[HANASHIR:15085] Re: cantorial certification

[elerner1 <elerner1...>]

Dear Ros, 

Thank you; I really enjoyed your well put  comments. I like the idea of a para 
type training. I think  a lot depends on where one lives and how much 
competition and politics there are in the community as to how much help one 
gets as an individual,   because it is not always easy to get recognized for 
one's talents and abilities if those in the hierarchy feel that an official 
paper is what is important or impressive. Neither is it so easy to get 
opportunities.  Maybe someone will come to the rescue and offer such a course 
(especially before we older singers are beyond point of no vocal return!LOL) I 
know of a rather well known cantor/director who once said (some years ago) that 
he would Never hire a non professional Jewish member of a synagogue  to sing in 
his synagogue choir because he said something like he would never be able to 
find a qualified one. That is the kind of attitude that existed (and maybe 
still does) in some places. I think  that some rabbi's look down on lay!
  leaders 
----- Original Message -----
From: Ros Schwartz <ros_schwartz (at) yahoo(dot)ca>
Date: Monday, August 11, 2003 8:39 pm
Subject: [HANASHIR:15065] Re: cantorial certification

> Well let's break it down into four components.
> 
> 1.  One extreme:  continuing education without commitment - a 
> course 
> here, a course there, whatever I feel a need for, or a curiousity 
> about. 
>  I've taken an online course about Kabbalah, a week-long course 
> in 
> playing the Blues, a few classes in Jewish Philosophy, an evening 
> course 
> in astronomony ... and I went to Hava Nashira, to sharpen up my 
> songleading skills.  I don't think that anyone would object to 
> more 
> courses being offered, for more people, in whatever ways the 
> teachers 
> and students found suitable.
> 
> 4.  Opposite extreme:  full time study for official certification 
> / 
> investiture / or whatever word / as a cantor.  I don't think 
> anyone is 
> suggesting that these courses should be less intensive or easier 
> to 
> pass.  We want to know that someone who is certified as a Cantor, 
> or a 
> Rabbi - or a doctor, or whatever - has attained a certain advanced 
> degree of knowledge and experience.
> 
> 2 and 3:  in between.  People like to work towards a specified 
> goal - 
> and to have some sort of formal recognition of their 
> accomplishments. 
> This is why we give kids certificates for finishing Grade 3!  It 
> is why 
> my mother went back to school, in her 40s, one course a year, to 
> get the 
> Bachelor's Degree that she couldn't get during the depression, 
> because 
> there was no money for it.  She graduated when she was 60, we were 
> all 
> ***so proud*** of her.  It is why my father went back to school in 
> the 
> evenings, in his 50s, to do a Master's Degree thesis that he had 
> never 
> had the time for before.  (Later he quit, because of the politics. 
> He 
> couldn't get used to being treated with the disrespect commonly 
> accorded 
> to students, when he was used to being treated as an adult.)
> 
> In what I am calling #2, the student is working towards a 
> particular 
> goal - let's say, an "Official Songleader" certificate - but 
> really only 
> for their own satisfaction.  Certification as an "O.S." might give 
> me a 
> bit of extra credibility when I speak to people who don't know me, 
> but 
> ultimately they would hire me based on my performance, not my 
> credentials:  they wouldn't refuse to hire me if I didn't have 
> "O.S." 
> after my name;  nor would they hire me back, if I did an awful 
> job, no 
> matter how many letters I might flaunt.
> 
> (Maybe Hava Nashira could include Official Certificates in their 
> registration package, to the effect that "Person X has completed a 
> week-long intensive Songleader Training Program, in 2003" ... 
> signed by 
> members of the teaching staff!  ;-)  )
> 
> In what I am calling #3, the student is working toward a diploma / 
> certificate / whatever - which they intend to use in job 
> applications. 
> Here's where a "Para-Cantorial Program" might be of value:  a 
> specified 
> educational program, with clearly defined standards and 
> expectations, 
> such that if I am reviewing resumes, I will know exactly what 
> "Cantorial 
> Assistant Certification" means.
> 
> 2 & 3 would give some structure to the process of continuing 
> education, 
> which would be of value to students, teachers, and potential 
> employers. 
>  But this would require quite a bit of organizing and decision-
> making 
> on the part of those who would administer the programs and offer 
> the 
> certifications.  #2 would be more flexible, tailored to the needs 
> and 
> interests of the individual student.  #3 would be more 
> standardised and 
> structured.
> 
> If we were over-supplied with Cantors, there would be less of a 
> concern 
> about 2 & 3.  But in view of the shortage, it seems to me it would 
> be of 
> great value to focus attention on these intermediate options.  The 
> challenge is - who will actually set these programs up, and how.
> 
> *     *     *
> 
> On a personal note ... a long time ago, in a discussion about 
> songleader 
> training, Adrian said that we should not have untrained people 
> leading 
> music, it can be disruptive and potentially even harmful - well-
> meaning 
> but inept teachers can risk turning children away from music and 
> from 
> Judaism altogether.  I was, at the time, untrained and inept, so I 
> didn't feel in a position to protest! - but I thought, and still 
> think, 
> that my contribution to my own congregation at the time was still 
> greater than the *zero* songleading we had had, for the prior ten 
> years, 
> before I overcame my stage fright enough to come forward and sing! 
> Even 
> having someone who can carry a tune, can hold a group together.
> 
> Still, I didn't _like_ feeling untrained and inept.  Coming to 
> Hava 
> Nashira was, for me, a way to enhance my skills.  I am now at the 
> point 
> that I am contemplating asking others to (gasp) *pay* me for my 
> songleading work.  I don't have a certificate, but I have 
> training, 
> skills and experience that I did not have five years ago.  That, 
> for me, 
> is the key difference.
> 
> - Ros
> 
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Hosted by Shamash: The Jewish Network  http://shamash.org  
A service of Hebrew College, which offers online courses and an
online MA in Jewish Studies, http://hebrewcollege.edu/online/ 

* * FREE JEWISH LEARNING * *
Shamash invites you to join MyJewishLearning.com, a comprehensive,
objective, authoritative and interactive learning resource in all areas
of Judaism.  Free membership via http://www.myjewishlearning.com/shamash
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