August 12, 2018

#026: Music Theory, Revisited (with Keith Kalemba, ft. Aaron Copland)

August 12, 2018

When you look at those of us serving in the ranks of pastoral musicians, the variance in our music training is just as vast as the variance in our training in scripture, or liturgy, or theology. Some of us took lessons when we were growing up, and some of us learned to play by ear. Some of us studied music in college or graduate school, and some of us haven’t studied formal music theory at all.

Regardless, it is our contention that understanding and utilizing basic music theory concepts are important to effective pastoral music ministry. Today, our goal is to explore this assertion. It is my hope that we’ll challenge those of you who have not studied theory to begin to learn the basics, and that we’ll challenge those of you with years of study to use that information in ways that can boost the knowledge and skills of your ensembles and colleagues. To help us with these tasks, we’ll speak with Keith Kalemba, and we’ll hear from the writings of composer Aaron Copland in today’s Ministry Moment.

SHOW NOTES

For more information about Keith Kalemba, visit his bio page at World Library Publications.

You can find the Interval Song Chart generator by visiting the EarMaster website.

The recordings of "Make Us True Servants" was produced by World Library Publications. "Eat This Bread" and "Give Us Peace" were produced by GIA Publications. The piano recording of "Resignation" was performed by Fr. Robert Koopmann, OSB, on the album Sacred Improvisations.

Visit NPM's digital resource library, referenced at the end of the episode.

All content of this podcast is property of the National Association of Pastoral Musicians or its content suppliers and is protected by United States and international copyright laws. For information about the podcast and its use, please contact us.

August 6, 2018

#025: The Singing Priest (with Fr. Ricky Manalo, CSP)

August 6, 2018

Pastoral musicians spend a great deal of effort trying to get people to sing. Our work is animated by the desire to assist the “full, active, and conscious participation” of every person in our assembly. We often select music that is familiar. We spend a great deal of time introducing new music with pedagogic strategies that are measured, reasonable, and pastoral. We put hymns in comfortable keys, we train instrumentalists to support congregational singing, and we form our cantors to be song leaders, not soloists.

For the most part, I’m willing to be we do a pretty good job of promoting and facilitating the sung prayer of those gathered in the pews. But, there is another voice that may need a bit more coaxing and a more delicate pastoral approach. Whose voice is it? Your pastor.

It can be difficult to get your pastor – or deacon, or bishop – to sing. Yet, singing is vital to our liturgy, especially for the role of the presider. The solutions can be tricky because the cause of the hesitancy – or refusal – on the part of your pastor can be varied and complex. To peel back these layers and to discuss some strategies, we turn to Fr. Ricky Manalo. We’ll hear one of Fr. Ricky’s compositions in today’s Ministry Moment.

SHOW NOTES

For more information about Fr. Ricky Manalo, CSP, and his other compositions, visit his composer page at OCP and his personal website.

To listen to the Open Your Hymnal podcast episode featuring Fr. Ricky's song, "Many and Great," visit the Open Your Hymnal website.

The recordings of "Transfiguration" was produced by OCP. "Eat This Bread" and "Give Us Peace" were produced by GIA Publications.

Visit NPM's digital resource library, referenced at the end of the episode.

July 29, 2018

#024: Understanding Liturgical Assessment (with Mike Novak)

July 29, 2018

In last week’s episode, we explored the concept of operational development with Kathy Bartlett. In that conversation, we examined how we in pastoral ministry should apply a strategic, organizational lens to the way we view our work in order to be both efficient and effective.

Today, we are continuing this thread of practical, strategic, and professional topics by discussing the concept of liturgical assessment. Now, before you hit the “skip” button or push “pause,” consider this question for a moment. How effective are your parish liturgies? If your response was negative, what high impact steps can your community take to address this ineffectiveness? If your response was positive, what objective evidence can you point to in order to back up your claim?

Liturgical assessment is NOT about imposing or challenging musical or aesthetic taste, it is NOT about evaluating the personal worth of you or your volunteer ministers, and it certainly isn’t about the style wars. It is about giving good, accurate, real information about the experience of those who participate in your liturgies so that you know what your community does well and so that you know exactly what to do about those things your community doesn’t do so well. To help us understand the process, we’ll speak with assessment expert Mike Novak.

SHOW NOTES

For more information about Mike Novak, visit his biography page at World Library Publications.

You can download the three resources mentioned in the conversation using the links below. NOTE: These were created by Mike Novak and are his intellectual property. The files are included here for your reference and your professional use. Please ensure that you properly credit the source of these resources.

Handout 1: Overview of the Parish Liturgy Assessment Process

Handout 2: Liturgy Assessment Tool

Handout 3: Sample Assessment Report

The recordings of "They'll Know We Are Christians" was produced by World Library Publications. "Give Us Peace" was produced by GIA Publications.

Visit NPM's digital resource library, referenced at the end of the episode.