms and Hymns. The Hymn appeared in the collection with the author indicated merely as “K”. Both In Songs of Sublime Adoration and Praise and The Bible is Justly Esteemed, which were published in the same collection, bear the same “K” as their author. Rippon indicated in the preface that such attributions meant that either the author was unknown or that the hymn had undergone significant revisions for publication.

One reprint gave “Kn” as the author and another “Keen”. Because of this it is popularly believed that R. Keen, the music director in Rippon’s church, was the author of this hymn. Though many other theories of who possible authors could be.

I think what I like about this hymn most is that it is really a sermon in verse. In the first verse the sure foundation of the church is established as being the Word of God. The next four verse personalize promises from that word.

Verse 2

Fear not, I am with thee, O be not dismayed,
For I am thy God and will still give thee aid;
I’ll strengthen and help thee, and cause thee to stand
Upheld by My righteous, omnipotent hand.

--Isaiah 40:10 “Fear thou not, for I am with thee, be not dismayed, for I am thy God…”

Verse 3

When through the deep waters I call thee to go,
The rivers of woe shall not thee overflow;
For I will be with thee, thy troubles to bless,
And sanctify to thee thy deepest distress.

–Isaiah 43:2 “When thou passest though the waters, I will be with thee…”

Verse 4

When through fiery trials thy pathways shall lie,
My grace, all sufficient, shall be thy supply;
The flame shall not hurt thee; I only design
Thy dross to consume, and thy gold to refine.

–2 Corinthians 12:9 “My grace is sufficient for thee; for my strength is made perfect in weakness…”

Verse 5

The soul that on Jesus has leaned for repose,
I will not, I will not desert to its foes;
That soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake,
I’ll never, no never, no never forsake

–Hebrews 13:5 “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee…”

This hymn has been a favorite of many American leaders such as Theodore Roosevelt. Andrew Jackson requested it sung at his bedside shortly before he died and Robert E. Lee requested it for his funeral hymn to be “as an expression of his full trust in the ways of the Heavenly Father.” I was particularly excited to find out it was a favorite of Lee’s because I am a southern girl…and though I really do wish to, I will refrain from talking more about the War Between the States…. =D

I will leave you with Hebrews 13:6

“So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.”

Until next time!

~Maria

References:

Wikipedia

http://www.hymnary.org/

http://www.challies.com/

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Thanks so much, Maria! :) I love learning about these hymns and their backgrounds...

Until next time,

go change the world!

~Annalysa 

Throwback Thursday: Isaac Watts

I was asked to play When I Survey the Wondrous Cross at our church in a few week while some friends sing it. And so I decided to start Throwback Thursdays with that song. I found it interesting to study the history of this song and the man who wrote it.

Isaac Watts was born on July 17, 1674, in Southampton England. He was the eldest of nine children. His father, (what is his name?), was in prison at the time of Isaac’s birth, and twice during his infancy, for his non-conformists beliefs.

In Watts’ youth he showed an aptitude for study and at the age of five had learned Latin, by nine Greek, French at eleven and Hebrew at thirteen. (0.o I have yet to learn Spanish well)

He began to write fairly good verses when he was young and when he was sixteen he entered a Nonconformist Academy at Stoke Newington under the care of Mr. Thomas Rowe, the pastor of an independent congregating, and of this congregation Watts became a member in 1693.

One year later, when he was twenty, he left the academy and spent two years at home. Watt grew concerned with the deplorable state to which the congregational singing had degenerated to in most English-speaking churches. They apparently would sing the psalms by having an appointed Deacon read a line or two, which was than followed by the rest of the congregation droning the same line. Watts wrote once, “The singing of God’s praise is the part of worship most closely related to heaven; but its performance among us is the worst on earth.”

One Sunday after his father listened to his rail against the congregational singing he said, “Why don’t you give us something better, young man!” And before the evening service began Watts had written his first Hymn. After that he wrote a new hymn every Sunday for two years.

It was during that time that When I Survey the Wondrous Cross and the bulk of the Hymns and Spiritual Songs was written. It is thought that Behold the glories of the Lamb was the first hymn he composed.

It seems there were five verses, but the fourth verse is commonly omitted in printed versions, a practice that began with George Whitefield in 1757

As an interesting note: When I Survey the Wondrous Cross original title was Crucifixion to the World by the Cross of Christ.

