[HANASHIR:15039] cantorial certification

[erik contzius <contzius...>]

i am GREATLY concerned about postings, such as below,
dealing with "cantorial certification." i sit on the
board of the American Conference of Cantors and have
also recently sat on some of the exams for our
certification process. 

The process is purposely difficult because the job is
difficult! the title "cantor" is not one to be earned
lightly, otherwise, the title would mean nothing. the
requirements for Hebrew, for example, are purposefully
hefty because we expect cantors to know what they are
chanting in hebrew from the inside out. i have a
masters degree in sacred music from the hebrew union
college because i earned it!

the term "cantor" does not mean what it meant 100
years ago, folks. the "job" is not a "job"... it's a
calling, just like the "rabbinate" is a calling.

i appreciate anyone who sings in the synagogue. many
small synagogues need lay people and trained singers
to help empower them in worship. i also appreciate
people who wish to study more about jewish music and
feel knowlegable in nusakh hat'fillah, cantillation,
and the like. i'd love all my congregants to be
knowledgeable in jewish musical repetoire.

that doesn't make them a cantor any more than studying
the bible weekly and learning how to decode one page
of talmud makes them a rabbi. a Cantor is Clergy.
anyone interested in pursuing a career as a cantor (or
a "certified cantor") needs to take it seriously. in
the winter issue of Reform Judaism, there is going to
be published a large article about how the career of
the cantor has changed drastically over the last 50
years (i'm working on that as well!). 

Friends, i mean this with the utmost respect--i take
my career path extremely seriously. i do not want to
see the level of my profession diminished by any sort
of so-called "certification process" which does not
expect any less of a candidate what the Hebrew Union
College or the Jewish Theological Seminary would
expect. When i call someone a "colleague," it is
because i know that their level of training,
commitment, and knowledge is on par with mine. it
doesn't mean we sing the same music, nor have the same
level of expertise in every area--but our background
is common.

i'm sorry if people do not feel they can commit their
lives (via family transplantation, time commitment,
etc.), but i've seen it all--when i was in the
seminary, a fellow student, a single mom, brought both
of her children (7 & 5) to israel with her and
completed her rabbinic studies in cincinatti. i know
everyone has their own stuff to deal with. but that's
what committment really means--some personal
sacrifice. 

not trying to be preachy here, folks, just tellin' it
like it is.

btw, fyi i'm also an alumni recruiter for HUC
(rabbinic, cantorial, ed., etc). if you're interested
in any of the programs that the HUC has to offer, feel
free to send an e-mail. i won't be able to reply until
thursday, as i'll be running the rozhinke retreat this
week: http://rozhinke.org/

all the best,
erik


> Someone last week or so sent a posting about
> cantorial certification. I know some people who have
> independent certifications for rabinial studies, and
> becomed ordained,  and I thought about cantorial
> certification;  I would like to find or suggest to
> you professionals out there  an online or
> independent certification program for those of us
> who are solosits or songleaders with experience
> and/or cantorial jobs (full or part time or
> occasional)  and who want to further our education
> and receive some kind of offical recognition as well
> as have a disciplined way to increase our knowledge
> without having to travel. 
>

> As the writer of the post had mentioned, the
> requirements in Hebrew (for example)for the
> certification now available are a little hefty for
> some of us. I have been learning a bit on my own and
> did at one time take local clases, but I am quite
> far from being able to pass the entrance
> requirements and as far as my cantorial singing
> goes, it helps to know as much of the language as
> possible, but I do most of the singing from
> transliteration. Besides, As much as I want to
> improve, I have a family to take care of, I am an
> "older" citizan, I have other responsibilities, I do
> have a cantorial job, and I find it improbable  to
> go to NYC, or CINC. or LA, etc. But what I can do is
> be on a computer, make tapes if need be for a
> course, whatever it takes.  
> 
> If any of you hear of anything like this, I hope
> you'll post it. BTW, I did once go many eons ago to
> NYC for a three or four day course for Temple
> Musicians, and it was very valuable. 
> 
> Ellen Lerner
> Congregatation Etz Chaim
> Rochester, Ny
> 
> 


=====
Cantor Erik L. F. Contzius
New Rochelle, New York

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