77: The 10 Elements of the Best Hymn Study Course Ever and Launch Day for Great Hymns of the Faith volume 2!

Great Hymns of the Faith Volume 2 Launch + 10 Elements That Make This Hymn Study Unique

Welcome to the Music in Our Homeschool podcast! Today is an exciting launch day for Great Hymns of the Faith Volume 2, the newest hymn study course designed to deepen your family's faith and musical understanding. Join Gena Mayo as she shares the 10 unique elements that make these courses stand out—whether you have preschoolers or teens, musical beginners or seasoned singers.

Discover how this course blends multi-age activities, four-part harmony singing, devotional reflections by homeschool moms, inspiring composer stories, engaging music theory lessons, Bible study, and hands-on printables to create a rich, flexible, and faith-centered homeschool resource. If you’ve ever wished for a simple way to connect music, faith, and family in your homeschool, this episode is for you!

Tune in to hear real-life examples, practical ideas, and why families say they’ve never experienced hymn study quite like this. Links to free previews and enrollment details are here: https://musicinourhomeschool.com/elements-best-hymn-study-course/

Please follow/subscribe to the podcast and leave a 5-star review and comment if you liked this episode! Find all courses at https://Learn.MusicinOurHomeschool.com ,free music lessons here: https://MusicinOurHomeschool.com/FreeMusicLessons , and lots more links here: https://linktr.ee/genamayo !

Transcript

E77 The 10 Elements of the Best Hymn Study Course Ever Aug 4

[00:00:00] Welcome back to the Music in Our Homeschool podcast. Today is launch day for the newest hymn study course for Music in Our Homeschool Great Hymns of the Faith volume two. I'm your host, Gena Mayo, and I'm so glad you're here today. I want to pull back the curtain and share what makes our Great Hymns of the Faith courses truly unique and why so many homeschool families say they've never experienced hymn study like this before.

If you've ever longed for a simple way to weave faith, music, and family connection into your homeschool days, keep listening. I'm going to walk you through the 10 elements that set my hymn study courses apart. With real life examples and stories from my own family and the families that I serve.

 Element number one is that Great Hymns of the Faith is for all ages. One of my very first goals when I created Great Hymns of the Faith was to make sure that it truly works [00:01:00] for families of all ages. If you're anything like me, your homeschool may have preschoolers, elementary kids, middle schoolers, and even high schoolers, all learning together.

I know how hard it can be to find music resources that don't leave someone out.

That's why every hymn study module includes something for everyone. The youngest kids can join in with the simple coloring pages and copy work that comes in three styles, including a dotted letter tracing style for the early writers and listening activities that even little ears will enjoy. Meanwhile, older kids and moms can dig deeper into the stories behind the hymns, enjoy beautifully written devotionals from some homeschool moms just like you, and even learn to sing hymns in four-part harmony. Many families have told me that these lessons have given them a special way to gather together, even across a big age span, and grow in faith and music appreciation at the same [00:02:00] time.

Element number two is to learn to sing in four-part harmony. One of the most beloved features of the Great Hymns of the Faith courses is the chance to actually learn to sing in harmony, not just the melody.

When I started this project, I wanted to give families something I wish I'd had when my kids were younger, step-by-step, approachable harmony singing. For every hymn you'll find demonstration videos or audios with me singing the soprano and alto lines, and my son Ben, singing the tenor and bass for volume one and me singing soprano, alto, and tenor with my son Isaiah, singing bass for volume two. We break it down so that you can practice along with us on your own part, and then after you have learned that, well, you can sing with someone else who has learned a different part. If you've ever wondered how church choirs could just pick up parts around the piano, these lessons will show you [00:03:00] how. Even if you think you're not musical, you'll be surprised at how quickly you and your kids can start learning the harmonies and experiencing the joy of singing together as a family or a homeschool group.

Element number three is that you get devotionals from encouraging homeschooling moms. I truly believe hymns aren't just music lessons. They're powerful personal faith builders. That's why I ask some of the most thoughtful and encouraging homeschool mom business owners that I know to write devotionals for each hymn. These aren't generic devotionals. They're heartfelt personal stories, prayers and reflections on how the words of each hymn have shaped their families and deepened their walks with Christ. Some of the devotionals brought tears to my eyes as I edited them, and many of you have told me the same. You'll get to hear from women like Melanie Wilson, Alisha Gratehouse, Ann Marie [00:04:00] Gosnell, Stacey Farrell, Ana Willis, Tauna Meyer, Danika Cooley, Kathy Gossen, Melinda Dueck, Kimberly Nicole Steenberger Jessica Anderson, Kristen Escalara, Suzanne Gose, and Dachelle McVey. Their words bring out new meaning in the hymns, helping you apply them to your own daily life as a mom and as a family.

Element number four are the composer and lyricist stories. Behind every hymn is a story, a real person with real struggles and faith. In both volumes. I take you behind the scenes to learn about the lives of the composers and lyricists, like John Newton, the former slave ship captain who wrote Amazing Grace or William Cowper, who battled deep depression, but gave us the song There is a Fountain. Others were written during moments of victory or deep devotion.

