[HANASHIR:8857] RE: introducing new service music

[Marilyn Cohen <bubbec...>]

I introduce new music through the Hebrew School. When the kids do a
service, I add a new melody and repeat it with other classes.  Several
of my "Hebrew School Melodies" and worked their way into the
congregational repertoire.
Marilyn Cohen
bubbec (at) home(dot)com

David & Susan Esterman wrote:

> Hi Rachelle
>
> This really struck a chord, no pun intended.
>
> We have a real mish-mash of melodies which have developed over 40
> years. It seems that every passing rabbi or cantor has left us a
> melody which we like. However even then, some of us like a change.
>
> We have learned from experience that to try to introduce more than one
> new melody at a time is ENORMOUSLY counter-productive.
>
> But having said that, we have to keep the song-leaders happy, so these
> are some of our ways to introduce new music.
>
>   1. At the beginning of a service, use a new melody as a nigun, or
>      even teach it, but before we get right into the service.
>   2. Alert people to the fact that there is going to be a new tune for
>      Oseh Shalom, or whatever it is, and at least they may not sing
>      the wrong one!
>   3. Use a new tune (if the words are appropriate) after the drash ?
>      this is a local custom, specific to our shul at least in NZ, but
>      it does provide a vehicle for new melodies which often get a
>      great response and then can be incorporated into the services.
>   4. Do a special service using all new tunes ? we did a Friday night
>      service using only Katchko, I think it was. It has a down side,
>      in that it becomes not inclusive, and thatís a problem, so we
>      didnít repeat that experiment. Instead
>   5. we did a presentation of new melodies for Erev Shabbat following
>      a Shabbat service and meal, so everyone was relaxed and tried to
>      join in1
>   6. Run congregational workshops and teach those (few) who attend the
>      new tunes so that you have support from the benches!
>
> We ? as everywhere else ? get flak from at least one person every time
> a new tune is introduced. I read a fascinating article recently on the
> importance of keeping tunes the same so that the ìold familiarî is
> there for people who attend rarely. While I am sympathetic to this, I
> also feel that it wouldnít hurt some of my congregants to attend more
> often, and therefore find more tunes familiar!!
>
> Hope some of this is useful ? good luck and keep with it. There is so
> much good music out there itís a pity to limit oneís congregation to
> the tried and true.
>
> Last thought ? do a sermon about the use of music in the synagogue and
> illustrate it with examples a d then you can learn and sing as much
> new stuff as you like!!
>
> Sue
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-hanashir (at) shamash(dot)org [mailto:owner-hanashir (at) 
> shamash(dot)org]On
> Behalf Of H & R Shubert
> Sent: Monday, 23 April 2001 05:24
> To: Hanashir
> Subject: [HANASHIR:8852] introducing new service music
>
> I would like to hear from others on the subject of introducing new
> service music.  How are musical changes greeted in your congregation?
> Have you found a successful way to get people on board?  I am learning
> that congregational receptivity to new melodies varies hugely from one
> community to the next, even when changes are introduced s-l-o-w-l-y.
>
> Rachelle
>
> notfranz (at) total(dot)net
>