The original title and the 2nd verse reference Galatians 6:14

“But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.”

And I will leave you with the 2nd verse of this lovely song.

“Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast, save in the death of Christ, my God.

All the vain things that charm me most—I sacrifice them to his blood.”

References:

101 Hymn Stories By Kenneth W. Osbeck

http://www.hymnary.org/

Wikipedia

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Thank you so, so much, Maria, for doing this amazing TBT post for us!!!! :) Didn't she do great? What is your favorite hymn by Isaac Watts? Who would you like to see featured in later TBT posts? 

 Be sure to check out Maria's blog, My Little Insignificant Life ,  for great book reviews and posts only she can write! :)

 Now go change the world!

~Annalysa 

Introduce Yourself: Nobody

Y'all - I didn't have anyone to do an Introduce Yourself post today!!!! So, please, please send me your posts and anything else music related too! :) musicwriter941@gmail.com

~Annalysa

Introduce Yourself: Naomi

 

My name is Naomi D., I'm 15 years old, I have 9 siblings, and 8 of us can play the piano.

The piano is the only instrument I play and I've played it for 4 1/2- 5 years. I really enjoy playing it and I hope to keep playing it for the rest of my life. My brother and I are probably the ones that love piano the most out of all of us. We share songs with each other and he gives me tips.

I take piano lessons once a week and I enjoy the festival and my teachers recitals that she gives. I just recently memorized and played Clair de Lune by Claude Debussy for festival. It's my favorite song I've ever played.

I also really enjoy listening to music as well, some of my favorite artists are Britt Nicole, Lecrae, Andy Mineo, TobyMac, and Capital Kings. I really like to sing and one of my favorite things to do is stand around our piano with my family while my brother plays and we all sing hymns and Christmas carols. My aim that I try to pursue with music is to glorify God in all that I do and say!!!!!!

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Thanks, Naomi! :)

If you want to do an Introduce Yourself post, email me at musicwriter941@gmail.com. I look forward to hearing from you!

Now go change the world!

~Annalysa

Musical Mondays Update

So a while ago, I posted an idea called Musical Mondays... If we are to go on with the idea, I'm gonna need submissions! :) You can send them to musicwriter941@gmail.com... :) Also, is anyone interested in music history?

Introduce Yourself: Rebecca

Hey everyone! My name is Rebecca G. and I'm fifteen years old. My very favorite instrument has always been guitar so when I was about ten I started to learn how to play it. I've played piano too since the earliest I can remember. No one in my family takes lessons so we teach ourselves through books, videos, and other random stuff. My sisters and I play special music at churches and conferences here and there. That's always a blast! I hope to learn the violin sometime but before I start that I plan to upgrade my guitar. This is a picture of the new one (I don't have it yet but will, hopefully, have soon :)

​
My favorite genres of music are contemporary christian and country. I really love country. My inspiration for playing guitar was Taylor Swift. She taught herself to play and became really good at it. She doesn't play country music anymore though which is kinda sad. :( Another artist I like is TobyMac. He plays some pretty inspiring songs about our great God!

I'm not sure if I have anything else to tell about my music so I'll just give some random facts about me. I love books! And when I say love I really mean love. :) Ask anyone who knows me and they'll agree. I started a blog called The Booklover's Tranquillity so I could do something with the books after I read them. It has reviews, character spotlights, and just recently added, author interviews.

Besides books, my hobbies include: drawing, writing, graphic designing, baking, snow skiing, jogging (although I love the racing aspect more than the practicing :), and in summer swimming. (We swim in our ponds so that's not an option during winter or any other cold season.) My dream is to design websites, logos, backgrounds, etc., as an actual job. I have so much fun with it and then to get paid too… :) My favorite book of the Bible is Philippians. Favorite color… that's hard to decide, I change so often. Right now it's either orange or teal.

So those are basically the main facts about me. I'm sure I could come up with more but now you probably know me as well as most people. Except for my family members, I think they know as much about me as I do myself. Sometimes I surprise them but it's not often. They've got me figured out.

Thanks for having me on the blog, Annalysa! I look forward to the posts.

