[HANASHIR:6435] Re: Certification of Synagogue Musicians

[Rabbi Richard Schachet <lvrabbi...>]

They would get their experience the same way religious school teachers get
their experience.  One is not automatically R.J.E. or licensed by a B.J.E.
It takes time, study and practical experience.  Certification can mean a
higher salary over the minimum paid--
Rabbi Richard Schachet
Valley Outreach Synagogue
www.valleyoutreach.com
----- Original Message -----
From: Greg & Rhonda Wehner <wehner5 (at) mediaone(dot)net>
To: <hanashir (at) shamash(dot)org>
Sent: Monday, July 03, 2000 9:08 AM
Subject: [HANASHIR:6434] Re: Certification of Synagogue Musicians


> I totally agree.....if our goal was to become cantors, we would have gone
to
> HUC or JRC, etc.  How about those just starting out?  How would they gain
> their experience?   Continuing to learn and finding places to do that are
> great ideas, but certification is questionable.
>
> Rhonda
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: <Freedabet (at) aol(dot)com>
> To: <durleste (at) home(dot)com>; <hanashir (at) shamash(dot)org>
> Cc: <gtm (at) shamash(dot)org>
> Sent: Monday, July 03, 2000 8:27 AM
> Subject: [HANASHIR:6433] Re: Certification of Synagogue Musicians
>
>
> > Having studied such issues while earning a degree in Economics at a
> 'laissez
> > faire'-leaning institution, I will disagree that licensing and
> certification
> > in general is a desirable thing.  It acts primarily as a barrier to
entry
> to
> > the occupation to those who aren't certified, and benefits those who can
> > afford the time and/or money to become certified at the expense of those
> who
> > aren't certified but perhaps more capable.  Historically, certification
> tests
> > evolve to cover much more material than is necessary for competence in
the
> > occupation.  And, in the arts, the effects are magnified because
artistic
> > ability can't be 'tested.'
> >
> > Michael
> >
> > -------- REPLY, Original message follows --------
> >
> > > Date: Sunday, 02-Jul-00 05:42 PM
> > >
> > > From: Adrian Durlester         \ Internet:    (durleste (at) home(dot)com)
> > > To:   Hanashir Mail Server     \ Internet:    (hanashir (at) 
> > > shamash(dot)org)
> > > cc:   GTM List Server          \ Internet:    (gtm (at) shamash(dot)org)
> > >
> > > Subject:  [HANASHIR:6430] Certification of Synagogue Musicians
> > >
> > > Sender: owner-hanashir (at) shamash(dot)org
> > > Reply-to:       hanashir (at) shamash(dot)org
> > > To:     hanashir (at) shamash(dot)org
> > > CC:     gtm (at) shamash(dot)org
> > > This is a response to a posting on the Hanashir Jewish
> > > Songleaders/Performers/Music Educators list, that is also being posted
> to
> > > the GTM list. My response follows a citation from the original post I
am
> > > responding too.
> > >
> > > > -----Original Message-----
> > > > From: ItaSara (at) aol(dot)com
> > > > To: hanashir (at) shamash(dot)org
> > > > Subject: [HANASHIR:6428] Re: HN 2000 songs
> > > >
> > > > In a message dated 7/2/00 12:14:57 PM, durleste (at) home(dot)com 
> > > > writes:
> > > >
> > > > << Which leads me to another rant I'll get to someday: the lack
> > > > of any formal certification for synagogue musicians. >>
> > > >
> > > > Now I'm curious. What kind of training do you think synagogue
> musicians
> > > > should have?
> > > ---------------end of original message----------------------------
> > >
> > > ItaSara:
> > >
> > > There really isn't time and this isn't necessarily the appropriate
forum
> for
> > > this discussion. It's probably more germane to the GTM list (to which
I
> am
> > > cross-posting this email.) I'll make a short comment to the whole list
> here
> > > and now, and then continue the dialog privately with those who care
to.
> > >
> > > As for certification of synagogue musicians, I strongly believe it is
> > > something that should be done. However, I don't think "training" is
the
> > > issue. By whatever means they learn, if they can demonstrate
sufficient
> > > familiarity with the subject material, based on some adopted criteria,
> they
> > > should be given the certification. Knowledge of
repertoire-contemporary,
> > > "classical" and "mi-Sinai;" the basic structure of the Jewish worship
> > > service; familiarity with the various publishing organizations, the
> various
> > > professional organizations, libraries, anthologies, and resources and
> > > resource centers; a basic understanding of modalities/nusach; a basic
