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Students sing praises of J-Term gospel music course

January 24, 2012

Gloria Tillman-Kemp leads a clinic for students in a January Term class and other members of The Gospel Messengers choir.

Lessons trace history of music genre

During January Term, Kelle-Laura Rogers is truly preaching to the choir.

Students taking her course, Gospel Music in Education: The Spread of the Good News, already sing in The Gospel Messengers choral group at Carthage. What they're gaining is an appreciation of the roots of the powerful genre as Ms. Rogers, an academic advisor at the College, tries to "nurture their love of gospel music."

"It has such a great history," said Mya Stanley, '15, a psychology major from St. Louis who was fascinated "just to see how it extended to different places in the world."

Students said they came in with basic knowledge of the history of gospel music, but the class has provided a much richer understanding. Gospel began as a form of religious expression for African slaves who were brought to the United States. Its development closely followed the nation's own history. The class includes a few students from Kenya, and Ms. Rogers said they especially were surprised to learn that Mahalia Jackson — a superstar in gospel circles — often was not allowed to enter venues through the front door because she was black.

Ms. Rogers eventually fast-forwarded to 2012, highlighting a few songs that illustrated how gospel has evolved. One new style has been dubbed Holy Hip-Hop, with lyrics emphasizing Christ rather than drugs, jewelry or life on the streets. She explained many traditionalists refuse to accept that as gospel music.

Although class materials point out that all gospel songs share certain characteristics, the specific style can vary from place to place. Students visited a variety of churches in the Kenosha area to see how the choirs perform.

On other days, the students shift from spectators to performers. Gloria Tillman-Kemp, who directs the Gospel Messengers, conducts clinics to hone their performance techniques. During one recent clinic, she arranged the class and other members of the choir in a semi-circle and taught them the gospel classic "Oh Happy Day" in a matter of minutes.

"Sopranos, I want to hear you!" Ms. Tillman-Kemp said.

For Aaron Morris, '15, who's interested in communication and business majors, the J-Term class and gospel choir allow him to set aside time for worship in a busy schedule that includes both football and track. Growing up, his entire family sang in churches.

"It's hard to find a spiritual balance in everything I do," Aaron said. "A lot of times, you can lose sight of it."

The course culminated in a free public concert on Jan. 25 in the A.F. Siebert Chapel. The program's gospel music spanned the centuries and continents, putting to song the journey students followed in this unique class.