- Find out feasts/readings for Masses in advance (anywhere from 4 weeks to 4 months)
- Nag the PP to plan/make decisions (Seriously! If I don't, we get given really challenging music like 5 minutes before the Mass. This is a campaign in itself. I began asking for a planning session for the Easter liturgies in January (3.5 months in advance). We got around to planning at the beginning of April - 3 weeks before Easter - just too late to properly learn new music).
- Read (and read around) the readings
- Identify themes
- Select relevant songs/hymns (sourcing music if necessary)
- Narrow music selection based on what we know and how much time we have
- Pray
For each weekly practice;
- Pray
- Plan music to rehearse based on events of the next two weeks (longer if there is a big event coming up)
- Learn/refresh knowledge of music
- Try to plan a warm-up/vocal exercise in the rehearsal in such a way that no one will notice it
- Pray
- Have a good lunch
- Leave work on time
- Run rehearsal (90 mins)
- Neither say or think anything that could possibly be interpreted as a critism (including things like, 'we went flat' or 'could we sing this more quietly')
- Keep positive the whole time and take nothing personally
- Have a prepared explaination or rationale for every hymn choice, action and suggestion I make
- Remember to remind everyone of the next and upcoming events
- Leave last
- Sleep
For each and every event/performance;
- Get a good nights sleep
- Pray
- Formalise and type up music schedule for the event
- Get to Church about 30-60 mins before event
- Get music selection approved by both the PP and celebrant
- Find out what unusual thing is happening and how it will impact the music
- Put up hymn numbers
- Copy and cut music schedule for choir and celebrant
- Run performance
- Be positive and take nothing personally
- Remind everyone of next and upcoming events
- Go home and sleep
My criteria for a successful event;
- Nothing unusual happens
- The choir sings in tune
- I am still standing and have not had anyone tell me off
I think I may have to edit this list slightly before I present it to everyone.
1 comment:
I think I made it 4 lots of PRAY and 3 lots of SLEEP so I reckon you've got it about right!
I'm sure you've realised by now that for every 10 positive comments you get after a Sunday service, that ONE obliquely negative hint just destroys all that's gone before!
Stick in there!
I think it's really good that you've got them all behind you and wanting to help out. Be encouraged by that - don't think it's because you're failing - it's because they want 'ownership' and more personal involvement!
Either that - or they've discovered your Blog! You know, you're not quite as anonymous as you probably think on these things!
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