I have noticed an increased number of postings addressing issues of “professional” versus “amateur”, or “paid” versus “volunteer”, and felt that I should weigh in. We all know where this could lead, so hang on to your hats and don't stand up.

It seems to me that there are "am-ih-chers" and amateurs.

Those who have ears to hear and eyes to see know of what I speak. The church music (note, I say "church" music, and not sacred music) landscape is littered with the former who know not what they do, and the havoc they wreak is legendary. We can all tell plenty of alcoholism-inducing stories about the local "amicher" who knows simply everything about good "cherch mewsik" and will tell you as much. Danger, Will Robinson. And, it is certainly understandable and appropriate to excoriate them for depriving those of us who are learned colleagues in the field of our rightful income when they take up residence in the loft or on the local organ bench and destroy vocal technique or butcher even the simplest of hymns and destroy the repertoire. (When I came back from Florida I was told that the sub I'd hired accompanied "O Sons and Daughters" with a "boom-chick-chick" left-hand accompaniment. I was horrified, as were many of the parishioners. I can't make this stuff up. Needless to say, that sub won't be working for me anytime soon. AND, she makes a handsome income holding herself out as a "substitute Catholic organist." What do the ads say? "Beware of substitutes". Point taken!)

But the latter, amateurs, are those who have a passion for a particular endeavor, in our case sacred music, and devote a great deal of time and energy learning as much as they can on the subject, including seeking out respected (or admired) mentors (such as Wendi has) to aid in their growth, education and development. They are voracious readers, and spend countless hours, just as many of us "professionals" do, studying anything and everything they can lay their hands on regarding the subject and never hesitate to ask plenty of questions. These true amateurs do not do damage to the field or the reputation of those who are "professionals", but do us great honor by seeking our advice and deriving their inspiration from the work we do.

Unlike the "amichers" I spoke of earlier, who do great damage because they "don't know, and don't know that they don't know", true amateurs constantly question what they're doing and seek out the advice, assistance and support of folk like us. When they come to this forum, the last thing they need to read is vitriol or skreed from an elitist "professional" about how destructive they are to the art, or how invalid their work is because they lack this degree or that certificate, or how the pittance of an income they receive (or indeed when they volunteer, the income they don't receive!) is somehow an affront and threat to our careers and job security, or how they don't deserve to be paid for what they do because they lack our "education".

Frankly, I would need to take my shoes and socks off to count the number of so-called "professionals" in the area of sacred music who pull down huge incomes, and yet through their own arrogance and self-confidence in their feeble or ill-informed abilities are guilty of depriving truly passionate, serious-minded sacred musicians (be they professional or amateur) of a just income, and worse who most likely have been responsible for the destruction of a music program because of their arrogance and lack of real vision or hunger for knowledge and continued progress in the field. Indeed, many of these professionals, with multiple degrees in hand, have single-handedly destroyed an otherwise promising music program, and with their lack of understanding then salted the ground thus guaranteeing that anyone who came after would have little or no luck rebuilding the program.

Remember, there are a fair few amateurs who lurk this forum seeking sound advice. What should they make of it when certain members begin flexing their "professional muscles", asserting this opinion while demonizing the other, and all the while making it quite obvious that if you're not a "professional", you're not to be taken seriously?

Perhaps we should put someone at the front gate of the forum who asks, "Papers, please." Then we're sure to get only those who are worthy of expressing an opinion, or weighing in on a debate, while sparing us "professionals" the embarrassment and tedium of asking obvious "rookie" questions.

Disclaimer: As always, the opinions expressed are those of David Andrew and not those of the CMAA or the cognoscenti, illuminati or peritti of the forum.