One of my most special memories is kneeling next to my bishop at age 16, blessing the Sacrament in Jerusalem.
We were on a choir tour of the Holy Land and our director was my Stake President. He gathered the LDS choir members for a Sacrament Meeting and asked my Bishop and I, both members of the tenor section, to bless.
The thought of blessing emblems of Christ's sacrifice, while being physically very near the place where he bled and died for us, was overwhelming.
Several other memorable moments occurred during that meeting. But one of my favorites was ending with the closing song, "Jesus, Savior, Pilot Me."
I remember thinking I'd never seen this hymn before.
But it left a deep impression on me.
A few years later, as a sophomore returned missionary at BYU-Idaho, I had my first opportunity to write a hymn arrangement.
I was the assistant conductor of one of the music department choirs, and when I asked the director if I could try my hand at writing an arrangement for our choir, the first hymn that came to mind was, "Jesus, Savior, Pilot Me."
I could still see myself blessing the Sacrament in Jerusalem. I remembered vividly being on the Sea of Galilee at midnight, sailing in the pitch dark on a replica of boats the apostles would have used... imagining the Savior walking on the water... imagining the winds and waves tossing the boat... the apostles fearing for their lives. And the, "Peace, be still."
These memories turned my first hymn arranging experience into a private testimony journal.
Now, each time I recall or sing this arrangement with my ward choir, those early testimony memories come flooding back.
And you can experience the same testimony journal experience.
It's one of the best reasons to embark on your own hymn arranging.
And just think what you can leave behind for children and grandchildren. You can leave them a piece of your testimony that can live one for generations.
To assist you on this journey, I hope you'll consider joining me for this first "Writing Your Hymn Arrangement with Dr. Douglas Pew" class that being THIS Friday, May 8th.
Every week for 8 weeks, we will have a 90-minute live class via a Zoom call. Each will take place at 2 p.m. mountain time.
If for some reason you can't make it, I'll make sure you get a recording of each class.
The goal is to start from scratch and end our 8 weeks together with a completed hymn arrangement (aka... musical testimony journal).
Tomorrow is the last day to sign up.
Instead of signing up for my normal $100/hour private music writing lessons, you'll get 8 weeks of instruction, plus access to me via a private Facebook group just for participants, and recordings of our classes for only $250.
Plus, at the link below, there's a 3-month payment option to make it a little easier.
Will you join us?
I can't wait to hear your musical testimony journal.
I can't wait for your kids and family to hear it too.
Here's the link to join:
https://douglaspew.thrivecart.com/writing-your-hymn-arrangement-with-doug/
See you soon,
Doug