Sacrosanctum Concilium / Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy
http://www.vatican.va/archive/hist_councils/ii_vatican_council/documents/vat-ii_const_19631204_sacrosanctum-concilium_en.html

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Missale Romanum
http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/ccdds/documents/rc_con_ccdds_doc_20030317_ordinamento-messale_en.html

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Co-workers in the Vineyard of the Lord
http://www.usccb.org/laity/laymin/co-workers.pdf
http://www.usccbpublishing.org/productdetails.cfm?PC=550

Colaboradores en la vina del Senor
http://www.usccb.org/laity/laymin/CoworkersSpanish.pdf
http://www.usccbpublishing.org/productdetails.cfm?PC=1321

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Sing To The Lord: Music in Divine Worship
http://www.usccb.org/liturgy/SingToTheLord.pdf
http://www.usccbpublishing.org/productdetails.cfm?PC=1228

Cantemos al Senor: La Musica en el Culto Divino
[still looking for the free pdf]
http://www.usccbpublishing.org/productdetails.cfm?PC=1317

Experience has shown that in those dioceses where there is a commission for sacred music, attention is given to providing musicians with at least some type of formation.

With standards like those, what could go wrong?

One aspect of the formation process is that of the academic formation. The document suggests that a master’s degree or, at least, a bachelor’s degree in an appropriate field of study is appropriate.

If memory serves, this would exclude Jeffrey Tucker.

If a degree is not possible, then the lay ecclesial minister is called to seek out the various formation opportunities that are available: local diocesan courses or study days, educational partnerships among dioceses, programs from academic institutions, online programs, and programs sponsored by various national organizations.

You mean, like CMAA?

"Parishes and dioceses should provide the financial support needed to ensure competent liturgical musical leadership"

*Crickets*

"Especially in these difficult financial times, all will be challenged to find creative ways to provide the necessary training at a minimal expense."

Gee, they might have to settle for a CMAA workshop.

"Has the USCCB Commission on Certification and Accreditation (USCCB/CCA) contributed to encouraging the ongoing formation of music ministers?"
"The USCCB/CCA serves as an accrediting commission of the Catholic Bishops of the United States, establishes accreditation standards, policies, and procedures, and accredits quality ministry formation programs sponsored by institutions listed in The Official Catholic Directory that prepare persons for ministry. The USCCB/CCA also establishes and approves certification standards and procedures for the certification of specialized ecclesial ministers by (arch)dioceses and organizations."

Sounds good...maybe CMAA could get accredited...Is there a catch?

"In 2005 the core standards and competencies adopted by the Board of Directors of the Director of Music Ministries Division of the National Association of Pastoral Musicians (NPM) had developed core standards and competencies as well as a number of specialized competencies for the Director of Music Ministries. In March 2005, the Board of Directors of the USCCB-CCA gave NPM approval to adopt the common core standards and competencies along with the specialized competencies for directors of music ministries. The Commission has also approved the procedures developed by NPM for awarding the designation of Certified Director of Music Ministries (CDMM)."

D'oh!

A play on Chesterton:" NPM has been tried and found wanting, also difficult and found tired". As one who was in on those standards, they got constantly watered down and people got upset that they had to demonstrate competency.

The person in charge of the 'strum and thump' band cannot read music let alone count. This was a group formed w/o my knowledge.

Donna

And please don't post that this is not true. I've heard many dozens of cases of this, and experienced several personally.

It is true. I watched it happen several times. A whole diocese in the Midwest bought it, hook, line and sinker.

I have never heard of BMP at Christus Vincit, so I have no idea what that is. I will look at the parish website and see if what you are referencing is there. My point was, that "pastoral musician" is something of a manufactured contrivance for NPM's purposes. It is another case of manipulating language to produce a "fuzzy" result. I am quite happy to be an organist, choir director, organist/choirmaster, or director of music. Just don't call me a minister. I hate that term even more than pastoral musician. Protestant churches have music ministers. But again, I have come to the conclusion that NPM exists to obfuscate, make the precise imprecise, and promote an agenda. Oh, don't forget, also to sell music, which I think is part of the agenda. One of the best things my pastor ever did was cancel all our memberships to NPM.

