Today we’d like to introduce you to John C Yarrington.
Hi John, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I began piano study when I was six. My folks were both musical and when I practiced, my Mother would yell in from the kitchen, “wrong notes – wrong rhythms – do it again.” Often, in front of company, she would say: “John Charles, don’t you want to play something for these people?” It was more about her than about me. I always complied. Through elementary school and into high school, music was my thing. I thought everyone who went to high school got up and practiced the piano for 2 hours before school started. I also thought everyone listened to Texaco Opera on the Air on Saturday. I attended the University of Oklahoma, graduating with a degree in Music Education. I was accepted at Yale and at Union Seminary for graduate study but chose Union Seminary in New York City. A wonderful two years for a musician in a place where art and music were so prominent and in those years, cheap.
After seminary, I returned to Norman, Oklahoma, to be the first Minister of Music at McFarlin Methodist church. I was at the head of my class in salary, making the princely sum of $5,000 for the year. Great times there – a flourishing music program with singers of all ages, handbells, etc. A dynamic high school choir of 70 voices toured every summer. I was on the workshop circuit for a number of years.
I was asked to become the Director of Music at the First Methodist church of Dallas and served there for ten years. I was asked to become the Director of Music at Pulaski Heights Methodist Church in Little Rock, where, in addition to the church duties, started a Symphony Chorus, directed a professional choir, and, for one season, was Conductor of the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra.
I had always wanted a college job and thanks to a couple of friends in Houston, I was approached about the Choral position at Houston Baptist University – eighteen wonderful years, with great students, many tours, including Austria, and a life filled with teaching. I swore that I would not “do” church again, after all those years, but I ended up as Director of Music for the First Presbyterian Church of Houston where I am today. I have always believed that the excellence of the music was possible only when one loved the music makers themselves.
Students knew that they could come into my office and shut the door and it was a sacred space. After fighting depression for over 20 years, I was able to be helpful to students in this and other areas. I valued that almost more than the actual music makers. At HBU, the men’s basketball coach and I became great friends – I attended practices and he brought the entire men’s team to the first Choral Concert every year.
I have been blessed with a supportive wife and six wonderful children – now 13 wonderful grandchildren. I have seldom had a day when I did not want to get up and go make music. I have published anthems and books and have kept up with a number of students. At my retirement concert, over 100 former students came back to sing. I was presented with a book of letters and cards, which, frankly, many thought better of me than I did.
I presently teach at the University of St. Thomas in Houston and continue to give private voice lessons. I have always valued the personal relationships with students and volunteer choir people. I don’t believe that music should ever be made in fear – one does not have to lower standards to love. I have been blessed with several generations of students – at a 50th Reunion at McFarlin Church, one of my former student (the drummer in the high school band) came up and said that, for 35 years as a teacher, he asked his students to put down on paper the person most influential in their lives. For 35 years, he put my name down. Doesn’t get better than that!
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Working on a doctor’s degree in music while raising a family. Workshops in the summer.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I was known for my work with children and youth and was a clinician for many workshops, seminars and camps. Often in the summer, I was gone for several weeks at a time, teaching. Wonderful times but exhausting.
I am most proud of my work in the church with all ages and the last 18 years at Houston Baptist University, where my philosophy of interest in individuals carried over into the college work. I was once introduced at the “student whisperer” because I made it my business to get to know lots of non-music students. I served on the Admissions Committee for all of those years, was Director of the School of music for eight years and Faculty Rep to the Athletic Department. It was a rich and full life.
Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
Technology has certainly made its mark in the music industry – so much music is available digitally that the business of printed music has taken a downturn. During the pandemic, especially, people were not buying sheet music at all. Much music is available as a PDF from which one can print copies. As church music goes, many churches are presenting music of a more rock-band kind of sound – many young people are not going to church at all – in all denominations, attendance is down. It seem to be that the quality of music does not matter as much as the excitement of drums and guitars and singing to songs with repetitive lyrics. Sort of an easy-on to religion.
I think the pendulum will swing back but I fear that our treasury of hymns is going to get lost in the desire to do almost anything to get someone to church, Happily, there is much in the way of Webinars and Zoom presentations for all types of music and the teaching of music. Choirs have largely been silent during the pandemic and the First Pres Choir is desperate to get together – we had an outdoor rehearsal several weeks ago and the moment for community took 15 minutes.
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: johnyarrington.com
