February 3, 2019

#050: Physical Health and the Pastoral Musician (with Dr. Paul Schaefer)

February 3, 2019

The most recent issue of Pastoral Musicmagazine is all about health. It contains perspectives on stress, finding and maintaining balance, forgiveness, healing, and more. I hope that, by now, you’ve had a chance to read through it.

To be honest, pastoral musicians are not known for effective health routines. We have stressful and emotionally-demanding jobs. We regularly spend hours sitting in meetings. Many of us don’t maintain regular or healthy eating habits. Even more of us find it difficult to find time to exercise. The list goes on.

Today, we’re focusing on physical health. It’s time for our collective trip to the doctor for our annual check-up. We’ll talk about maintaining healthy habits, balance, and the unique physical health needs of musicians. To do so, we’ll speak with Dr. Paul Schaefer. We’ll also hear about personal renewal from Matthew Walsh in today’s Ministry Moment.

SHOW NOTES

For more information about Dr. Paul Schaefer and his work, visit his biography page on the Lakeview Health website.

Today’s featured article was originally published in the December-January 1982 issue of Pastoral Music magazine. The most recent issue of Pastoral Music, titled “Musician, Heal Thyself: The Delicate, Necessary, and Elusive Art of Self-Care” was published in January of 2019.

The music you heard in today’s episode: “To Be Fishers of Women and Men” (Kathy Powell) and “I Have Been Anointed” (Steve Warner).

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

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January 28, 2019

#049: Catholic Schools Week Edition

January 28, 2019

This week, across the country, thousands of parish communities are celebrating Catholic Schools Week. My connections to Catholic school are many – an educator, administrator, graduate, current parent, and more. I know many of you have connections to Catholic schools, too, and at various levels. But what I’d like to focus on today is how our work as pastoral musicians and liturgists intersects with the work of Catholic education. In some communities, the connection between parish and school is close and cooperative. In others, the parish and school operate so independently of one another that, save for physical proximity, you’d never know they were connected.

I’m hoping to explore these complex realities directly and in depth in future episodes. Today, however, we’re starting with something more basic. How do we engage the children of our parish in worship? How do we invite youth to appreciate a variety of traditional and contemporary liturgical music styles? To address these questions, we’ll begin with some thoughts from Dr. Elaine Rendler. We’ll also hear from the Congregation on Catholic Education in this week’s Ministry Moment.

SHOW NOTES

For more information about Dr. Elaine Rendler and her work, visit her composer page at OCP and her faculty page at George Mason University. You can find out more about Today's Liturgy, including how to subscribe, by visiting the OCP website.

Today’s featured article was originally published in the April-May 1998 issue of Pastoral Music magazine. To read the full text of “The Catholic School on the Threshold of the Third Millennium,” visit the Vatican website.

The music you heard in today’s episode: “Love Divine, All Love’s Excelling” (HYFRYDOL, text by Charles Wesley) and “I Have Been Anointed” (Steve Warner).

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

January 21, 2019

#048: Improving Choral Rehearsals (with Michael Kemp)

January 21, 2019

Some of the most common resolutions set by musicians have to do with rehearing: we resolve to rehearse more, to rehearse better, to develop better habits, and so forth. As directors and leaders of music ensembles, we have the added need to improve our rehearsal design, the skills of our ensemble members, and their rehearsal technique.

Today, we’ll hear a special workshop presentation from Michael Kemp. Offered at the 2018 NPM convention in Baltimore, Michael presented a workshop titled “Igniting Choral Rehearsals with Efficiency, Artistry, and Motivation.” In this session, participants learned how to prepare rehearsals in such a way as to inspire singers and increase the beauty of their sound. Participants also examined sample anthems with annotations that helped show how to attain dynamic improvements in their choirs, creating an intriguing experience for choir members, and a tremendous boost to skill-building.

SHOW NOTES

To find out more about Michael Kemp’s compositions and publications, visit his composer page at GIA Publications and his personal website, www.michaelkemp.org.

The music you heard in today’s episode: “The Summons” (Bell), and “I Send You Out” (Angotti).

Visit NPM's digital resource library, referenced at the end of the episode. While you are there, check out the program and register for the 2019 NPM National Convention!