MINISTRY IS WHAT WE ARE ABOUT.................................2009 School at Eastside Baptist Church 2100 N. Beach Fort Worth

•  Singing Schools
• are almost a thing of the past. 
• But, we both attended this type of school when we were younger and want to keep the tradition  alive.Our School is referred to as a "shape note school" because we do teach the 7 tone shape note system.  Each shape has a distinct tone. 
•  My grandfather taught this type of school for Mr. Frank Stamps and went all over Texas, Oklahoma, and New Mexico teaching 10 day "normals" for the Stamps Quartet Music Company of Dallas.  He had played the piano for Stamps Quartets and migrated to Lubbock in West Texas and was a popular pianist for the "singing conventions", which have just about died out.  There are still many singings back East but not as many here as there were. 
•  As people get older and pass on, so does their passion for the music of their childhood. 
• Younger generations have less interest in this type of music. 
• There's nothing wrong with using the latest inventions to promote the Gospel but there are certain traditions that should be held to.
• We mean: the song book and live music. 
• We use taped music, too.

• Emma Lee also grew up on "convention style" music.  
• She studied piano at a young age and played in her father's church by the time she was 13.  She continued to improve her technique with Jack Taylor at Stamps-Baxter Music Company in Oak Cliff, Dallas.  She drove faithfully every week to her lessons and was a star pupil.  She has had some great teachers and has become a great teacher of piano, organ, and voice.  Her degrees are in Christian Education, Doctor of Sacred Music, and Bible.
• Emma Lee Tosh has studied at Texas Christian University, University of North Texas, and Tarrant County College in addition to her seminary training.  She teaches college music at the seminary now.

• Together,
• we became acquainted with Cecil Blackwood and began to work for the Blackwood Brothers in the 1980's.  Much of our work was promotional and we would sing on concerts with the Blackwood Brothers after we had promoted the concert.  Our work was promoting programs in Concert Halls and convention centers.  Many great crowds attended those "singings" and many men and women were saved and homes were put back together as a result of that work. 

• Cecil Blackwood 
• has passed away but in 1988 we had a joint Singing School in Fort Worth with the Blackwood Brothers.  The schedule the quartet was maintaining was too much strain to continue and keep a school going, too.  So, Cecil called a special meeting of the school staff and requested that  Emma Lee and myself please keep the school going.  They would promote and help us keep it going.  We have done just that.  The school continues to this day. And, the Blackwood Gospel Quartet promotes our school all over the nation to this day.
• FORMAT OF THE SCHOOL 

While we continue to teach FUNDAMENTALS of music,

we also teach

STAGE PRESENCE, 

Song-Writiing technics,

Publishing insights,

MICROPHONE TECHNIQUES,

  VOCAL TECHNIQUE, 

SOLOIST AND GROUP TRAINING, 

 DEALING WITH SOUND SYSTEMS, 

 SEMINARS ON SPECIALIZED SUBJECTS BY PROFESSIONALS, 

 BOOKING DATES, 

 PROMOTION THAT WORK, 

 RECORDING SEMINARS, 

PROFESSIONALISM WITH PASTORS AND PROMOTERS,

PRIVATE VOCAL

CLASS VOCAL

PRIVATE PIANO

PRIVATE ORGAN

MINISTRIES TO

  CHURCHES,

   NURSING HOMES, ETC.

WE DO PLACE MUCH EMPHASIS ON SPIRITUALITY!DAILY DEVOTIONS AND SPIRITUAL HELP IS AVAILABLE!

Without Jesus, why sing about Him?  Our singers and players need to know the Lord and feel the security of His presence. 

  The Next School is

JUNE 22-July 3, 2009

We will have concerts throughout the school in association with our seminars.

with a BIG concert on

July 3 at 7 p.m.

 Don't miss it!  

 Ask for details about

HOW MUCH THIS SCHOOL COSTS!

Money should never be a reason NOT to come!

By the way, we need people to sponsor others!