The skills necessary to be a GOOD church musician require money to learn. (Good luck finding an organ or even piano teacher who will teach for free...)

I guess what I need is something like:
It is important that the church continues to encourage excellent music at Masses. We must also honour the documents written for her and learn the best music so as not to lose her tradition.... (sorry this is so bad)

I do understand that it is thankless and people don't understand the time put into it... but I would like to inform them of why it is important.

Just tell them you got this friend that likes to do dental work at a very low cost to almost nothing, with the disclaimer that they never really studied or went to school for it, they just believe they should donate their time making people's teeth beautiful.

That or maybe a volunteer brain surgeon that just volunteers their services despite not really needing to go to school for that. No biggie, it's free. ;-)

I personally find moralistic arguments on pay off-putting. However, I'll offer a simple economic argument: I'm not working unless I get a good salary. Some people will work for free or for little, but their output is nearly always of low quality.

My response would have been, "We don't pay ushers, and look how shabbily THAT turns out!"

Yeah, well, I didn't want a black eye.

The best advice that I can give (and please note that I'm not trying to be snarky) is to just hold your breath, count to ten, and then go home/to the organ-loft/bar/etc. Do not engage these people in a debate.

In my experience the people who often gripe about musicians getting paid are the professional complainers, and are usually on the parish council or finance committee: right now they're complaining about music costing money because they saw the monthly report, next month when the boiler at the rectory goes they'll be complaining about plumbers getting paid, and how the pastor should just suck it up and take a cold shower! You can think of myriad reasons, from the most logical to the most illogical, and you'll never win. Just go home, put on some Brahms, and have a Mai-Tai.

We pay for what we value.

The problem with these kinds of remarks (and I agree with Salleri, they're better off ignored) is those who make them hold others to a standard they are not willing to apply to themselves. If we were as generous with others as we are with ourselves, this would be a happy and wonderful world indeed.

Kathy

Being an usher is a low-skill job that any hobo can do, and it doesn't take any time away from their schedules since they already have to be at Mass. All it requires is walking up and down the aisles a couple of times during Mass carrying a basket. Maybe they have to lift weights or something so they will be able to carry all that heavy money for such a long distance. Then there are a few unlucky ushers who have to manage the Communion lines.

Meanwhile, while they're hard at work floating around wicker baskets and doing it for FREE, the lazy musician is sitting up in a nice cozy (hot) loft dealing with a bunch of grumpy volunteer choir members who never show up for practice. The organist has to be there every Mass during the week, sometimes during the weekend, do choir practices (which half the people don't attend), be on call for funerals, arrange music for weddings, special Masses, the weekend, spend a lot of time practicing, and a bunch of other things. Oh, and don't forget about not being able to relax with the family during Easter and Christmas!

Sounds like the ushers should get paid and the musicians should be doing it out of the goodness of their hearts!

All it requires is walking up and down the aisles a couple of times during Mass carrying a basket. Maybe they have to lift weights or something so they will be able to carry all that heavy money for such a long distance.

Only because most people still give the same 0.50 they gave in 1954! Those quarters can get heavy!

The real problem is that you have to have some understanding of music to understand why musicians should be paid. Good luck trying to explain to people the difference between good and bad quality music-making.

Therein lies the crux of the matter. The state of music education is so poor, people really can't tell the difference between a well executed fugue or choral motet and someone screaming (it's not singing) on American Idol. And sadly most people actually prefer American Idol and want to know why church music can't sound more like that. And further, why we can't have liturgical dancing like Dancing with the Stars since there is absolutely no understanding or appreciation for authentic liturgical prayer.

Lord have mercy!

Thanks all! MaryAnn, I was considering this, but my pastor is so very busy. I don't know about bugging him with this. It is very unfortunate though.

While I am usually of the it's-better-to-let-go-and-move-on school, this strikes me as a situation where you may share facts and feelings (not judgements) with the culprits or the head of the ushers, if there is one. Say what you heard and its effect on you. Don't *argue* ideas. Distill this down to the facts of what was said/heard, and the facts of your feelings. If asked, "so what do you want me to do?" you can reply with a question "what would you want done if a group of fellow parishioners publicly accused the ushers of a capital sin (greed in this case)?"

