When We Sing Well, We Pray Twice

“When we sing well, we pray twice.” – St. Augustine of Hippo

As one of the Seven Liberal Arts, music is an essential part of our program at Saint George Classical Academy. Learning to sing and play an instrument opens a child to the world of music, rich in beauty and culture. Studying music develops confidence, discipline and a sense of joy, while connecting us across cultures and generations.

We are thrilled to introduce Christopher Hartford, who will be teaching music and humanities for SGCA. He is a graduate of the Eastman School of Music (2010) where he studied music performance and education with an emphasis on Music Learning Theory. Mr. Hartford has over ten years of experience teaching in both Japan and the United States. He is a multi-instrumentalist, church choir director, and conductor. He will begin the CiRCE Institute’s three-year Master Classical Teacher Apprenticeship in July.

For years, Mr. Hartford has employed Music Learning Theory or the “Sound Before Sight” approach, a process of building a foundation of musical understanding and fluency developed by Dr. Edwin Gordon. SGCA students will be immersed in this system of musical skill development by listening to, singing, and playing music in a logical educational sequence that incorporates the skill of reading musical notation as a step that comes only after singing, “audiating” (a term created by Gordon that means singing in one’s head with understanding), and instrumental playing skills are established. This approach presents music to students as a living reality to joyfully experience and participate in. We are excited to begin with a comprehensive music program for students from pre-K through grade 5.