The Texas Normal Singing School presents the most robust curriculum of its kind. Our aim is to equip, educate, and inspire our students and graduates to be successful as the primary resource in their local congregation for all matters pertaining to worship, particularly singing. The breadth and depth of our curriculum reflect that goal.
At its fullest, the Singing School presents a four-year certification program that leads a student through a proscribed curriculum. TNSS students may take any courses they like, but students intending to earn the Public Worship Leadership (Men) or Church Music (Women) certifications must complete the required course load.
Click on any of the Course Series labels below to explore the classes offered in those disciplines.
Music Theory Courses (MT Series)
MT101 – Fundamentals of Church Music Theory (“Music Theory”)
MT101SP – Fundamentos de Teoría Musical en la Iglesia (“Teoría Musical“)
Recommended for: Any interested in the basics of music and/or learning how to teach music to a congregation
Required for: All first-year students (A student may test out of this class)
Description: The basics necessary to read music are covered
Goal: To equip the student with the basics of music as it pertains to church music
Topics:
- Elements of sound and songs
- Absolute pitch notation
- Pitch modification
- Development of scales
- Relative pitch notation
- Chromatic scale
- Note length notation
- Rhythm
- Repeats and endings
- Volume and tempo notation
MT102 – Applied Music Theory (“Music Theory for Song Leaders”)
MT201 – Music Theory 201 (“Harmony 1” or “Introduction to Harmony”)
Recommended for: Any interested in the basics of music harmony theory
Required for: All second-year students or students that test out of Music Theory
101 (A student may test out of this class)
Description: Introduction to the theory and use of chords in church music
Goal: To equip the student with knowledge and use of the primary major chords
Topics:
- Review of Music Theory 101 material
- Major diatonic scale
- Intervals
- Chords of the major keys
- Use of the Tonic, Dominant, and Sub-dominant chords
- Dominant seventh chord
- Inversions
- Passing and neighboring tones
MT301 – Music Theory 301 (“Harmony 2”)
Recommended for: Any interested in the basics of music harmony theory
Required for: All third year students not in certification tracks or students that test out of Music Theory 201
Description: A continuation of harmony theory through altered chords
Goal: To equip the student with knowledge and use of the primary and secondary chords
Topics:
- Review of Music Theory 201 material
- Figured bass notation
- Secondary chords
- Other seventy and ninth chords of the major keys
- Cadences
- Altered chords
MT401 – Music Theory 401 (Harmony 3)
Harmony 3 is only offered under special circumstances.
Recommended for: Any interested in advanced church music theory
Required for: n/a
Description: A continuation of harmony theory
Goal: To further equip the student with knowledge and use of advanced techniques with chords and progressions
Topics:
- Shaped notes and solphege in the chromatic scale
- Intervals based on size and quality
- Major and Harmonic Minor scales
- Construction, recognition, and use of triads and 4-tone chords
- Non-harmonic tones
- Structure of musical phrases
- Chord progression using both major and minor triads
- Concepts of regression and neutral tonic chord
- Using dominant-function chords for modulation
- Various types of augmented 6th chords
Sight Reading and Vocal Culture Courses (SR Series, VC Series)
SR101 – Sight Reading 101 (“Beginning Sight Reading”)
Recommended for: Any interested in learning how to read music
Required for: All first- and second-year students
Description: Learn to read shaped notes, note length, observe repeats and observe dynamic markings
Goal: To equip the student to read new music and voice parts
Topics:
- The major diatonic scale
- Determining the keytone
- The minor scale
- Note length
- Rhythm patterns
- Voice parts
- Repeats and endings
- Dynamic markings
SR201 – Sight Reading 201 (“Advanced Sight Reading”)
Recommended for: Any interested in expanding their sight-reading ability
Required for: Those completing any of the certification programs
Description: A continuation of building skills learned in Sight Reading 101
Goal: To equip the student with skills to read more difficult music and conventional notation
Topics:
- Tune intervals
- Sing and understand major and minor intervals
- Sing 3 forms of minor scales
- Sing chromatic notes using solfege
- Sight read completely unknown material
- Lead or rehearse group rehearsals and sectionals for unknown material
- Sing solfege of a memorized melody without written assistance
- Identify a song by the written melody alone
VC101 – Vocal Culture (“Voice Lessons”)
Song Leading Courses (SL Series, Video Coaching)
SL101T – Song Leading for Teens
SL101A – Song Leading for Adults (“Beginning Song Leading”)
SL101SP – Líder de Canto Enseñado
Recommended for: Any interested in learning to lead singing
Required for: All first-year song leading students Students may test out of this class.
