Dr_Haze

I'm a classically trained pianist (BM, MM in performance, and DMA in performance/composition) and I applaud the beautifully rendered score. As a composition it's wonderful. Though you must …

Thanked by 1TTPerotti
This is one of the sad realities of our work, but music ministry is no place for narcissism or ego. I know exactly what you’ve been dealing with, and from my own experience, I hope things eventually …

Thanked by 4GregoryWeber probe CHGiffen Charles
PLEASE READ - Good Music, Sacred Music & Silence by Peter Kwasniewski. This book gave me so much wisdom and insight about the history and tradition of sacred music, how it went astray not only po…

Thanked by 3LauraKaz CharlesW irishtenor
One thing I’ve learned is that simply citing Church documents or even the writings of Popes and bishops often doesn’t settle these conversations. People tend to read those sources selectively, or int…

Thanked by 5Gustavo Zayas LauraKaz tomjaw CHGiffen Chant_Supremacist
I have three degrees in music, culminating with a doctorate in my field, but due to my age, many older folks within the Parish still aren't taking me seriously now after three years on the job.<…

Thanked by 2ajglotz Chant_Supremacist
Not at all. Parish politics still come into play for long-time parishioners, but I take pride in the fact that we have a parish that offers proper music for a mass of Christian burial in both Latin a…

Thanked by 2CHGiffen Abbysmum
I'm working at a Parish that was used to having families choose every musical selection of the funeral, and after having to plan and play the music for several funerals where the music was both …

Thanked by 9hilluminar LauraKaz Roborgelmeister francis CHGiffen Liam Abbysmum ServiamScores oldhymns
Thanks so much for the thoughtful and helpful comments. Our pastor just recently joined our Parish. He was not prepared for this situation, as he himself is not at all musical as a priest, and he cam…

Thanked by 3irishtenor Chant_Supremacist CHGiffen
An electric organ of any kind should have its own amplifier, and not be plugged into anything else. While my church has a real pipe organ, in the past I have used a nord stage keyboard and motion sou…

Thanked by 1DavidOLGC
I took over the music ministry at my parish in 2023 and have spent the past two years navigating what feels like a full-scale rebuilding while the train is already moving. In that time, I’ve led a pa…

Thanked by 2Abbysmum tomjaw
I'm in DC, and the Archdiocese of Washington has an Office of Worship that I've contacted. So nice to know they are there! I expressed my concerns and gave a summary of what's happened…

Thanked by 8StimsonInRehab LauraKaz wspinnen davido CHGiffen Roborgelmeister irishtenor rvisser
For practical reasons, the average age of folks in my choir is above 60, the oldest being 94, several in their 80's, and making their way from our warm-up room to the loft stairs is time consumi…

Thanked by 3davido CHGiffen a_f_hawkins
I inherited an adult choir comprised of dedicated amateur singers some of which had been part of the group for upwards of 50 or 60 years. They sing at every 10 AM Sunday mass between September and Ju…

Thanked by 4Abbysmum MatthewRoth CHGiffen irishtenor
I was just starting to really love the work I was doing at the school and parish. I was feeling more welcome and accepted by the students and parishioners, and more importantly the parents and singer…

Thanked by 1canadash
Seeking Wisdom: Navigating Parish and School Politics as a Dual Music Director and Teacher (sorry for the long read)

I find myself in a unique and increasingly difficult position that …

Thanked by 2canadash M. Jackson Osborn

Welcome to the MusicaSacra Forum!

To participate in the discussions on Catholic church music, sign in or register as a forum member, The forum is a project of the Church Music Association of America.

About

Username: Dr_Haze
Joined: July 2025
Visits: 54
Last Active: 8:49PM
Roles: Member
Posts: 24
Thanked: 61