[HANASHIR:6450] GTM/Listserv

[Freedabet <Freedabet...>]

Meris - I've copied this message to David Harris and John Planer with your 
request to be on the GTM listserv.  They will have to add you and then let 
you know.

Richard - GTM is Guild of Temple Musicians, an affiliate of the American 
Conference of Cantors.  It is an organization for all synagogue musicians who 
aren't Certified or Invested Cantors.

Michael

-------- REPLY, Original message follows --------

> Date: Tuesday, 04-Jul-00 04:12 PM
> 
> From: Meris Ruzow              \ Internet:    (meris (at) 
> nycap(dot)rr(dot)com)
> To:   Hanashir Mail Server     \ Internet:    (hanashir (at) shamash(dot)org)
> 
> Subject:  [HANASHIR:6442] Re: Certification of Synagogue Musicians
> 
> Sender: owner-hanashir (at) shamash(dot)org
> Reply-to:       hanashir (at) shamash(dot)org
> To:     hanashir (at) shamash(dot)org
> I am currently a member of the GTM.  does anyone have their listserve
> address?   Thanks,
> meris ruzow
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Adrian Durlester <durleste (at) home(dot)com>
> To: hanashir (at) shamash(dot)org <hanashir (at) shamash(dot)org>
> Cc: gtm (at) shamash(dot)org <gtm (at) shamash(dot)org>
> Date: Sunday, July 02, 2000 5:45 PM
> Subject: [HANASHIR:6430] Certification of Synagogue Musicians
> 
> 
> >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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