LSM Webinar series
LSM is pleased to announce a series of online events hosted by LSM Faculty and Friends! While in-person events remain on hiatus, this series of webinar-style events will bring our national and global LSM Community together to learn and discuss relevant, helpful, and interesting topics in music. Whether you are a high school student, a professional musician, or a lifelong listener, there is something enriching for everyone to enjoy!
All are welcome to join any of these events free of charge by completing a brief online registration to gain access to your event(s) of choice. Past webinars are archived for your ongoing reference.
See below for the current calendar of offerings!
Series: American Musical Experience
Hosted by Dr. Jacqueline Wilson
LSM’s “American Musical Experience” course is a series of webinars examining the various ways that music has shaped our national identity. Each seminar is designed to stand on its own and be easily understood by musicians and non-musicians of all levels, though participants may choose to attend them all.
Session 2: Blues and Jazz
Session 2: Blues and Jazz: This lecture will analyze how the impact of the Great Migration on early Blues and Jazz gave way to the successive styles of Swing, Bebop, Cool, and more!
Session 3: American Nationalism
Session 3: American Nationalism: An examination of our country’s quest for a nationalist school of composition ranging from Dvorak’s New World Symphony, to the works of Gershwin, Copland, Still, and Bernstein.
Creating a Summer Music Camp - a way to help grow your church's music program
Hosted by Michael Schaner
This webinar will present ideas on how to start a summer music camp at your church that will help grow your children's music ministry throughout the year. Summer music camps are a fantastic way to teach singing, handbells, chimes, percussion, Bible stories, worship, and so much more. Learn about an alternative (or addition) to VBS that will help your music program throughout the year.
From Stage Fright to Stage Presence
Hosted by Dr. Hannah Leffler and Dr. Steph Frye-Clark
From Stage Fright to Stage Presence, a class introducing techniques and tools to becoming a fearless and confident performer and collaborator. This webinar is ideal for anyone who feels that they want to be more confident when performing, conducting, or even leading worship services. Want to be excited rather than nervous for high pressure situations? This webinar is for you!
“Remember Well the Future”: Preparing a New Generation of Church Musicians
LSM alumni panel hosted by Chad Fothergill and Laura Potratz
LSM thanks Robin High for sponsoring this program
Conversations in the church about change often make assumptions about the wants or needs of younger generations, but seldom are their voices present in such dialogue. Moderated by LSM church music faculty Laura Potratz and Chad Fothergill, this panel of recent LSM alumni will discuss some of the pressing cultural, stylistic, and vocational concerns of our time from their perspectives. Together, we will consider such questions as:
1. What do younger generations seek from the church and its liturgy?
2. What is helpful or unhelpful about assumptions made on their behalf?
3. Do words like “traditional,” “contemporary,” or “authentic” matter?
4. Are there discrepancies between the aspirations of young leaders and what they feel is expected of them, or between their training and experience?
5. How can educational organizations and institutions better equip and support new generations of leaders in changing cultural and technological contexts, especially in a post-pandemic paradigm?
This is most certainly true: It’s difficult to teach band during a pandemic!
Hosted by Dr. Jeffrey Doebler
LSM thanks Tom and Sylvia Luekens for sponsoring this program
Clinician Jeff Doebler—who is also trying to teach band (and handbells) during the pandemic—will provide some suggestions for staying healthy and teaching students successfully, and will facilitate discussion among attendees about what is working for them.
Q&A with Carl Schalk
A prolific composer and beloved member of the LSM community, Dr. Schalk is the 2021 recipient of the Carlos Messerli Lifetime Service Award.
All are welcome to participate by asking questions or simply enjoying an intimate conversation with Dr. Schalk. Read more about Dr. Schalk and how LSM is honoring him HERE.
Series: American Musical Experience
Session 1: The Spiritual and Beyond
Hosted by Dr. Jacqueline Wilson
LSM’s “American Musical Experience” course is a series of webinars examining the various ways that music has shaped our national identity. Each seminar is designed to stand on its own and be easily understood by musicians and non-musicians of all levels, though participants may choose to attend them all.
Session 1: The Spiritual and Beyond. Join us for an investigation of America’s original church music from its slave origins to its subsequent influence on the uniquely African American styles of Jubilee, and Gospel.
Methods for Maintaining Vocal Health
Hosted by Dr. Jennifer Olson
LSM thanks Scott and Jane Sodergren for sponsoring this program
This seminar delves into the challenges singers face every day balancing the health of their instrument with the demands of performing, teaching, and talking. We'll cover the essentials of daily vocal health as well as how to deal with chronic and acute vocal issues that can arise at any point in a singing career.
On Pandemic, Singing, and Teaching: A Reformation Reflection
Hosted by Chad Fothergill
LSM thanks Robin High for sponsoring this program
This webinar will give tangible, practical steps for one of the most important Reformation legacies for the Lutheran church—the training and instruction of young musicians who enter a world marked by rapid technological and cultural change. We will also take stock of where we are in this time and place, to assess the challenges posed by the pandemic and anticipate creative opportunities for what may come.
Creating a Virtual Ensemble
Hosted by Chris Nelson
LSM thanks the C. Scott Company for sponsoring this program
The “Virtual Ensemble” is the music performance default for 2020. While we long to all make music together and invite all our friends and family to hear our offerings, we know our options to share these moments in community look different for the time being, so let’s make the best of it!
Chris Nelson, sound and video engineer at C. Scott Company will talk to us about the process of preparing for and creating a great virtual music offering. He’ll review everything from selecting repertoire best suited for virtual performance, to managing the logistics, and producing the best final product. While the means of making a virtual performance are very different from the music making we know and love, we can still offer an engaging and impactful gift that touches the hearts of viewers as if they were in the room with us. Come join us to learn more, and you’ll receive a free “virtual ensemble” recording guide to use in your next project.