Introduce Yourself: Rachel

Hello!  My name is Rachel M., and I live in the wilds of Alaska.  I’m 13 years old, and I’ve been doing piano since I was….6?  Or something like that. ;)  I’m not so far along as I would like to be, but I suppose I’m doing well enough, since I had a 2-year break that ended at the end of the National Bible Bee season.  (That’s when we ‘officially’ started school.)  

This summer, our family was able to begin making our lifetime dream true: playing strings together as a family.  My older sister and I began playing violin, Mom and my younger sister on viola, and Dad and my younger brother on cello.  We just had a baby, so we’re not sure where he’ll fit in.  Oh well, we have a while to decide. ;)  We actually have only had one lesson, and that kind of kicked us off, but it sounds like we will be able to start them up again!  

One of the ladies in our church has a really good handbell set, and we’ve played a few songs since we moved up to AK, but haven’t really been doing it consistently.  Now, hopefully, we’ll be able to start ringing more often, with Dani (older sis), Dad, Mom and me with the honors of some of the most experience ringers!  Can’t wait for that!

My Dad and Mom both have been involved in music since they were young (Dad had an opera singer for a voice teacher from 6 years old to his teens; Mom accompanied the high school choir when she was about 11- shows you how good she is! ☺), and so they started a homeschool choir up here.  We did two very fun years of it, then our family was gone for 19 months on a very long road trip Outside. (Lower 48)  (We’re missionaries to the Natives up here, and the trip was to do deputation to raise support for that.)  This year we’ve all been very excited that we’ve started up again!  We’ve been having a LONG break since Christmas, because of our new baby and some minor complications that have come with that.  Hopefully- maybe- we can start some week soon!

A big thank you to Annalysa for letting me do this this week!

 Rachel M.

                                                  

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Thank you, Rachel, for doing this week's "Introduce Yourself" post! If you want to do an "Introduce Yourself" post, send me an email at musicwriter941@gmail.com. "Introduce Yourself" posts every Saturday! :)

Now go change the world!

~Annalysa

Music Resources!!!

I thought I would just let you guys know about a website where I get a lot of hymn arrangements and songs for church. James Koerts has a lot of really pretty songs (and all different levels as well). I would definitely recommend him if your looking for hymn arrangements. He even has 2 pages of free sheet music :)

Some of my personal favorites:

I Surrender All

Come Thou Fount (love this one)

To God Be The Glory (my recital song)

If your anything like me, I usually end up running out of music resources, so I hope these will be helpful!

 ~Hope M.

 

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Thanks so much, Hope, for sending these in! :) If you have any music resource favorites, please feel free to send them in!!! :) musicwriter941@gmail.com 

.... Chat Page!

Introduce Yourself: Maria

Hi! My name is Maria =D

I found this Blog through Annalysa…We have known each other for about…….well, since she was 4…=D

I am a Christian 17 year old high school graduate. And I am planning on staring college in the fall =D

My sister taught me piano basics when I was….8… I think? I started taking from Annalysa’s Mom when I was 10 =D I am currently not taking lessons though I still love to play =D  

I started learning the flute a little while back (so if there is anyone who knows how to play the flute I would be happy for any advice as I am trying to teach myself) 0.o

I also have to say that I love the Piano Guys =D

There is not much else to say…..

Other than playing the Piano and squeaking on the Flute I enjoy reading, my cat, cleaning my house (when it is not full of people), hanging with my family, playing Ultimate Frisbee, writing and talking…

I guess that is it =D

Thanks for letting me post, Annalysa! =D 

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Thanks, Maria! Remember, if you want to do an Introduce Yourself post, send me an email at musicwriter941@gmail.com.

1400 Valentine Cards by February 14th

Yes, I know this is totally unrelated to music, but I thought y'all might be interested. I found The Valentine Card Challenge through The Rebelution, so you rebelutionaries have probably already seen this, but it's so simple! Make/buy a Valentine's Day card, write in it, and send it off, where it will be sent to children in prisons/orphanages. Please check it out and do at least one!!! :)

Now go change the world!

~Annalysa

Introduce Yourself: Eden

Hey People,

I'm Eden and I am here, thanks to Annalysa, to introduce myself.  There's not too much to say about me, I'm 16, a Christian, one of 7 children, and I'm a singer.
Some of the things I enjoy doing include ballet, singing/music, swimming, being with my amazing family, talking, laughing, and much more.

