The Pittsburgh Chapter of the National Association of Pastoral Musicians
 


Sister Cynthia Serjak, RSM
 

Discussion overview of the February 2 Meeting

St. Catherine of Sweden, Wildwood
Jim Skalos, host
 

During the course of the meeting the assembled 37 members broke into smaller discussion groups to discuss the vision of our chapter.  The groups were led by the following people:

  • Gayle Wittman’s Group – smaller parish, rural, limited budget

  •  Tom Franzak’s Group – ensemble, younger musicians, technology, contemporary

  •  Lou Valenzi’s Group – eclectic approach to ministry

  •  Don Fellows' Group – high church, mostly choral
     

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  1) What day of the week would meetings be most convenient for you? What would you think about varying the day of the week? 

Gayle Wittman’s Group:

  • Monday or Tuesday would be best. 

  • Do not rotate the day

Tom Franzak’s Group:

  • Sunday or Monday

Lou Valenzi’s Group:

  • Vary the day

Don Fellows' Group:

  • All expressed varying the meeting day which would give all musicians an opportunity to attend at least a couple of meetings. 

  • However, most agreed that Wednesday and Thursday would not be good for most people since choirs usually rehearse on those nights.

 

2) How many meetings do you feel we need per year?  Does having a dinner make the evening more appealing?

Gayle Wittman’s Group:

  • 4 meetings per year

  • dinner at the opening and closing

  • light social for the other two.

Tom Franzak’s Group:

  • 4 meetings per year

  • dinner yes

  • but not at 5:00 PM

Lou Valenzi’s Group:

  • quarterly meetings with dinner (dinner could be optional)

Don Fellows' Group:

  • All agreed that 4 meetings a year was would be good. 

  • Start time later rather than 5PM. 

  • Also agreed that dinner was a good idea since it gave folks an opportunity to network.

  • Suggested more meeting at a regional level which may encourage more people to attend.

 

3) What programs would you like to see offered in the coming year?  What speakers or musicians should we invite to come to Pittsburgh?

Gayle Wittman’s Group:

  • First on the list was Sing to the Lord; a review, teaching, or explanation. 

  • Second was Liturgy.  Most felt they had the music under control, but knew they weren’t as well qualified in liturgical decisions. 

  • Other ideas:  Cantor schools, Triduum (John Miller and Eric Diskin were doing Triduum presentations every year that were very good and covered liturgy and suggested music)Finale/Siberlius;

  • The New Missal; Choral reading sessions;

  • Chant – nobody really likes it but agreed we need to know how to do it

  • Sacramental celebrations (confirmation, baptisms, anointing, etc.)

  • Wedding music

  • Children’s choirs

  • Sr. Cynthia Serjak was tops on the list for speaker

  • Presentation on “Sing to the Lord” by Bob Batastini.

Tom Franzak’s Group:

  • Fr. Chepponis

  • Priests from the seminary who lecture in liturgy

  • Invite some of the younger contemporary musicians to come and perform at NPM Meetings

Lou Valenzi’s Group:

  • Psychologist – pastor/musician relationships, interpersonal dynamics, opening the lines of communication

  • Worship committee/Liturgical Life committee

  • “Cluster” how will this affect the musicians

  • How to initiate people on the new translations, when/how

  • “Sing to the Lord” moderated discussion of the document

  • “Spirit and Truth” diocesan resources?

  • Musicians –open to suggestions, willingly listening to members

  • Motivational speakers: Ray East, Chris Walker, Richard Proulx, Michael Joncas, Joanne Warner, Joe Simmons; How to get it published? Fred Moleck, Bob Batastini

Don Fellows' Group:

  • Choral Workshops

  • Improving singing technique for both cantors and choir members

  • Also focus on the older singer voice.  It was suggested to have Diane Rudolph hold a few workshops to work with the untrained singer.

  • The group also felt that chanting needs to be properly taught.

 

4) Do you have ideas for social events?

Gayle Wittman’s Group:

  • Day trips to organ factories

  • Linden Hall

  • purely social meeting, say a lunch meeting, just to get together

Tom Franzak’s Group:

  • invite spouses

Lou Valenzi’s Group:

  • Greensburg Diocese combined meeting

  • AGO combined event

  • Cabaret

Don Fellows' Group:

  • All agreed that there should be a universal mass parts used in all parishes that would become standard in order to have people participate in singing the mass parts.

  • It was suggested to invite priest to communicate with the Music Director to encourage communication between the music ministry and the clergy

  • All were in favor or of inviting Michael Thompson perform his music.

 

5) Does the location of the meeting affect your decision to attend?

Gayle Wittman’s Group:

  • DEFINITELY, we need central locations, or if 4 meetings per year, North, South, East , West

  • others in this group felt location did not matter

Tom Franzak’s Group:

  • yes

Lou Valenzi’s Group:

  • For some location matters, for others speaker matters more

Don Fellows' Group:

  • Location of meeting did not matter since there is no central point for all musicians.

 

6) How could NPM PGH assist you in your ministry?

Gayle Wittman’s Group:

  • Ideas in planning

  • Liturgical insights

  • New documents

Tom Franzak’s Group:

  • Repertoire ideas

  • Networking; support

  • Training for cantors and instrumentalists

Lou Valenzi’s Group:

  • Group e-mail list

  • Networking, share info, ask questions

Don Fellows' Group:

  

7) Would you be willing to serve on a nominating committee to prepare a slate of officers for the coming year, with elections to be held this May?

Gayle Wittman’s Group:

  • Art Fronzaglio, Helen Ciotto

Tom Franzak’s Group:

Lou Valenzi’s Group:

  • Diane Rudolph, Doris Anne Mercer

Don Fellows' Group:

  • Don Fellows

 

8) What do you want to see in NPM PGH?  Should we continue in our present mode of operation or move toward something new? if so, what should that be?

Gayle Wittman’s Group:

  • Same as #6

Tom Franzak’s Group:

  • Recruitment of younger musicians

  • New directions for music

Lou Valenzi’s Group:

Don Fellows' Group:

  • Members thought having more regional meetings for encourage more participation

 

9) Suggestions for website – group e-mail list?

Gayle Wittman’s Group:

  • 4 have looked at it

  • Needs to be more accessible

Tom Franzak’s Group:

Lou Valenzi’s Group:

Don Fellows' Group:

  • Make the website more user friendly

 

10) What individual concerns do you have for the local chapter?

Gayle Wittman’s Group:

  • Recruitment of people

  • Keeping current

  • Social time with choir members. 

  • There was a consensus on how very little respect there is for our ministry.  An example given was taking children out of the children’s choir to altar serve or lector on the Sunday they were to sing.  Also, priests never talking to the musician.

Tom Franzak’s Group:

  • Growth and recruitment

  • Musicianship

  • Commitment to the chapter

Lou Valenzi’s Group:

  • Recruitment of young people

Don Fellows' Group:

 

11) Are there topics that you would like to see addressed in future meetings?

Gayle Wittman’s Group:

  • Respect for our ministries

Tom Franzak’s Group:

  • Workshop on liturgy

  • Contemporary instrumentation

Lou Valenzi’s Group:

  • Technology sessions

  • Fundraising

  • How to Sessions

  • Mini-conventions

Don Fellows' Group:

  • Liturgy of the Hours for parish musicians

  • "Sing to the Lord" detailed presentation

  • An overview of the lectionary for a given season (Advent- Christmas, or Lent-Easter or Ordinary Time) with emphasis on the lectionary for music planning

  • Chant in the parish - how and why