Seriously, (if that's possible for me) having a discussion any kind about your employment with a person who is not capable of firing you is inappropriate. If someone brings up the subject take them by the ear to Father immediately and then the three of you can discuss the charges/complaint. For anyone to bring this up in your earshot is a clue that they are not discussing anything but rather attacking you - you who does not work for them, but solely for the pastor.

It's like the guy who was being roundly criticized and when the jerk got done, then he quietly asked, "Can you fire me?" "Well, no." "Then !@#$@#% !@#." and walked off. Oh. I think I have actually done that. Last week. Felt good. Would do it again and again.



Entitled people are destroying the Church. Yes, it is Their Church, just not their religion.

Canadash, I do think this is big enough to meet with the pastor.
Sheep are attacking, and it needs to be nipped in the bud. If they say this in your presence, what are they stirring up with others when you're not around? Are any of these people on the parish council or finance council? Do their friends or spouses have the ear of the pastor?

To Father, I might say something like,
- I wanted you to know this happened, as there's confusion from people I thought understood this
- I'm not telling you because I was hurt or offended
- Maybe this would be a good time to clarify things with ___, the finance council, etc. There's clearly some confusion as to your plan of liturgical renewal, just wages for trained musicians, etc.
- I'll definately pray about this. Is there anything else you'd like me to do?
- Thanks again for hiring me. I'm really glad to have brought [this new benefit] to the parish, I like working here, and having you as a boss

An idea to help you- maybe have a Mass offered for the people who insulted you? Anonymously or not...

I'd bet you've thought of all this before.
Praying for resolution to the situation, canadash.

I suggest a music programme based on the simple English propers (no obscure Latin) which comprises of the following texts:

Introit: Sing to the Lord a new song, alleluia, for the Lord has accomplished wondrous deeds, alleluia, he has revealed his justice in the sight of the gentiles, alleluia alleluia. (SEP 122)

Offertory: If I walk in the midst of tribulation, you shall preserve my life O Lord; you shall stretch forth your hand against the fury of my enemies; your right hand has delivered me (SEP pg. 305)

Communion: 'Lord you delivered five talents unto me; behold I have gained five more. Well done good and faithful servant. Because you have been faithful over little I will set you over much enter into the joy of the Lord'

you could follow that up with Ubi Caritas...

Psalm 33 provides some nice verses: they go out full of tears... they come back full of song....


Singing is not a weapon, but it is an instructional tool. Actually, now I think about it, singing is a weapon.

2 Chronicles 20:17-22

17 You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will give you, Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the Lord will be with you.’”

18 Jehoshaphat bowed down with his face to the ground, and all the people of Judah and Jerusalem fell down in worship before the Lord. 19 Then some Levites from the Kohathites and Korahites stood up and praised the Lord, the God of Israel, with a very loud voice.

20 Early in the morning they left for the Desert of Tekoa. As they set out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, “Listen to me, Judah and people of Jerusalem! Have faith in the Lord your God and you will be upheld; have faith in his prophets and you will be successful.” 21 After consulting the people, Jehoshaphat appointed men to sing to the Lord and to praise him for the splendor of his[a] holiness as they went out at the head of the army, saying:

“Give thanks to the Lord,
for his love endures forever.”

22 As they began to sing and praise, the Lord set ambushes against the men of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir who were invading Judah, and they were defeated.


Embrace your calling! You are not a musician because you are paid. You are not even doing it because you enjoy it. You are doing it because you are part of Gods battle plan against the strategies of the enemy. That ones strategies include gossip, back biting, slander, division, jealousy, not to mention the temptation to despair, and the harassment of dwelling on being rejected.

Up men of God!
My brothers! I see in your eyes the same fear that would take the heart of me! A day may come when the courage of men fails, when we forsake our friends and break all bonds of fellowship. But it is not this day. An hour of wolves and shattered shields when the age of Men comes crashing down! But it is not this day! This day we fight! By all that you hold dear on this good Earth, I bid you stand! Men of the West!

