Music
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Worship Leader, Are You Using the Wrong Metric?
It’s Advent, a season of special services and rousing carols. Even people who rarely listen to traditional worship music will find themselves humming along to “What Child is This?” or belting out “Glo-o-o-o-o-oooo-o-o-o-o-ooooo-o-o-o-o-ooo-ria!” when “Angels We Have Heard on High” plays. For contemporary and traditional worship leaders, the pressure is on. It may be a Continue reading
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On Piano Lessons: Reasons to Start and to Stop
Today was my last day of teaching piano—at least for now. I’m continuing to teach organ on the side, but needed to refocus my priorities in anticipation of my book’s release, dissertation prep, and increasing ministry commitments. This season of teaching ended in the best possible way: one of my students performed his first recital Continue reading
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Early Christmas Gifts + Road Trip Entertainment
Happy Thanksgiving week! Since this week marks the start of the Christmas season for many of us, I wanted to share a few recommendations to get you in the holiday spirit and—for those of you who are traveling—to help pass the hours. In the spirit of early Christmas, I’d like to give you a few Continue reading
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Core Memories, Weird Hobbies, and a High-Brow Christmas Bop
In graduate school, I was plunged into the deep end as my peers casually threw around words like “apophatic” and I wondered what on earth I’d gotten myself into. Fortunately, I found my footing and had a wonderful experience after that initial disorientation. One of my professors, an expert on theology and music, was known Continue reading
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This is My Story, This is My Song
Eight years ago, I raced down the hallway of the Biola University Conservatory and told a friend that I wanted to host a traditional worship chapel. My ever-patient and generous friends volunteered their voices and helped me borrow hymnals from the seminary (I think we had permission…?). We figured a few people who owed me Continue reading
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September Recommendations
I’ve been silent on my blog lately as I press into the final two months of manuscript writing/editing. Thanks to a walking pad, I’m staving off the stress of this process. I’ll be honest, though: trying to manage full-time music work, ministry, and writing has been a lot. A LOT. But I love it. I Continue reading
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Preliminary Findings of the (Not So) Tortured Poets’ Department
Date: April 19, 2024Department: The Not-So-Tortured Poets’ DepartmentLocation: UndisclosedDocument Status: Declassified, for Immediate Release to the Public We of the Not-So-Tortured Poets’ Department have reviewed the evidence brought before the world at exactly 12:00 a.m. this morning by one Miss Taylor Swift. To put it simply, we are concerned, not merely for the plaintiff’s wellbeing, Continue reading
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Sanctified Squirrels
Our basement is weird. Even weirder than the typical Midwestern basement. In one room, a pulpit faces a window looking out on an enormous oak tree. Squirrels dart to and fro as my husband preaches to their twitchy noses and (perhaps after frightening them with difficult theological truth) their bushy tails. Down the hallway lies Continue reading
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Reawaken Hymns Livestream
Yesterday, I participated in a livestream on the fruit of the Spirit in musical worship Nathan Drake of Reawaken Hymns. It was a wonderful time full of insight and humor. You can watch the complete livestream at the following link: Reawaken Hymns Livestream Continue reading
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Renew the Arts Podcast
I had the joy of recording a podcast for Renew the Arts, a patronage organization for Christian artists. We discussed my current project, the fruit of the Spirit in musical worship, and you can listen here: Renew the Arts Podcast Continue reading
Art, author, Bible, blog, blogger, Book, christ, christian, christian blogger, Christian living, christian music, christianity, church, church life, church musician, contemporary worship, faith, first draft, hymn, inspiration, learning, love, ministry, ministry life, Music, music life, music major, musician, organ, organist, poems, poets, reflection, sacred music, singing, song, theology, theology and the arts, traditional worship, truth, worship, writer, writing -
Not the First and the Last
There is a hole in my ceiling. In the basement room where I practice organ, what began as mild water damage is now a hole. My first instinct was anxiety, but as I investigated our home’s new “feature” last night, the following phrase came to mind: “You are not the first to have water damage, Continue reading
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You Might be an Accompanist If…
1. You can recognize a Mark Hayes arrangement from the opening measure. 2. You carry throat coat tea and lozenges around for other people. 3. You are NEVER without a pencil. 4. The sight of already hole-punched music fills you with joy. 5. You accidentally watch people’s hands instead of making eye contact during conversation Continue reading
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Ryanne Molinari 