[HANASHIR:15047] RE: cantorial certification

[Adrian Durlester <adrian...>]

Erik:

You wrote:
"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."

I do not disagree at all. I respect and honor those who have chosen to
pursue the full path necessary to be ordained as clergy. However, as it is
said, there's the rub. As you and others know, I often take issue with how
the two major branches of liberal Judaism in this country have a virtual
lock on the institutions where one may study for the rabbinate and
cantorate. Our daughter religion at least has the common sense to allow
their future clergy to study at any one of a number of suitable institutions
around the world, and then be independently interviewed and tested for
investiture in the specific denomination of their choice. My eyes were
really opened during my studies at the Vanderbilt Divinity School--to both
the realities of how Christianity deals with the training of clergy; and
also to the fact that institutions other than HUC/JTSA/UJ can provide
high-level education that would suitably prepare people for the rabbinate or
cantorate.

The ACC cantorial certification process is a means of addressing this issue,
but it is still a very limited option. The mistake that is made, and you
yourself iterate it, is in assuming that other institutions or processes
would de facto be of a lower standard.

The Academy for Jewish Religion was started in part to address these issues,
and to be cross-denominational. Now Hebrew College is beginning a rabbinical
program. Ma'alot is now ordaining cantors. If the UAHC and the USCJ (and
HUC, JTSA and UJ) don't wake up and realize that the proliferation of these
programs is a harbinger of future trends, then their viability is
threatened. For UAHC or USCJ congregations to assume that rabbis and cantors
trained at institutes other than HUC or JTSA and UJ may not have the
requisite knowledge or skills to serve UAHC and USJC congregations is a
dangerous assumption, and one that smacks of guild protectionism. (Of
course, many congregations do not so assume--it is the UAHC and ACC that go
out of their way to convince the congregations that this is so. Fortunately,
not every congregation buys the party line.)

Like it or not, the CCAR, RA, ACC and CA are guilds. Guild are, by nature,
protectionist.

I find it such a great irony that the ACC posits the needs for high
standards, yet every time I have suggested the establishment of a program to
create similar standards for the non-ordained personnel involved in
congregational music, so that the ordained cantors can be sure they are
working with and employing appropriately trained organists, accompanists,
choir directors, songleaders, etc. the idea is pooh-poohed. And to suggest
that there be a certification process for "cantorial soloists" is almost
treated a heresy. Yet, the simple reality is, not every congregation needs
or can afford the services of ordained clergy. So, is the choice to only be
ordained clergy or you takes your chances? That seems like the movement
shooting itself in the foot.

Joining the GTM allows non-ordained musicians to come together as
professionals and benefit from association. What would be so terrible if the
GTM had its own certification processes?

Yes, the role of the rabbi and cantor has changed. Yet I wonder how much of
that has been the tail wagging the dog?

Always the respectful gadfly,

Adrian

Adrian A. Durlester, MTS
E-mail: adrian (at) durlester(dot)com  www.durlester.com
Director of Education & Congregational Life, Bethesda Jewish Congregation,
Bethesda, MD
www.bethesdajewish.com
Co-Director, Hazamir/JTAI Choir of Greater DC
Past Conf Chair, CAJE 27, August 4-8, 2002, Trinity University, San Antonio,
TX
List Owner, hanashir (at) shamash(dot)org; Jewish Songleaders/Performers List
www.ehavanashira.org
Co-Owner, l-torah (at) shamash(dot)org; Liberal Torah Discussion List




-----Original Message-----
From: owner-hanashir (at) shamash(dot)org [mailto:owner-hanashir (at) 
shamash(dot)org] On
Behalf Of erik contzius
Sent: Sunday, August 10, 2003 10:24 AM
To: hanashir (at) shamash(dot)org
Subject: [HANASHIR:15039] cantorial certification


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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