Description: The basics of leading singing are introduced and practiced as a group and individually
Goal: To equip the student with basic skills to lead singing in a congregational environment
Topics:
- Announcing a song
- Determining pitch
- Starting a song
- Correct hand motions in different meters
- Voice projection
- Ending a song
SL201A – Song Leading 2 (“Intermediate Song Leading”)
Recommended for: Any interested in expanding their song leading skills
Required for: All second-year song leading students
Description: More advanced song leading skills are presented and practiced along with using projected song presentations
Goal: To equip the student with more advanced skills used in leading singing in a congregational environment
Topics:
- Review of Beginning Song Leading material
- Mechanics
- Resources
- Teamwork
- Spirituality
- Technology
- Issues in song leading
SL301 – Advanced Song Leading
Recommended for: Any interested in expanding their song leading skills
Required for: All third year song leading students
Description: More advanced song leading skills are presented and practiced
Goal: To equip the student with more advanced skills to lead singing in a congregational environment
Topics:
- From paper to paperless
- Praise teams and beyond
- From song leader to worship leader
- Individualism to collectivism
- Future shock
- Train for public assembly leading
SL401 – Worship Leader Dynamics
Video Coaching Lab
Songwriting Courses (SW Series, FS Series)
SW101 – Song Writing
Recommended for: Any interested in writing lyrics and music
Required for: All song writing students
Description: Basics in lyric composition and music authorship to more advanced assignments in arranging
Goal: To write a singable song while in this class
Topics:
- Lyric composition
- Music authorship
- Styles of songs
- Arranging
FS101 – Finale® Software (Introduction to Finale Music Publication Software)
Recommended for: Any interested in writing and/or publishing music
Required for: Any song-writing students
Requirements: The student must bring their own laptop to use in class
Description: Basics of Finale and its use in publishing music
Goal: To gain a basic knowledge of the use of Finale
Topics:
- Loading Finale on your computer
- Setting up Finale for use
- Entering music
- Entering text
- Formatting the page
- Formatting endings
- Dynamic markings
- Using shaped notation
- Printing music from Finale
- Saving Finale files in pdf format and making slides for PowerPoint®
Music Appreciation and History Courses (MA Series)
MA101 – Music Appreciation 1 (“History of Church Music”)
Recommended for: Any interested in the history of our church music
Required for: All first year students (Open to spouses of paying students)
Description: Biblical music history and stories behind specific songs, authors and composers
Goal: For the student to gain an appreciation for our music heritage
Topics:
- Music in the Bible
- Post New Testament church music
- Reformation music
- British hymns and authors
- American hymns and authors
- Composers and authors from the churches of Christ
MA201 – Music Appreciation 2 (“Trends in Church Music”)
Recommended for: Any interested in visualizing how our music has and is changing
Required for: All second-year students
Description: A survey of church music and changing times
Goal: To equip the student with a basic knowledge of the various styles of church music and how they relate to culture
Topics:
- Physical history found in the ACU Library Archives
- Music during the Restoration Movement
- Sacred Harp singing and Shape Notation
- Hymnals during the Restoration Movement
- Liturgical materials, A/V resources in worship
- Contemporary Music
- What does the future hold
MA301 – Music Appreciation 3 (“History of Public Worship”)
Recommended for: Any interested in the history of public worship
Required for: All third-year students
Description: Review of the history of public worship from historical and Biblical perspectives
Goal: For the student to gain an appreciation of customs and heritage in our worship
Topics:
- Pre-Mosaic worship
- Worship under the Mosaic Law
- Jewish synagogue worship
- New Testament worship
- Home churches
- The Roman Church
- Worship during the reformation movement
- Worship in the Americas
- Worship during the restoration movement
MA401 – Music Appreciation (“Science of Sound”)
Recommended for: All fourth-year students
Description: This class focuses on a practical understanding of sound as it relates to singing. Material presentation is through numerous visual aids and demonstrations. Some fundamental math concepts are used, but are thoroughly covered as part of the course.
