MJO: I should have specified HIGH SCHOOL. Sorry. Surprisingly, the public schools are actually closer to what the Church wants (academics and environment) than the Catholic Schools... I should mention that half the teachers actually make fun of Catholics AT A CATHOLIC SCHOOL! Oh well...

Realistically, what could the bishop do about it? Sacking half the staff ain't an option, because's likely not a queue of qualified people wanting to fill the jobs.

You cannot force your fellow students to commit to anything. You can invite them. But not force. (The same thing applies in choirs, by the way: unless it's a professional choir, everyone's a volunteer and does what they want to do, which may well be less than what you want.)

Do you have any interest from any other students? If not, then I think you're wasting your time: you would be better finding a parish which has a choir doing the material you want, and joining that (hhhmmm .. if you're allowed - some may not be open to minors).

How much longer will you be at this school for, if you don't change?

I had an experience like that. After increasing abuse we decided to move both myself and my sister to different schools.

Keep praying. The Holy Spirit is surely working in you. Don't give up.

I used to skip school when we went to Mass as a high school (about twice per year). Amidst the chaos of 1000+ teenagers making their way into the church and back, somehow I never got cited for being absent while others did. Part of me wants to believe this was because God understood why I was doing this... and most of my complaints were not JUST about the music (which was truly horrifying) but also about the horrifyingly irreverent things that were happening around the altar.

I am a bit confused. What, precisely, is your position? If you are not actually in charge there is only so much you can do.

Firstly, If the BISHOP requests a hymn, and you get in trouble for doing WHAT THE BISHOP ASKS then there is a BIIIIIIIIIG problem here. (Incidentally, I don't know what diocese this is, but if your Bishop wants real music, then you're pretty lucky.)

Secondly, If your possibilities of graduating High School are not dependent upon credit earned while accompanying the 'choir', then I'd just say, quit the HS choir and get more involved in the Cathedral music.

Also, why are students being put in charge of an academic program while the teacher skips out? Wouldn't that be dereliction of duties and ground for termination, anyway? Frankly, this guy just sounds like a jerk. Incidentally, when I was in High School I was asked to act as accompanist because the music-teacher was not a pianist (the Middle School music teacher--both H.S. and M.S. in the same building--was the accompanist, but she had just been transferred to the Elementary school to take the place of the retired E.S. teacher); all I had to do was accompany, and with the exception of the odd sectional where he'd take the S.A. and I'd take the T.B. for a few minutes, he was always there (unless we had a substitute teacher, then, of course, he wasn't).

Saleri: I believe I said above that the school believes that neither the Pope, nor the Cardinals, nor the CDW, nor the Bishop's conference, nor any Bishop or priest is allowed to make rules about what is played at mass, because "they don't know anything." Admittedly, I had written/arranged music for our Baccalaureate Mass (Which happens to fall on the Solemnity of the Ascension), but it was shot down because it "required the organ and not a P&W band"...

To clarify, I am a student in 11th Grade. The choir director has me accompany and direct the practices while he plays ping pong with his friends. I am also "in charge" of choosing the song lists for Mass, and work alongside another student for the Concert part. The other student mostly agrees with the director that music cannot be taught, which I know is not true.

I've also been blackmailed quite often with "you won't graduate/walk", expulsion, and the normal stuff. IDK if that means that I'm dependent on the Choir or not...

What would be the consequences if you just quit? Tell them you have other things that require your time now. Or is this part of your school schedule? If it is, just show up, do what you're told and stop trying to interject anything, even though you know better. Treat it as "just a job" and put your energies into other things. You are not going to change the minds of those who oppose you, so stop trying. Yes, shake the dust off your feet and move on.

Are you planning on going to college? Look ahead to that.

Kyle,

Cardinal Burke says that he's not concerned about keeping or losing his cardinalatial office because next to what he will face on Judgment Day if he betrays Our Lord, the displeasure of the world is naught.

Keep that in mind. If you're stuck, do your job, your Christian duty. If someone hates you because you want to do what the Church asks, you're going to be punished vindictively at some point, so you would do well to hold your head aright and keep a Scripture verse in mind: blessed are you if they persecute you for righteousness' sake.

