Tradition takes to the road

NORMAN — Empowering, challenging and encouraging describe the Hanner musical family of four known as Family Traditions. They strive for these things every time they hit the stage.

Doug and Trina Hanner and their children Abby, 12, and Emmitt, 9, have been around music and instruments for a majority of their lives.

“Our calling is to present the gospel message to people in an attractive manner,” Doug said. “To encourage people in their walk with Jesus and challenge them to a deeper walk with him.”

Doug plays bass, lead and acoustic guitar, and also banjo and mandolin. Trina focuses on the piano, and she said she would like to learn dobro. Abby plays violin and began learning that about five years ago, and she currently takes lessons in Clarksville. Emmitt plays mandolin and percussion. The kids have taken bluegrass and classical lessons on the instruments. All four of the Hanners provide vocals.

Doug said their music is tailored to the different audiences for whom they perform, but they have a country-gospel sound that seems to resonate well.

A family inspired

Musical inspirations led to musical aspirations.

From parents to grandparents, music has truly been a family tradition. Trina said her mother and aunt were singers, and her grandmother and her grandmother’s twin sister formed a trio with a brother-in-law and called themselves the Valley Mission Trio.

Trina took piano lessons for nearly 10 years.

“It was definitely a natural feel for me, but I can’t say it was easy,” she said of learning piano. She later learned, however, that, “It was a God-given talent.”

Trina and Doug met in 1988, and even that involved music, as they were part of their home church, Kurtz Church of the Nazarene, and its District Impact Team.

“Doug and I met in a choir,” Trina said, referring to the Impact Team. “I was just getting started and he was almost done. His last year was my first year. We met singing together, and that was kind of a neat little twist.”

Trina graduated from Bedford North Lawrence High School. She then moved on to Indiana University and got an accounting degree in 1994. She took piano lessons with Steve Ward of Oolitic and learned a lot from him.

“He had the most influence on me, and he had quite a background in music,” Trina said. “He was the most accomplished teacher.”

Doug said his mother’s side of the family involved a lot of live music, and his father’s family performed music for a living by forming a seven-member band. He took two summers of voice and piano lessons. Doug went to Brownstown Central High School and moved on to Olivet Nazarene University in Bourbonnais, Ill., and received a business administration degree with a double emphasis on management and marketing in 1992.

Good teachers lead to good music

At Olivet, Doug entered a lip sync contest and decided to use his father’s banjo as a prop during his country music act. He didn’t win, but he found a paper inside the banjo that told how to play it.

“I would sometimes play four or five hours a day in my dorm room,” Doug said.

Doug also took about six lessons from Doyle R. Patton, a musician and certified musical instrument craftsman who lives just south of Seymour.

“He’s one of the unsung heroes around here,” Doug said of Patton.

Jim Cooper, a man from the Hanners’ church, was also an influence for Doug.

“He was a big inspiration and taught me quite a bit and challenged me,” Doug said.

He also has another special influence.

“I get to play music with my wife and she’s been my inspiration,” Doug added.

After Impact, Doug and Trina joined a gospel quartet, New Grace, and traveled Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky and Ohio and performed about 100 times in one year.

“Sometimes we were out three times on the weekend,” Trina said. “It was a very rewarding, fun and good time. I really enjoyed it.”

A few years later, they became part of Heritage, and that’s when Abby and Emmitt became involved.

“They have literally been onstage their whole lives,” Doug said of the kids.

Five years later, they began playing praise, worship and hymn music for their home church every week. For two and a half years now, they have taken their music on the road.

“We felt God was mobilizing our ministry again,” Doug said. “He has the perfect will for us, and he will nudge you in the right direction to impact lives because of your obedience.”

Finding their place

Trina said at the beginning they set out on their way toward music at local churches and festivals. They decided it was time to set goals, find a niche and decide where to go with their message.

About two years ago, the Hanners got the privilege of recording their first family CD, “This Rock I’m On.”