Goal: To give the student a basic conversational understanding of the principles of sound
Topics:
- The four characteristics of sound
- Hearing
- Singing
- Musical scale
- Interference
- Standing waves
- Resonance
- Architectural acoustics
Singers Workshop Courses (SC Series)
SC101 – Singer’s Choral Workshop (Singer’s Workshop)
Recommended for: Any interested in singing church music; Any instructor not busy during this period; Open to spouses of paying students.
Required for: All students not in song leading, song writing, or certification tracks
Description: A chorus is formed from all attending students
Goal: To help the student become a better singer, follow direction, and perform before others
Topics:
- Breathing control
- Vocal warm-ups
- Vocal techniques
- Sight-reading
- Part singing
- Blending
- Choral performance
Men’s Certification in Public Worship Leadership Courses (PW Series)
PW301 – Men’s Certification Program (Public Worship Development)
Recommended for: Those wishing to be a full-time or part-time worship minister
Required for: Public Worship Certification
Description: Material covered prepares a song leader to be a worship leader
Goal: To provide training and materials to develop abilities contributing to better worship
Topics:
- The Public Assembly in the Bible
- Hospitality
- Prayer
- The Lord’s Supper
- The Scriptures
- Zeal for the Lord
PW401 – Men’s Certification Program (Public Worship Leadership)
Recommended for: Those wishing to be a full-time or part-time worship minister
Required for: Those seeking Public Worship Certification
Description: Material covered prepares a song leader to be a worship leader
Goal: To provide additional training and materials to develop abilities contributing to better worship
Topics:
- Ministry of Assembly: An Overview
- The 90 Minute Assembly
- Emotional Intelligence & Encouragement
- Lord’s Supper: Then and Now
- Church Growth
- Training for the Future
PW302 – Children and Church Music
Women’s Certification in Church Music Courses (WC Series)
Post-Certification Courses (PC Series)
PC501 – Post Certification (Post Graduate class)
Recommended for: Any returning student that has finished all regular track material
Required for: None
Description: Material changes from year to year
Goal: To give the student additional resources in their quest to be the best song/worship leader possible
Topics: As requested in advance by returning students
Escuela de Canto (SP Series)
SL101SP –Líder de canto enseñado en español.
Título: Líder de canto nivel (principiante).
Recomendado: para cualquier interesado en aprender a conducir canto.
Requerido: para todos los estudiantes del primer año. (Los estudiantes que conozcan el tema pueden optar por tomar el examen de esta clase).
Descripción: Los fundamentos del líder de canto se introducirán y se practicarán en grupo y también individualmente.
Objetivo: Dotar al estudiante con habilidades básicas para conducir el canto en un entorno congregacional.
Temas:
- Anunciando el canto.
- Determinando el tono del canto.
- Iniciar el canto.
- Movimientos correctos de la mano en diversos tiempos
- Proyección de la voz
- Conclusión del canto.
- Manejar correctamente situaciones básicas durante el canto.
- Planificación de servicios de adoración.
- Inteligencia emocional.
MT101SP – Fundamentos de la teoría de la música (clase de español)
Recomendado: para cualquier interesado en los fundamentos de la música o aprender a enseñar música a una congregación
Para: todos los estudiantes año primera (si el estudiante conoce el tema puede solo el examen de esta clase)
Descripción: Se cubren los conceptos básicos necesarios para leer música
Objetivo: Para equipar al estudiante con los conceptos básicos de la música en relación con la iglesia
Temas:
- Elementos de sonido y canto.
- Afinación del tono.
- Modificación del tono.
- Desarrollo de escalas
- Notación de tono relativo
- Escala cromática
- Notación de longitud de nota
- Ritmo
- Repeticiones y terminaciones
- Notación de volumen y tempo