I have heard it said that there were traditionally three different schools of singing: French, German, and Italian. I lack the musical knowledge to confidently distinguish between them, but my understanding is that the French school values vocal clarity and agility, the German school values vocal power and drama, and the Italian school values clear and beautiful tones.
To these schools of singing I would like to add a fourth: The school of Christ. The German school expects its singers to focus on projection and resonance, the French school on precision, the Italian school on a kind of agility that allows them to create beauty through complexity. But the school of Christ has an entirely different focus.
The school of Christ is much less concerned with the outer man than the inner. It does not demand a voice that is flawless but a heart that is broken. It does not demand excellence in performance but contrition before the Lord. It does not look to the affirmation of an audience but the smile of God.
In the school of Christ it counts for little if a voice precisely communicates outward emotion,
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