[HANASHIR:15069] Re: cantorial certification

[JamesIGreene <JamesIGreene...>]

Shalom,

Although I don't often write into the LISTSERV, I felt that this topic was to 
interesting to pass on....

While I definitely see the need for some form of "Certification" or 
"ParaCantorial" program, I believe that there are avenues already out there for 
people 
to travel.  For instance, my friend Lauren is a local cantorial soloist in 
South Florida.  She is studying through Hebrew College and RRC, as well as 
through Florida Atlantic University in order to learn more about what she does. 
 I 
don't know that she will ever get a piece of paper that tells her she is a 
"Cantor," but also know that she doesn't see that as the end of the world 
either.  


Also, going to Rabbinical or Cantorial School should be a sacrifice.  If it 
wasn't hard to do, everyone would do it.  I understand and empathize with 
people who find themselves unable to make the commitment to live in Israel, or 
who 
can't afford to drop their jobs and go back to school, but there are other 
options.  For those people, places like Gratz College, Hebrew College, and 
other 
various colleges offer online education.  In addition to that, many colleges 
(when you arrange with them ahead of time) will accept credit from local voice 
teachers.  I have a friend who took vocal lessons in Kansas City at the 
Conservatory, and then transferred the credit elsewhere.

I think that it is important to have good qualified people leading our Jewish 
community.  Well-trained rabbis and cantors are equally important to the 
health and success of any congregation.  Personally, I feel that to be an 
effective rabbi, one must know how to chant Torah and Megillah and lead the 
congregation in song, in the same way that cantors need to know how to study 
Talmud and 
have a firm grasp of Hebrew and Aramaic.  

That being said, for those people who can't seem to find a way to get all 
that done, there should be and in my opinion are ways for people to study and 
become better at their craft.  In my congregation during college, there was a 
cantorial soloist who passed her test (after years of study) and received 
certificate as an official "cantor" from HUC-JIR and the ACC.  Perhaps that 
option 
could be broadened?  Outside of the movement, there are definitely ways for 
people to enhance their skills, either with a certificate in mind, or without.  

Personally, I think that the person and that talent and ability that a person 
carries is way more important than any piece of paper.  I would rather have a 
cantorial soloist who really makes me feel that connection that he/she has 
with HaShem, than a person who graduated from HUC-JIR when I feel like they are 
just performing.  


Kol Tuv,
James