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MUSIC
David declares in Psalm 27:4, “One thing I have asked from the Lord, that I shall seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to meditate in His temple.” To behold God is to behold the author of all that is good, true, and beautiful. What God is determines what goodness is. What God is determines what truth is. What God is determines what beauty is. In his book, True Spirituality, Francis Schaeffer states, “Christians are to demonstrate God’s character, which is a moral demonstration, but it is not only to be a demonstration of moral principles; it is a demonstration of His being, His existence.” Music exists because God exists and is meant to demonstrate His creation and character to the world.
In order to demonstrate the goodness, truth, and beauty of God one must be able to create good, true and beautiful works of music. While there exists a level of musical ability and creativity that can only be attributed to the specific gifting of God, understanding of musical composition, and vocal and instrumental performance are also learnable skills that all can acquire. Beginning in the grammar stage, students are taught the basic elements of music theory while developing the ability to listen with appreciation to musical works. As the students progress through the logic and rhetoric stages of music our goal is that they not only are able to perform, but that they represent goodness, truth, and beauty in various expressions of musical works as a reflection of God. By the time they finish their course of studies at Veritas it is our desire that they have developed discernment that enables them to appreciate good, timeless music and recognize that which masquerades as such.
Music art instruction is integrated with the study of history so that students are exposed to great works of music that reflect the culture of the time period being studied. Math is about seeing relationships and patterns and so is arranging, playing or singing music. There is much crossover between the world of literature and music, as in poems given musical tones, psalms set to chants and stories given expression in operas, folk ballads or oratorios. Music relates to science as it touches on the production of sound whether in instruments or by human voice. The art of communication especially is applicable to musical expression. Music is the means by which many subjects are integrated and taught, especially in a classical setting.
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