Otherwise, you're going to twist yourself in knots, trying to find a way to survive in this environment, and losing your peace of soul.

There's a fair amount of dubia in this account I fear.

You are a kid who has been trusted by the teacher and given a chance to learn the skills involved in leading students in a music program.

To clarify, I am a student in 11th Grade. The choir director has me accompany and direct the practices while he plays ping pong with his friends. I am also "in charge" of choosing the song lists for Mass, and work alongside another student for the Concert part.

Instead of valuing this experience, you are continually working against him and the school itself to get your own way without the benefit of a qualifying degree or experience as a musical professional in a Catholic academic environment.

Their threats are not to "punish" you but to attempt to help guide you.

I'm with your parents.

Then let me ask, what am I supposed to do? I directed a choir for a couple years after the director took a break, so I have some experience. Let me give a scenario of what happened recently: Our baccaureate Mass is on the Solemnity of the Ascension. My song list was written for an ensemble of a String quintet, a brass trio, bells, timpani, and flutes, alongside STB Choir and Organ. It included:

Christus Vincit
A Hymn of Glory Let Us Sing
Corpus Christi Mass (Proulx) or Mass of Creation (Haugen)
Hail the Day that Sees Him Rise
I Am the Bread of Life
This is the Feast of Victory
Go Make of All Disciples

The list I recieved back was for piano, guitar, electric bass, and drum set.

Come, now is the time to worship
Mass of St. Ann with Mass of Renewal
In Christ Alone
Pan de Vida
Sacred Silence
With one Voice

I've played this list for the past two years as pianist and do not feel it matches the mood. I looked in the new Spirit and Song book for some compromises, which were rejected as well. I was also told that I should essentially go to hell for even trying to do good liturgical music, as nobody likes it anymore (I'm already a big target of bullying). What am I to do in this circumstance? I've worked with directors who have done stuff like this to a music program and made it work, so I don't understand what is so different, I guess.

I know this forum like the back of my hand.
I also taught secondary MS/HS choral for two decades.
The further this chronology gets strung out the more dubious it becomes.
I know it isn't necessary for anyone to "de-cloak" their online identity, but, there's a fair amount of credibility that needs to be established and confirmed. If not, I don't suggest any further investment here.

The point is: I'm not sure what you're looking for.
The breadth of concerns you've expressed far surpass those of any other 11th grade student I've ever encountered. The callous behavior of your "teacher" is beyond the pale of any public/parochial, credentialed (presumably) professional that I've known my entire academic life.
Provided you are as accomplished a student as you've portrayed, it seems to me that you would have figured out the best course of action for yourself and others. But you've advanced that you've been painted into a corner. In any case, you're much smarter than someone who would allow the misfortune you've outlined to continue. If your parents have paid serious coin (as RC parochial parents do) for your secondary education, they and a likely bunch of others ought to have brought forth legal action against the school and administration.

I'd decided to do that a few hours ago, thank you! I just wanted to get some more advice.

Actually have a scholarship... its the only reason why I didn't transfer last year.

This is not so much a musicoliturgical problem as an academic one. There is no excuse for what this person is doing (or not doing, as the case may be): the Superintendent of Schools (or its Diocesan equivalent) needs to be informed. This is a problem that needs to be dealt with immediately, not just for you, but for the school and the Diocese. Supposing something happened during class while he, the only adult, was supposed to be there?--there is potential for lawsuits here.

I don't like to say this, but I have been around schools, teachers, and school-board members my whole life, and none of them would have tolerated this man's behavior, he should be terminated immediately (and, frankly, I think he's only getting away with it because it's a Catholic(?) school that thinks itself above the law).

I've edited out the school name, since it's not fair to identify a private individual and discuss his work performance in public, especially without his knowledge.

Thanks Chris, I do respect and encourage young Kyle and all such devoted, diligent souls to persevere through obstacles. I'm sure for every dolt who fakes his/her way through being a Catholic parochial school teacher, there are five seriously gifted teachers such as Jessica Ligon at Lincoln's cathedral.

