The Texas Southern Gospel School Of Music (TSGSM) is open to anyone age seven and up. Group classes include beginning and advanced Music Theory, Sight Reading, Conducting, Ear Training, and Vocal Techniques. When there is sufficient demand, classes may also be offered for Finale (music notation software), Lyric Writing, Vocal Therapy, Songwriting, Performance/Sound, and Southern Gospel Music History.

Private lessons in voice, piano, and guitar are also offered as well as instruction duets, trios, quartets, and ensembles. Twice each day, students assemble for group singing. A concert is presented on the final day of school.

The TSGSM’s 22nd annual event is happening July 9-20, 2018 at Navarro College in Corsicana, Texas. Apply by April 15 if you plan to attend.

Liz Autry serves as president of the TSGSM. Past (and possibly future) instructors include names you may recognize including Jack Clark, Ellen Marsh, and Jeremy McKissack.

Last year, the school produced a recording of 18 new songs mostly drawn from the following publications: Highly Exalted (Cumberland Valley Music), Glorify Him (Jeffress/Phillips Music), Shout It! (Leoma), Spiritual Gospel (Freeman & Beavers Music & Printing), and Convention Praise (Southern Legacy). Some songwriters you may recognize include Eugene McCammon, Charles L. Towler, and Harold Lane. Songs were recorded after just nine days of instruction, an impressive accomplishment when you consider most of the singers are amateurs.

Titled Texas Southern Gospel School Of Music 2017, the CD also includes five piano tracks for accompaniment to perform the songs. Understand, it isn’t a professional studio recording. Mic placement and so forth could be better, for example. What this CD does offer is a glimpse at the joy that comes from group singing. It’s also a great advertisement for the sort of music students can learn to sing after just a short time of rehearsal in a singing school environment.

Click HERE to shoot the TSGSM a message if you’re interested in buying the CD.