(This article was recently featured on Jarrod Richey's Substack "Musically Speaking." We are publishing here as an introduction to Mr. Richey ahead of his visit to Trinitas this week.)
A Crisis of Singing Among Men
In many Christian circles today, there is a persistent misconception about male voices, especially those of adolescent boys. A muddled view of masculinity often leads to the belief that skilled singing, particularly in higher registers, is somehow unmanly. Fathers, as mature adults, are commonly associated with low voices, beards, a commanding presence, and other similar masculine traits, which can reinforce the idea that boys wanting to be like their fathers should avoid singing high notes. As such, some fathers may even somewhat discourage their sons from singing during and after the “wilderness” months of the voice change, directing them toward other activities they see as forming boys more fully for manhood. Yet our Heavenly Father creates all things well, including our voices and their seasons of transition. As Christians seeking maturity in our understanding, we should embrace the “death and resurrection” built into the changing male voice and see it as a God-given opportunity to challenge boys into becoming the young men He calls them to be.
