I have started a new topic with sidvicius' question from another thread:
sidvicius wrote:In some places, musical directors are paid, and have lines of choristers young and old, to assist in their work. In ordinary churches, MusDir is usually voluntary, and the incumbent is usually keen but frequently ill-equipped for the job.
So my question is: are there any simple, 'starter' guides for people undertaking this ministry as to how to do it properly?
There are millions of questions people in music circles ask continuously. We should have a small book (in the vein of Marian Tolley's guide for Readers for example), which takes all the details from General Instructions etc and then applies them to our humble, and often woefully inadequate, parish circumstances.
If there is a guide published, fantastic - but I've not seen anyone using one. Ideas, anybody?
One thing I do remember from the workshop is how the comments of certain contributors highlighted the trouble they took to include the needs of the assembly in the process of teaching and leading.
Thanks, Presbyter. I will see if I can obtain a copy and let SSG know what it is like.
Not easy to find on the internet, so use this HYPERLINK to get a smidgen of information about this book.
The Volunteer Choir by Frank Brownstead, and Pat McCollam (Pastoral Press, 1987) ISBN: 0912405376
How to Be a Successful Choir Director by John Bertalot (Kevin Mayhew, 2002) ISBN: 1840038659
Both, obviously, are aimed at church choir directors rather than more generally at parish music directors, but there's a lot of wisdom in both books that can be helpful to any church musician. Two other good books on my shelf are:
Teaching Kids the Basics of Liturgy: Making the Rituals More Meaningful by Robert D. Duggan (Thomas More Publishing, 2000) ISBN: 0883474093
which is a very good book not just for kids, and one called something like The role of the cantor, which I'll have to look at before I can give you the details, because I can't find it on the web (which probably means I've got the title wrong).
I wrote:and one called something like The role of the cantor, which I'll have to look at before I can give you the details, because I can't find it on the web (which probably means I've got the title wrong).
Yep, it's actually:
The Church Musician by Paul Westermeyer (Minneapolis, Augsburg-Fortress Press, 1997) ISBN: 0806633999
(In the book he uses the term cantor for any kind church musician, hence my confusion.) A book with a very good grounding in practical wisdom, especially when it comes to coping with fellow human beings.
Thank you for all those (is it really necessary to quote yourself from the preceding post?). Perhaps SSG could provide a 'recommended/useful reading' page on its website?
"The Church Musician's Handbook" (St Matthias Press, 1994, ISBN 1 873166 05 2) is a collection of papers described as "a practical guide to music and its role within the Church". It includes items on musical directors and checklists for music leaders.
Are you already a music director, or an aspiring one, Sid? Apologies if you've already told us elsewhere on the Forum.
May I ask a related question what do people consider to be the job of the 'keen but ill-equipped person'.
In one parish I was in the role was as much part of the parish team as being responsible for parish music.
I'm asking in part what is the pastoral role of the musical directors in the life of a community - of the books mentioned the ones I know do not address this - but it would be interesting to hear what people understand the role to be?