Discovering these stories has changed how I [00:05:00] sing and teach hymns, because now I see each one as a testimony of God's grace. Your family will not only memorize the music, but also remember the faithful men and women who poured out their hearts to God in song.

Element number five is the Story behind the hymn. Along with the composer's biographies, I've researched and written the Story Behind the Hymn for every hymn in the courses. These are moments in history that gave birth to the lyrics. Sometimes a tragic loss, a miraculous rescue or a revival swept through a church or nation, for example, you'll learn what inspired the hymn. It is Well with My Soul and How Greatest Thy Faithfulness was born out of one man's quiet trust through years of illness and struggle.

I've also included engaging video clips and illustrations when possible so your family can actually see how these hymns have traveled through time touching lives [00:06:00] for generations. These stories can help us connect emotionally and spiritually to the music and give us a fresh gratitude for God's faithfulness.

Element number six is that there is a wide variety of hymns. I wanted both volumes to include a wide range of hymn styles and eras. That means you'll find everything from the Majestic High Church hymns like Holy, holy, holy to Gospel style favorites like Count Your Blessings, plus Beloved classics such as Nearer My God to Thee, His Eye is on the Sparrow, and a Mighty Fortress is our God. You'll learn about songs you've probably heard before, such as Amazing Grace, but hopefully some new ones too. Okay. The variety keeps your study fresh and introduces your kids to the rich heritage of Christian worship across cultures and centuries.

I carefully selected hymns that are both meaningful and musically interesting, so your family will want [00:07:00] to return to them year after year and maybe even add some new favorites to your family's worship time.

Element number seven is that you get performances in many styles. I believe hymns are meant to be sung and heard and not just read on the page. For every hymn, you'll find links to at least three different performances. These include traditional choir performances with organ or orchestra, modern arrangements with modern instruments, acapella singing versions, and even unexpected styles, like all instrumental or folk. You'll even.

You'll be a, You'll be able to compare how amazing grace sounds with a group of women singing it, men singing acapella, sung by a choir with orchestra, and with bagpipes. This exposure not only keeps things interesting for your kids, but also helps them appreciate how each generation and culture brings something [00:08:00] new to these timeless songs. I encourage you to try singing or playing along with your favorite version.

Element number eight is that you get a music appreciation or music theory lesson for every hymn. This is where my inner music teacher comes out. Every hymn comes with a custom music appreciation or music theory lesson that explores a concept related to the hymn. In volume one, you'll learn about the pentatonic scale, hymn tunes, hymn meters, and even take a first voice lesson with me. In volume two, you'll dive into topics like modulation, strophic form, how composers paint pictures with music, spirituals and gospel roots, minor keys, imagery in music, march rhythms in 2/4 time, stepwise motion in the melody, and rubato and expressive singing.

These lessons are broken down so that anyone, even if [00:09:00] you've never taken a music lesson before, can understand and enjoy them. You'll also find hands-on activities, listening challenges, and opportunities to create your own music or lyrics. It's music appreciation and music theory made fun and practical for your whole family.

Element number nine is that you get a Bible study with every hymn. At the core of these courses is the desire to connect music to God's word. Every hymn study includes a short Bible study for a related scripture passage. Sometimes you'll study just a few verses. Sometimes it's a full chapter. The Bible studies tie the message of the hymn back to God's word so that you can have meaningful discussions and prayer time as a family.

Many families use these as part of their morning time or family worship, or you can use them for your personal quiet time with the Lord. It's my prayer that as you sing and study these [00:10:00] hymns, your family's love for God's word will grow a right alongside your love of music.

And finally, element number 10 is that you get original printables and hands-on activities. Because I know how much homeschoolers and their kids love hands-on activities, I've created lots of printables for each hymn. You get copywork pages and three styles, a coloring page, and sometimes other interactive activities in addition to the sheet music that you get for each hymn. These aren't just busy work. They're designed to help all kinds of learners engage with the hymns in a creative, memorable way. Let your music time connect to other disciplines and use the copywork for handwriting practice.

In closing today, if you want a music and faith resource that's truly comprehensive, flexible, and full of rich content, I invite you to check out Great Hymns of the Faith volume one and the b rand [00:11:00] new volume two that is launching today. These courses are completely self-paced and lifetime access and designed to bless your family for years to come. Whether you're musical or just starting out, you'll find free previews and sample lessons so you can try them out before you buy. So head to the links that you'll find in the show notes or description, and you will also find the coupon codes for the special sale that we're having today.

Thank you so much for joining me on this special look behind the scenes of Great Hymns of the Faith. If you have any questions or want a personal recommendation or maybe you just want to share how hymn study has blessed your homeschool, please reach out.

I love connecting with you. Visit Music in Our Homeschool.com for all the details and enroll today. Okay,

Next week we'll continue to talk about Great Hymns of the Faith. So I will see you then.

Find links to all resources mentioned in this episode here: https://musicinourhomeschool.com/elements-best-hymn-study-course/