"Delegates to the 2006 National Meeting of Diocesan Liturgical Commissions"

http://www.fdlc.org

"Hi, my name is David, and I'm a 'pastoral musician'."

"Hi, David."

"Well, first I want to say that the first step in recovering from being a 'pastoral musician' is to realize that you have a problem."

And so on, and so on. I was a card-carrying "pastoral musician" for a number of years, and am proud to say that all it took was to read a few good articles over at Adoremus Online to figure out that I had a problem that needed treatment. The treatment? Regular reception of the sacraments, regular singing of chant and polyphony (when I could find it) and a systematic avoidance of Haugen, Haas and Joncas (or, as any good spiritual director would put it, avoiding the "occasion of sin").

All humor aside, it is absolutely shocking and scandalous that an organization like the NPM would be the "go-to" group for "formation" of musicians. When I first became an active participant in discussion threads on this forum, I posited the question as to just how the Consociatio Internationalis Musicae, described as the first organization for the advancement of sacred music during the Second Vatican Council to receive "approbation" from the Holy See was somehow elbowed out of the scene, much like a cuckoo chick kicks weaker chicks of other species out of its stolen surrogate nest, by the more powerful Universa Laus, which later became NPM, much like the Consociatio became CMAA.

HOW did NPM become so powerful, all-controlling and unimpeachable? WHERE are the American Bishops in all of this?

I would only add that I can't help but see a parallel between what's happened to the Church and what's happening in American government. Much like the elitist in Washington who are prepared to tell you what's good health care or economic balance and what's not, ISTM that the USCCB is collectively telling us what is good liturgy and music, and what is not, based primarily on the "advice" of those who have a financial stake in the matter, but apparently little else.

I am barely keeping ahead of all of your questions. Discovered these with some more hunting around ...

http://www.npm.org/Sections/DMMD

http://www.usccbcca.org/

pretty soon they are going to require that Catholic musicians be able to read music.

One of the parishes at which I sub would need to get a new organist and a new conductor/chooser of song.

(Save the Liturgy, Save the World)

Maybe a new pseudo liturgy can be cobbled together: The Choosing of the Song.

Don't you think this is an effort on the part of NPM to put themselves on the level of AGO standards and exams? They adopted AGO standards for organ a few years ago, I know. I will never attend another NPM Convention unless it's somewhere fun with lots of Museums and beautiful churches- like DC LOLOL
Donna

Yes, NPM (or at least a portion of the group) has always seen itself as the denominational representative in line with such organizations as ALCM (Lutheran), PAM (presebyterian) and AAM (Episcopal). Using the (AGO) Guild's guidelines was a way of conjoining themselves to the mission of the Guild in terms of pushing the level of ability. NPM has always known that the ability level is far behind that of the rest of church music community in America. However, the problem is that NPM has too many other groups within itself vying for resources, time and development. I left in 1996 after a convention in which I was reprimanded for a) playing the organ by a major presenter b) told that "good music" was far beyond the reach of any Catholic congregation and I should go to being an Anglican or other group.

Their time has passed. Many within them that I still know understand that and hold on to the past, as it was some glorious possibility. Many saw Summorum Pontificum as the death knell. For the life of me, I cannot see that document as the totality of the death of NPM. I tend to believe that it is a combination of things. All I can say is Deo gratias when I read Ratzinger's The Spirit of the Liturgy and Robert Taft's opus on the Divine Office. Those were moments of conversion for me.

Thank God for musicasacra.

Wow, I didn't know this.(never was interested in knowing about them)
"Haugen was raised in the American Lutheran Church (ALC) in Minnesota, and also writes contemporary hymns and liturgies for the Lutheran church despite being a member the United Church of Christ.
"Haugen holds a degree in psychology from Luther College. After graduating, Haugen pursued a career as a musician.
"He holds a position as composer in residence at Mayflower Community Congregational Church (UCC) in Minneapolis.
"Haugen also leads workshops around the country, entitled "Living Liturgy." From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I'm not sure he is a Catholic. I know that he can writes hymns for Christians, but he is almost controlling (maybe it's a too strong word) Catholic litrugy with his texts and musical style and telling us how the Catholic worship be? Does he believe in the Sacrament of Eucharist? And we are singing his famous Sanctus? Just good intention and easy to sing along 'prestty melody' is not good enough for me to sing their songs.