> > > understanding of the history of Jewish synagogue music and the
cantorial
> > > arts; plus the requisite musical skills of competent playing,
> sight-reading,
> > > and appropriate accompanying (conducting skills could be an additional
> skill
> > > for a specialized certification for Choir Directors.)
> > >
> > > I would strongly argue against requiring formal training at or through
a
> > > particular institute like HUC (such as is required for cantors,) but
> there
> > > could be courses offered (perhaps by more than one institution of
higher
> > > learning, in fact, not perhaps, but most definitely so) which could be
> > > certified to be the equivalent of a particular criteria for
> certification,
> > > perhaps even an entire program (offered, perhaps, through distance
> learning
> > > on the web.) Perhaps even the GTM itself could offer the courses
through
> > > distance education.
> > >
> > > Perhaps an apprentice level certification could be offered as well,
for
> one
> > > engaged in the process of studying to obtain certification (which,
like
> > > doing the same for the cantorate, could take some time.)
> > >
> > > Now, I don't necessarily think the equivalent of a one semester 1,2 or
3
> > > hour course is the level of knowledge that should be required to be
> > > certified as a synagogue musician. The required knowledge level needs
to
> be
> > > determined by a careful study, and could certainly be less than that
> > > required for such courses. But surely there is an agreed upon body of
> > > knowledge that a competent synagogue musician should have, and
> synagogues
> > > should be encouraged to engage people with this knowledge in positions
> as
> > > organists, pianists, music directors, choir directors, etc. I'm not
> > > advocating that these people compete with, or have the same high level
> of
> > > training as required for the cantorate, but why would an ordained
cantor
> > > want to work with an organist or choir director without such
knowledge?
> > > Surely that would be a great help?
> > >
> > > I'm not suggesting this standard be applied to someone who songleads,
or
> > > does music for a once a week religious school program (although
> standards
> > > for such positions isn't a bad idea, either.)
> > >
> > > Many Reform synagogues will only employ educators who belong to NATE.
> Why,
> > > then, might they employ music directors or organists who carry no
> > > certification?
> > >
> > > BTW, as it seems that many (if not most?) current synagogue
> > > organists/pianists/music directors might be non-Jews. This
certification
> > > should certainly be open to all, and that is another reason it should
be
> > > offered through distance learning and perhaps through several
> institutions
> > > around the country. My interaction with my many Christian colleagues
> working
> > > in a similar capacity as a synagogue musician as I do has told me that
> many
> > > would welcome this chance to expand their knowledge, and help them do
a
> > > better job for the congregations that employ them. I don't want this
> seen as
> > > exclusionary, although, as a Jewish synagogue musician, I do bemoan
the
> fact
> > > that there aren't enough of us.
> > >
> > > I would think that Day Schools and camps, too, might benefit from
> > > certification of Jewish music professionals/educators.
> > >
> > > Well, enough of this rant. If you'd care to continue the discussion,
> please
> > > email me privately at durleste (at) home(dot)com(dot) That goes for 
> > > anyone reading
> this!
> > >
> > > Adrian
> > >
> >
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> > > "Atheism is a non-prophet organization."
> > >                           -George Carlin
> > > Adrian A. Durlester. M.T.S.  -  durleste (at) home(dot)com
> > > http://members.home.net/durleste/
> > > Music Director, Congregation Micah, Nashville, TN
> http://www.micahnash.org/
> > > Home phone (615) 646-9788 Nextel cel-phone (615) 207-2661
> > > You can page me from http://www.nextel.com
> > > List-Owner for hanashir (at) shamash(dot)org; Co-Owner for L-Torah (at) 
> > > shamash(dot)org
> > > http://uahc.org/hanashir
> > > Editor, Bim Bam (for Torah Aura Productions) http://www.torahaura.com/
> > > Alternate Email: aad (at) iname(dot)com  adriand (at) aol(dot)com
> > >
> > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> >
> > -------- REPLY, End of original message --------
> >
> >
>
>

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