...I could understand...

I couldn't!

I think that Charles is being awfully generous.

A real educator, teacher, professor will be as dedicated and inspiring on his or her last day as on his first. Education is for those who love their youth and love educating them. They are like artists, who, be they musicians, poets, or architects, or whatever, live, breathe, and sleep the vocation with which God has blessed them.
This vocation is their life.

Those who bide their time to retirement should, should true justice be done, lose their pensions - because they are a disgrace to their profession, don't deserve them, and haven't earned them.

But, that's not the 'real world', is it.
Within every walk of life, in and out of holy orders, can be found such sorry souls.

Kyle:
You are not going to win via a frontal attack. Citing the liturgy documents is not going to do it either. If you want to win any battles, it will have to be by jujitsu. Determine what they value and use it to achieve your goals. Show how what you want is consistent with what they want. E.g when the bishop comes you can sell a hymn by saying the equivalent of "You know what an old fuddy-duddy the old bishop is - let's throw him a bone by singing 'X'." Of if they like 1970's music and you want to do a proper, use a setting of the proper psalm they like. You win (a bit) and haven't alienated anyone. Then the next year you can say, "Well last year we did 'X' . . . ". If they think of you as the opposition, you lose. If you are on the same team, you can win.

Two more points. First, the very nature of living in a fallen world is the what should be and what is are two different things. Second, turning an ocean liner around is a long slow process. If you can achieve a few degrees, you have achieved something.

Not such good advice!
Remove yourself from this situation.
Don't play games if you value your integrity.
There is that old saying -
'if you play in it you will get it on you.'
Keep clean.
Don't play.

All, most of the advice you are giving Kyle is totally inappropriate for his situation. On his second post he stated that he is in 11th grade. i.e. a junior in high school. He shouldn't be teaching the other students. He is a minor. His parents need to take this up with the principal.

I agree that the best thing to do would be to quit. But many find themselves in situations where, for whatever reason, that is not possible. Perhaps my answer sounded rather Machiavellian. But the "tactic" comes down to trying to find common ground with those who disagree with you.

For the situation described, appealing to authority is simply not going to work. The people Kyle disagrees with do not, for whatever reason, respect authority. If he digs in with, "But the GIRM says . . ." they won't change. But if he goes in with something like, "I know that the congregation really likes singing Creator of the Stars at Night during Advent. But I thought it might be boring to sing the same words each week, so I found these texts which might work." Now they are singing the hymn tune introits.

I've been following this thread for a while now, but have been hesitant to post. I do feel for Kyle, as I was recently in a very similar situation. From what I understand, those that have authority over him are not permitting him to do what he feels (and knows) is right. This is not an uncommon situation, especially in the Novus Ordo for music directors. My first piece of advice would be to stay calm. Getting worked up won't do you any good. The second piece of advice isn't going to be popular: you are a student, not a professional, so you aren't (as CGZ mentioned above) an equal, so therefore you don't have equal authority to argue and discuss your views. Those who have authority over you must be obeyed. My third piece of advice is this: if they don't like your work, you should not be doing it. This doesn't mean that you are doing a poor job: just that they are looking for something else. I made that mistake once: in a previous situation, I thought that the push back from authority meant that I wasn't doing my job properly. Deep down, I knew that was furthest from the truth. The easiest thing to do would be just to tell your teacher you don't want to do the job any longer. This would be the most diplomatic way of recusing yourself from a situation where you are being asked to do something you don't want to do. The others on this thread are correct that you will not be able to convince your superiors to change their minds about what they want to see from you.

Just to recap, because from the diatribe above it might not seem how simple my response actually is:

1. Stay calm

2. Recuse yourself from the position: just tell your teacher you don't want to do the job anymore. If you are asked to give a reason, just restate that you don't desire the position any longer. That's it, don't get into the liturgical regulations, etc.

3. Pray the Rosary daily. (Full disclosure: I say this to everyone no matter what)

4. When the opportunity arises, shake the dust from your sandals and move on to greener pastures.