This study aimd to investigate the application of Tonic Sol-fa method in hymn teaching in Presbyterian Churches in Taiwan before and after “ praise and worship” style spreading through Taiwanese churches. Interviews were conducted with 20 church choir leaders and Sunday school teachers from northern, middle, southern and eastern Presbyterian Churches in Taiwan. And 14 churches agreed for observation. Data were collected through interviews with directors of church choir, Sunday school teachers, and observation, and afterward the researcher analyzes how people using Tonic Sol-fa to reading score while learning and singing hymns accordingly. The Nvivo qualitative research software was utilized to categorize the interviews record data. Based on the observation of Sunday worship, choir rehearsal, and children Sunday school at 14 churches, the researcher documented their hymn teaching and score sight-singing techniques. After the analysis all the documents with triangulation, the researcher examined phenomenon, circumstance and effects of the Tonic Sol-fa method used in Taiwanese Presbyterian churches.

According to the findings, the conclusions were made as followings:

1) In the past, Taiwanese Presbyterian Churches applied Tonic Sol-fa method for hymn teaching. Most interviewees indicated it has been effective to acquire the singing pitch accuracy.

a. Before the popularity of “praise and worship”, Tonic Sol-fa method with staff reading has been used predominantly in Taiwanese Presbyterian Churches. The second popular reading method was to add numbered notation on the top of each note to help sight singing, and the least used was rote singing without reading the staff or applying the “fixed Do” system for sight singing.

b. In the past, Taiwanese Presbyterian Churches were benefited most from Tonic Sol-fa method. Most interviewees indicated that “being able to sing with right pitch” is the first benefit of this method. It is also “Highly acceptable”. In addition, Tonic Sol-fa method had more advantages than other methods in sight-reading.

2) In the present time, the majority of Taiwanese Presbyterian Churches still use Tonic Sol-fa method. However, since the gradual popularity of the praise and worship singing style, more church members learn the praise songs by rote instead of reading the score with Tonic Sol-fa method. This circumstance has resulted in the gradual discard of the Tonic Sol-fa method, and thus weaken inheritance of traditional classical church music.

a. Currently Taiwanese Presbyterian Churches still use Tonic Sol-fa method with staff reading or adding numbered notation for sight singing. However, it has become less popular.

b. The main advantage of applying Tonic Sol-fa method is the improvement on the members’ singing pitch accuracy.

c. The popularity of “praise and worship” singing style indeed leads to degradation in the musical inheritance in Taiwanese Presbyterian Church.

At last, based on the results of the study, we propose suggestions to Taiwanese Presbyterian Churches, music educators, and future researchers.