Happy, Holy, and Healthy Parish Music Programs
  • Bridget Scott
    Posts: 39
    Yes, they can and do exist. Everybody gets along and likes one another! There is mutual respect and collaboration between pastor and music director. The organist and director get along just fine. Cantors are cooperative and respected and the volunteer choir is thanked (often) and is loved and appreciated. They support one another, the director, and the pastor. It is possible. Our spiritual health is more important than our vocal health. What are some ways you keep your music program happy, holy, and healthy?
  • MichaelDickson
    Posts: 419
    I'd say that ours is in reasonably good shape. (I'm not the director, just a choir member and cantor.)

    A few things that seem to make a positive contribution to the atmosphere:

    * The DoM (who is also the organist and choir director) can be stern with us when necessary, but also never forgets to offer praise and encouragement when the situation merits it, and frequently expresses her thanks for what the (mostly volunteer) choir does. I think that both (the sternness when needed and the praise and thanks when merited) help.

    * She picks good repertoire. I think that helps.

    * We pray together at the end of each rehearsal. I'm sure that helps.
  • Andrew_Malton
    Posts: 1,187
    I would be pleased to hear what common prayer is practiced at rehearsals, among us.

    We do this before starting: In the Name..., Glory be..., St Cecilia, pray... I wish we would do more, but it's good all the same.
  • CharlesW
    Posts: 11,980
    At the end of each rehearsal we sing the Our Father.
  • rogue63
    Posts: 410
    I thank them in every e-mail, every Sunday, every rehearsal. I praise my fine band of singers no matter what; they're all-volunteer and elderly, so I'm happy to have them.

    I host two parties a year to foster good times and get-togetherness; when we have extra rehearsals (Christmas and Holy Week), I arrange for food and drink. I plan an all-day choir retreat in August before we start the choral season. It's easy for choristers to show up, sing a part, bitch about other people's errors or out of tune singing, and go home. The get-together, eat-together, pray-together spirit of these things help take the edge off personal tensions and foster at least a veneer of friendship.

    I begin each rehearsal with corporate prayer and give an opportunity for everyone to make a petition for a particular need; not only does God hear it, but we all hear it and have a chance to share in someone's sufferings or joys.

    I make sure each rehearsal gets a good laugh and accomplishes at least one thing. With volunteers of limited ability, it can be difficult to make any progress at all, so taking time to teach, and re-teach, and patiently re-teach makes them feel valued and important. It also helps me not feel frustrated when they tell me "You're so patient with us."

    I think our music program is healthy, happy, and holy. Are we ever going to sound like the Tallis Scholars? No, never. Are we ever going to really perfect this anthem or that motet? Maybe not. But we're working on it, and everyone is working toward the same goal, and nobody gets overly frustrated or feels left out, and we do offer the best we can to God each Sunday. If our best work really does mean only raising as high as Richard Rice's Simple Choral Gradual in perpetuity, so be it; God is still glorified.

    N.B. Richard Rice's SCG is an excellent volume; no slight intended to him at all! It's an excellent resource for choirs like mine.
    Thanked by 2Bridget Scott canadash
  • Chris Garton-Zavesky
    Posts: 6,902
    When musicians-in-charge (organist and choir director, sometimes separately) anticipate potential train wrecks, and ask for meetings in advance, train wrecks can be avoided. When there is an awareness that the actions of conscientious people contribute to a positive environment once, those actions are repeated.

    Two examples....

    1) Previously, I've mentioned a pastor I had many years ago: we didn't need to meet often, on business, because we had the same ideas.

    2) Now, I have a new pastor -- and his native language isn't English. Before he arrive in the parish, I wrote to him, so that his first Mass among us would go well. Before Holy Week, we met to iron out details for everything. Not everything got remembered, in the end, but there was clearly a sense that we had met and were working together.
    Thanked by 1Bridget Scott
  • WGS
    Posts: 300
    I'm not in a position to use them now, but I have used the attached prayers from the RSCM. I believe they were also available in a hard form (maybe 5" X 7") suitable for framing.
    Choir Prayers001.pdf
    77K
    Thanked by 1Bridget Scott
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