I've run into this same situation. People just seem to think that musicians play music for a hobby. They have no idea. One day I got so upset over the same thing I wanted to throw in their face the student loan bills. What's interesting, is that most of the people complaining about paying musicians think very little of the millions of dollars going out to professional athletes. Like organists, that just tinkle the keys.....don't professional athletes just run up and down the field?

I wonder how much of the disconnect might be due to our guitar culture. Playing the guitar in a way that is minimally agreeable takes very litle time or talent. It can easily be done as a hobby. It's not like really playing the guitar, or any classical instrument, which takes expensive training and rehearsal time. Anybody can play (in some way) folk guitar, so people might think "playing an instrument" is no big deal.

This true for any instrument, really. A moderate amount of proficiency can be developed as a hobby. And it used to be the case that most reasonably educated people did so.

Thanks, Adam. I'm a little (lot) sensitive about typifying "guitar" as I am about "OCP." All instruments are possible "gateways" to musical discovery or inspiration, and pawn shops of yore were just as full of cheap violins, flutes, trumpets, saxes as guitars discarded after their users lost interest.
If you are like Noel, AdamW or myself, you probably have figured out the music making industry has swollen, not atrophied because of technology, however far from the ideals we ascribe to here. We just haven't figured out how to steer genuine talent our way....yet.
BTW, my gateway instrument in 2nd grade, c.1958, a Magnus chord organ my parents spent money they didn't need to. They didn't play it. My sister didn't play with it. I spent hour after hour on it making up stuff, imitating stuff, learning Richard Rodgers stuff..... Can we say Yamaha, Casio, Roland....

Thanks, Kathy, I knew what you meant. And, uh, you're on heckuva musician. My choir's never sung at a pontifical Mass! ;-)
One of the things I think Catholic media (EWTN, CatholicTV, AveMaria, Immaculate Heart Radio, etc.) has really dropped the ball on is catechizing folks about liturgy and the how-to's. JMO/CCW produced the Sacred, Universal and Beautiful video, not Irondale. Fresno's the only diocese in the nation that wholly owns its own TV station, and I can't count the times I've told bishops, his vicars/chancellors, the station managers: "Hey, you produce cheezy 22 minute Masses, tons of Latino P&W programs, why can't you back a series on 'How to do Liturgy/Music?'"
It's just like local pastors, they want it handed to them, free.

Thank you, that was very sweet of you, and means a lot that you know of it.

But, you know- you can write as a hobby, create computer programs as a hobby, do yard work as a hobby, work on cars as a hobby, build electronics as a hobby, play football as a hobby....

You can also be a priest as a hobby. Some small Orthodox congregations have been forcing their pastors to get "day jobs" to help pay the bills. Most Catholic deacons, though technically clergy, have the same need.

Liturgical work has no price and so it is offensive to ask that people "pay for it". Offensive against religion, that is - not offensive in the sense of a high price.

Remuneration is given to liturgical musicians for the same reason it is given to full-time priests, because the laborer deserves his wage, not because the product is worth a certain amount. It is just to pay to emancipate a man from debt, to pay more to a man with children, and to pay to educate a man who is dedicating his life to the service of the Church.

Paying a Church musician is, like paying for candles, an offering to God.

Melo

The physics of strummimg a guitar and being able to play d, g and a can be learned in one sitting. Violin, sax, flute, etc., are melody only instruments and take months and years to even sound decent playing a simple melody. That is why (hack) guitar players outnumber other instruments 10 to 1, and why the perception that playing an instrument doesn't require a lot of practice. Classical guitar, a whole nother matter.

And people masquarading as musicians and clerics willing to give them the job.

Wendi:

Just off the top of my head:

Are they an organist/choirmaster? Do they promote GC, polyphony and the use of organ? Do they understand the essence of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass? Do they live the faith and receive/promote the sacraments? Are they faithful to the magesterium (the truths, documents and dogmas of the Church?

Do they prefer to be up front on the altar? Do they often prefer to sing solos? Is the bulk of their repertoire composed after 1960 or before?

That's rather arrogant (and quite poor logic) to assume that just because someone doesn't share your values of the RotR, and prefers music written in their lifetime and likes being up front and singing solos, etc, means they cannot even be called a musician.