“It’s more of what you’d hear on country radio but with Christian lyrics,” Doug said. “We diversified our sound as the kids were growing up.”

The 10 songs were written by Bob Muncie, who is also a pastor.

“He is an accomplished writer and he has written more than 500 songs,” Doug said. “We like his material and he’s a good friend.”

The Hanners recorded the songs at Cross Roads Music Inc. in Hendersonville, N.C. The music has flavors of country, bluegrass and southern gospel, and Doug and Trina’s personal taste in music heavily influenced that. Doug said he grew up on country music, while Trina likes bluegrass and country music best. Abby and Emmitt both agree they like old and new country music.

“I really appreciated adapting, changing and growing,” Doug said of music. “Life is one big growing experience.”

Trina and Doug said they feel the family has accomplished its goals onstage thus far.

“Our goal is to encourage them, and from the feedback, that’s what we have accomplished,” Trina said.

Doug’s late mother, Mary Viola Hanner, had a big impact on their music as well, as she was Abby’s inspiration to begin music.

“His mom was definitely our biggest fan,” Trina said of Mary. Doug added, “She was always so encouraging, and if we were doing a show anywhere close, she was always there.”

A mission confirmed

Doug said the testimonials they receive from people at shows prove it’s working. He said people tell him that either they or someone in their family was encouraged to pursue music or learn instruments after seeing the Hanners together on stage.

“They love to see us up there,” Abby said of her and Emmitt. “They can’t believe we are so young and we are getting up there.”

Emmitt said he likes playing mandolin the best.

“I just like the sound of it and the way it’s built. I’ve always felt pretty comfortable with it,” he said.

Another testimonial relates to the message and style of the music.

“They didn’t know church music could be that fun,” Doug said. “When we play together, the upbeat tempo tends to keep people’s attention. I feel like God gave us the mission and confirmations along the way that you’re doing the right thing. God gave us the tool of music and lyrics to encourage and challenge people.”

The Hanners said they feel they are no different than anyone else.

“What I hope people see in us is that we are ordinary people and we are nothing special,” Doug said. “We use the talent that God gave us. We need to be ministers every day and realize being a Christian is a lifestyle.”

Their music has been played on radio 91.9 in Columbus, 93.7 in Seymour and also on Salem and Bedford stations. Doug said, as a family, they performed about 40 times in 2006.

Trina said they hope to begin work on a Christmas CD soon and have it done by late fall. Positive feedback from a Christmas concert last year prompted the project. They hope to use their own instruments and record at Wayne Deaton’s home studio.

Working together

Doug and Trina’s college studies have also connected them with their business, Financial T.I.P.S., in Brownstown. For six years, they have worked the tax and financial planning business. Before that, Doug worked 13 years of business roles at Cummins. Trina said she would like to get a master’s degree in personal financial planning.

“I love to work with my wife,” Doug said. “We work together full time.”

Trina said her accounting experience and Doug’s management and marketing experience blend perfectly to make the business a success.

“One of the blessings of being self-employed is that you can be flexible to go wherever,” Doug said. “It’s neat to do this as a family. I like the stage we are at right now, both us of being self-employed and our schedules are more accommodating to the ministry.”

Trina likes how the family has grown closer.

“When you sing that many times with someone and you live with them, you get close,” Trina said. “It’s probably the most fun now since it’s the four of us. It’s more dynamic. It’s just really neat.”

At a glance

To check out Family Traditions, visit www.family-traditions.org, or go to one of the following shows:

Aug. 23-Aug. 25: MelonFest, Brownstown

Sept. 30-Oct. 3: Revival at Church of the Nazarene, Cloverdale, 7 p.m.

Oct. 5: Red Barn, Nashville, Ind., 7 p.m. and 9 p.m.

Nov. 2: Red Barn, Nashville, Ind., 7 p.m. and 9 p.m.

Dec. 7: Red Barn, Nashville, Ind., 7 p.m. and 9 p.m.