HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!
  • WendiWendi
    Posts: 638
    So. Anyone have musical type New Year's resolutions to share?

    Mine are to start a program training cantors, and if I can find an organist willing to teach, to try and get organ lessons made available to parishioners. Especially the younger ones. With colleges discontinuing organ programs all over the place, I think the young need to be exposed to and given an understanding of the instrument. Who knows, maybe I'll find someone who can teach this old dog a new trick, and I'll take organ lessons as well.

    Anyway...that's my plan. What's yours?
  • Musicteacher56
    Posts: 621
    My big resolution is to try and build up the music ministry both the adults and children. I would love a bell choir, too. May the Lord bless us all as we do His work and give us guidance, wisdom, courage, patience and understanding

  • irishtenoririshtenor
    Posts: 1,325
    This is not meant to be snarky; I am genuinely curious.

    How do you go about utilizing a bell choir liturgically?
  • Musicteacher56
    Posts: 621
    I use it for offertory motets. Instead of voices I use the bells
    Thanked by 1irishtenor
  • melofluentmelofluent
    Posts: 4,160
    Our 8th grade bell choir assists every Friday at school Mass, ordinary and processionals.
  • irishtenoririshtenor
    Posts: 1,325
    Do you have specific examples of what (pieces, number of bells, etc.) has worked well for you?
  • BenBen
    Posts: 3,114
    I want to teach myself to play organ well enough to improvise well for interludes and be able to easily play for part stuff such as hymns, and be able to play on the pedalboard as easily as in the hands. Right now, I can play and have played for several Masses, it takes a while to learn pieces, but it's still basic playing.
  • melofluentmelofluent
    Posts: 4,160
    Sure, IT, but let me revisit that post Christmas if that's okay.
    I do ALL my own arrangements.
    Thanked by 1irishtenor
  • M. Jackson Osborn
    Posts: 8,414
    I thought this was going to be about The New (Liturgical) Year that we are beginning on this very (Liturgical) New Year's Day.
    Not that there is anything wrong with setting goals for the approaching year.

    Also, not wishing to pour cold water on the use of hand bells by those who like them, I have never been all that enamoured of them, nor of, as a matter of course, having to 'work them in'. (Incidentally, how many who use them are aware that they were invented as a means of practicing change ringing without going up into the tower and practicing on the whole town?)
  • WendiWendi
    Posts: 638
    It IS about the new liturgical year. I make personal new year's resolutions on January first. I make musical ones on the first day of Advent. :) I find that by setting such goals it helps focus my service to my parish.
    Thanked by 2M. Jackson Osborn CHGiffen
  • donr
    Posts: 971
    My New Years resolution is to become a better conductor (going to the Phoenix Chant Intensive) and to learn to play the Organ (hands only for now). Now that the PIPs are singing the Propers in English and a few Latin Hymns I will introduce some more advanced pieces. I will also proceed with the note reading class I started last O.T.
    Hopefully get new members in the choir (including teens).
    Its a big list and I hope to do all of it.
    Thanked by 1matthewj
  • melofluentmelofluent
    Posts: 4,160
    Also, not wishing to pour cold water on the use of hand bells by those who like them, I have never been all that enamoured of them


    Jackson, by your own inclination to speak despite your faux protestations, I hereby relinquish my status as the Forum Curmudgeon to your august personage.
    If you have nothing good to say....
    (Allowing as how your Anglican upbringing may have missed that American colloquialism.)
  • M. Jackson Osborn
    Posts: 8,414
    Goodness, I shouldn't want to deprive you of a dignity which you so well deserve, especially considering that I, myself, am so undeserving of it; why, you could even put FRCC after your name!
  • irishtenoririshtenor
    Posts: 1,325
    Fellow of the Royal College of Curmudgeons?
  • M. Jackson Osborn
    Posts: 8,414
    Yea, verily!
  • MaryAnn Carr WilsonMaryAnn Carr Wilson
    Posts: 1,738
    Resolutions for Advent
    Good idea.

    Pray more, and really pray the chants I teach
    Listen to the pastor better
    Smile to the Choristers during merciless drills
    Thank choir volunteers more often
    Find Spanish "Veni Emmanuel" for Spanish Choir
    Teach schola solemn Alma Redemptoris Mater
    Assimilate more Graduals
    Learn solemn vespers
    Go over readings I skimmed too quickly in my semiology class (forgive me, Dr. Schaefer, if you are reading this!)
    Thanked by 1Wendi
  • Adam WoodAdam Wood
    Posts: 6,482
    In programming: More polyphony.
    In planning: More organization.
    Thanked by 1Wendi
  • WendiWendi
    Posts: 638
    FRCC...I love this forum. The giggles are continuous.
  • Blaise
    Posts: 439
    My New Year's resolution: brush up my piano skills so that I can transfer as soon as possible to the organ and start organ lessons....this requires me to get a reasonably good electronic keyboard to practice the piano.

    I have been putting this off for years, but finances have been a little tight for me this year.
Add a Comment