After having a strong base in piano, I moved on and started singing lessons in Feburary of 2013.  I am mostly classical, but I also sing Broadway, a little jazz, contemporary, etc.

So yeah... that pretty much sums up my "music life." ;)



Thanks Eden! :) Be sure to check out her blog, Eden's Evaluations, and her video of "The Holy City" on the "Video" tab. If you want to be featured in an "Introduce Yourself" post, email me at musicwriter941@gmail.com

Musical Mondays?

So I was wondering if I could get enough content to have Musical Mondays (every Monday)? People submit their videos of covers, original songs, performances, etc. Do you think we would have enough content and be able to keep MM going for a while? I'd love to hear your thoughts and ideas for the blog!!! This is a community, not a single-writer blog. If you're a blogger and would like to help with the posts or moderate, let me know! :)

~Annalysa

P.S. Be on the lookout this Saturday for an Introduce Yourself post from my friend, Eden, at Eden's Evaluations! Remember, if you want to do an Introduce Yourself post, email me at musicwriter941@gmail.com!

Introduce Yourself: Hope

Hi I'm Hope, and I found out about this blog through The Rebelution, where some of us got carried away talking about music and clubs and what not. And now we have a blog, thanks Annalyse!!

I technically play several instruments, but the core instruments I play would be the cello and the piano. I started piano when I was 6 (I'm now 16). I started the cello 3 years ago, with also a 8 month pause due to cello injuries (and it just rebroke..cello repairs are so expensive!!) I played clarinet for 3 years during middle school/early high school, and also the penny whistle (way to go Annalyse!). I love all these different instruments, some more than others, but they are all unique, fun, and I'll admit challenging at times! 

While I'm definitely not a composer, I love to play by ear and make stuff up on the piano. Most of my music experience comes from many opportunities I have been given in my church to serve. The more opportunities that have opened, the more I have had to practice, and It has definitely stretched me. So I would encourage you to embrace your instrument(s) and learn as much as you can about it and go all out for God's glory. You never know how He might allow you to impact others through music and how you might get to serve Him! Never stop pushing yourself!

Thanks so much, Hope! If you want to do an "Introduce Yourself" post, email me at musicwriter941@gmail.com.  

Follow by Email feature now!

You can now subscribe to the Musicians' Corner by email! On the left sidebar, there's a box that says "Follow by Email" - subscribe! :)

Shoutout to Rebecca!

A huge thank you to Rebecca G who designed the logo for "The Musician's Corner" - what do y'all think?!?!?! :)

Introduce Yourself: Annalysa

So I'd like to do an "Introduce Yourself" post on  someone different every week so if you want to do one, send me an email at musicwriter941@gmail.com. I'm sure we'd all like to get to know each other!

Since I'm here, I thought I might as well introduce myself...

My name is Annalysa and I'm 15 years old. I play piano, violin, cello, penny whistle, and I'm working on guitar. We have a banjo and an accordion and I have an ocarina but I haven't really progressed on those quite yet. My ocarina is mainly for playing around since it only plays an octave and a half...not too easy to play hard songs with.

I started playing piano when I was 2, violin when I was 6, and cello just last Christmas (not 2014, but 2013...okay, two Christmases ago, then) and penny whistle is kind of a hobby I picked up after I watched The Willis Clan play. Not that I'm as good as Jet, but I hope to be sometime.

I love music and just found that I could compose music last Mother's Day. I've written several songs too, and I hope to get a CD out one of these days, although by the time I actually do get it out, it'll probably be more on iTunes than CD. Does anyone actually use CD's anymore besides me and my family? :)

I'm really excited to get to know other like-minded musicians who love music as much as I do - who knows, maybe we'll be able to get to meet each other in person sometime! :)

Anyway, that's a little bit about me. I want to hear from y'all too, so send me an email if you want to do an "Introduce Yourself" post! I hope to post one every Saturday if I get enough!! :)

Now go change the world!

~Annalysa

Introductions

Hey everyone!!! :) Okay, here it is! I will hopefully work on it little by little until it doesn't look like a generic blog but feel free to start chatting in the comments!!! :) Use this post to introduce yourself in the comments :)