[HANASHIR:7686] RE: How hard do you work?

[DMG686 <DMG686...>]

Last week I was amazed to see the contract of a Conservative cantor.  The 
contract said that the position was a part time postion.  However, after 
reading all of the duties that the cantor was required to perform, it 
appeared that this was much more than a part time postion.  This year I am 
serving as the Cantorial Soloist of my congregation.  Because my rabbi (a 
former cantorial student) with the help of myself and another teacher, works 
with the Bar/Bat Mitzvah students during Hebrew school time, my contract does 
work out to be a part time position.  If I privately tutored the 20 plus 
students in our Bar/Bat Mitzvah class each year it would definitely be a full 
time position.  The Reform Synagogue where I work requires me to lead all 
Shabbat and Festival and High Holiday Services, teach and implement a music 
curriculum in the Hebrew School, direct a volunteer adult as well as a 
children's choir, help the Rabbi with Bar/Bat Mitzvah preparation, and 
present appropriate music at special occasions such as Shabbat Across 
America, Annual Chanukah Social, Tu B'shevat Seder, Annual Passover Seder, 
etc.  Life cycle events such as weddings and funerals are on an as requested 
basis at the present time.  However, in the next few years it will be added 
into the contract.  When I am not actively working in front of the 
congregation, I spend a lot of time either at the synagogue or at home 
learning new music and preparing lesson plans and rehearsals for various 
classes and choirs.  I also spend a lot of time on things related to my job 
such as voice lessons, and cantorial studies with area cantors.  I know that 
my Rabbi regularly takes every Thursday off.  No one schedules meetings for 
that day.  Many cantors I know also take one day off during the week.  The 
reason being, we are not machines and should have some time for R and R.  In 
my next contract I will request that one day off during the week be written 
right into the contract.  A day off and away from the synagogue is good for 
the voice as well as the soul.  I heard a saying once which really hit home 
with me when I was knocking myself out in the corporate business world, 
"Before they die no one ever said that they wished they had more time to 
work. Most of them say they wish they had had more time with their families." 
 I think this is true.  We all need to decide for ourselves what is a good 
balance of work and family and then stick to it.  Thanks for listening.

B'shirah,
Donna

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