Singing Guide: Sovereign Grace Music
Vocal technique, exercises, tips and relevant resources
Sovereign Grace Music is a group of musicians who create songs for the church. Their songs are theologically rich, gospel-centered, and musically excellent. Learning to sing like them will require an understanding of their unique songwriting style, vocal technique, and gospel-driven approach.
One of the hallmarks of Sovereign Grace Music is their emphasis on congregational singing. Their goal is for the church to sing together, declaring the glories of God as one voice. This is reflected in their songwriting, which often features simple, memorable melodies and lyrics that are easy to sing.
To learn to sing like Sovereign Grace Music, start by familiarizing yourself with their discography. Some standout songs that showcase their style include "All I Have Is Christ," "Jesus, Thank You," and "Before the Throne of God Above." As you listen, pay attention to the melody, lyrics, and vocal harmonies.
In terms of vocal technique, Sovereign Grace Music places a high value on clarity and precision. This means focusing on proper breath support, clear articulation, and good intonation. Singing exercises like the ones found in the Singing Carrots resources can help develop these skills.
Breath support is especially important for singing Sovereign Grace Music's songs, as many of their melodies are quite long and require sustained notes. The Farinelli Breathing exercise is a great way to work on this.
In addition to technical skills, Sovereign Grace Music singers need to be able to convey the theological depth of their lyrics. This requires an understanding of the gospel and a commitment to proclaiming its truth through song. Singers should study relevant articles like "Singing with intuition, skills, emotion, and thinking" and "Vocal health" to gain a deeper understanding of the power of music in worship.
Ultimately, learning to sing like Sovereign Grace Music is about more than just hitting the right notes or mastering a particular vocal technique. It's about understanding the gospel and the role that music can play in proclaiming it to the world. By studying their songs, technical approach, and gospel-driven focus, singers can begin to cultivate a voice that declares the glory of God in a way that is uniquely their own.