I know most musicians in this area who attend NPM convention almost idolize them. (My friend who is a music teacher in a parish school said she almost couldn't breathe when she saw David Haas in person ;-) Wow.

Haas is Catholic. A query sometime ago yielded that info for me.

Yes, Charles, we should push the concerns of this organization with the powers that be.

Don't get me started on our "Diocesan Music Committee'

Donna

Jason Pennington's essay on the term "Pastoral Musician" is still available at the Christus Vincit blog, although he doesn't write for the site these days.

Wow.

Am I the only one who is uncomfortable at the number of rocks being thrown on this topic, the amount of vitriol? Are we not one Body of Christ, diverse with many talents and points of view?

I'm with Carl. Bashing NPM is all good and fun, but it's hardly worthy of the CMAA to get ahead by bashing an organization of well-intentioned Catholic musicians. Yes, it would be better if the USCCB would make the CMAA the primary church music and training organ. They didn't, and until the CMAA has the thousands of members and large influence of NPM, they won't.

IMHO, we aren't bashing NPM, we are merely pointing out the danger of their influence and influence-peddling.

Gavin, you suggested that the majority of the members are well-intentioned. This is the same canard the political liberals of this country rely on to excuse every form of irresponsible and destructive action and behavior: good intention. In political debate, anyone who dares challenge the outcome, result or consequences of ill-conceived liberal programs is demonized as being a hate-monger spewing venom because they refuse to acknowledge the "good intentions" of those who advanced the destructive program or policy.

If we are to be intellectually honest about the NPM and the role they've played in the advancement of the progressive movement that has systematically hollowed out the Catholic Church in the US, we must never shrink from pointing out their destructive actions, nor be beaten down with the suggestion that we're not allowing for their "good intentions."

CCCA: "Wouldn't it be of more benefit were we to deliberate these five questions' worthiness from within our own organization's perspectives? We seem to have de-railed"

So, back on topic ...

The USCCB Newsletter quoted the FDLC ...

1. What does the Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy have to say
specifically about the proper training of liturgical ministers?
[...]
2. Is there any mention of formation in the General Instruction on the Roman Missal
that refers to proper formation for ministry?
[...]
3. How does Co-Workers in the Vineyard of the Lord
encourage the formation of music ministers?
[...]
4. What does Sing to the Lord: Music in Divine Worship
have to say specifically about the formation of music ministers?
[...]
5. Has the USCCB Commission on Certification and Accreditation (USCCB/CCA)
contributed to encouraging the ongoing formation of music ministers?
[...]

Thanks, eft, for putting us back on the rails. Carl et al, that's what I discreetly as possible was calling into question. NPM's relevence vis a vis their relationship to the USCCB and "accreditation" are important. But that is ancillary to the thread topic. Start a new one.

In the interest of time on m' day off, I'm going to be flippant (which is difficult at my girth level) with #3-5:
3. With verbiage
4. Nothing, as the USCCB did not petition the CDW/Vatican for authoritative approval.
5. No, not to my knowledge.

What's really an underlying and compelling notion to me is that I believe would that any number of bishops scattered around this great land would simply ask the locally acknowledged clerical and lay "experts" in these matters to initiate local academies within their sees on a VOLUNTEER BASIS(!), and then said "jump!"- most of us would say "How high?" in less than a heartbeat's time.

It says a lot when only one member of the Diocesan Music Committee is an active music director...right, CharlesW and Donna?

Local academies are a great idea since they don't get mired in orders and agendas from above, often from people who are not even active in their field...

The association of the AGO and NPM is a joke and seriously undermines the work, goals and status of the AGO. It's silly. It's stupid. It's like a gourmet restaurant being owned by McDonalds.