Is poor singing ability an impediment to the priesthood?

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They could teach you in the seminary.
The seminary my diocese uses teaches singing and proper pronunciation as standard.
 
:confused:

Our priest doesn’t sing AT ALL. The vicar only sings “the mystery of faith.” Some of the cantors are amazing, others make me cringe; but I have the utmost respect that they make the attempt in front of so many people. 🙂
 
youtu.be/yMp0ppF9ERg

Sorry I don’t have an exact timecode for this 2+ hour video, but if you ever wanted an incredible example of how a chanting priest can add objective beauty and solemnity to the sacred liturgy, Daniel Cardinal DiNardo of Galveston-Houston is your man.

Spoiler… he’s mostly deaf… so don’t ever say you can’t learn to sing just as well!
 
This thread amused me. I don’t think singing ability is required. But a priest who can chant some (not all!) parts of a Mass can make a seemingly trite Novus Ordo more reverent and thus engage the congregation more.
 
Little_Wolf said:
This thread amused me. I don’t think singing ability is required. But a priest who can chant some (not all!) parts of a Mass can make a seemingly trite Novus Ordo more reverent and thus engage the congregation more.
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Why “not all”?
 
powerofk said:
By the way - chanting (which is what most priests do when they are “singing” the Mass) is much easier than singing. Get a good choir director, and just about anyone can chant.
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This. All seminaries should provide basic musical training anyway. Even if they don’t, no, singing ability is not a requirement for ordination. I totally agree with powerofk in that chanting can be very easy if one has a good, knowledgeable director.
 
Lamentation said:
No, this is not an impediment. We have a few guys who cannot sing at all in the seminary. :rolleyes:
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Do they at least try? Are they attempting to improve themselves? I know of one notable bishop who announced at his installation liturgy, “I don’t sing.” I was appalled. I would gladly accept “I can’t sing well” but to say “I don’t sing” was the same as “I know I should sing, but I refuse.”
 
Thanks for all the answers! I’ll have to find someone to teach me to chant/sing. I’m a horrible singer (and strongly dislike singing as a result) but I think that with some practice I could become competent enough at chanting.

Does anyone have any opinion on where I should get lessons? Should I get general singing lessons from a secular teacher? I’d probably rather get singing/chanting lessons from a catholic but I’m not sure where to look for such a service.
 
Elizium23 said:
Do they at least try? Are they attempting to improve themselves? I know of one notable bishop who announced at his installation liturgy, “I don’t sing.” I was appalled. I would gladly accept “I can’t sing well” but to say “I don’t sing” was the same as “I know I should sing, but I refuse.”
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Some people simply cannot sing and it’s better for everyone if they really don’t try. At least in theory, with time and tutoring they may be able to improve but, particularly in seminaries, both time and cost factors mean that this simply doesn’t happen.
 
Googling your location plus “voice coach” will probably bring up some databases of some professional organizations with listings of their members in your area. Make a list, call the one that stands out to you, and tell them your situation. “Hi, I’m X, and I want to learn Y because I think it will help me on my path of Z. I saw your contact information on [website]. Do you think that’s something that you would be able to help me with, or is there another person in the area you’d recommend?”

And the conversation can go from there. A half-hour lesson once a week in my area goes for about $10. The person you initially contact might be booked solid for the fall, but point you in the right direction for someone else. It sounds like most voice coaches would be able to teach you the basics-- how to push the air out so you don’t strain your voice, volume control, finding your key and staying on it, rhythm, figuring out the difference between what you hear in your head and what others hear around you, etc, etc, etc. Good luck!
 
JimmyM said:
Thanks for all the answers! I’ll have to find someone to teach me to chant/sing. I’m a horrible singer (and strongly dislike singing as a result) but I think that with some practice I could become competent enough at chanting.

Does anyone have any opinion on where I should get lessons? Should I get general singing lessons from a secular teacher? I’d probably rather get singing/chanting lessons from a catholic but I’m not sure where to look for such a service.
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The best place to start is not Google, but a parish music director or cantor. People already in the business frequently have good connections to others. Ask enough directors, and you will probably find one who does coaching himself!
 
JimmyM said:
I’m thinking about becoming a priest, but the problem is I am a horrible singer …
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Unless you are unable to hum “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star”, you may be surprised what you could do with a little training with an understanding vocal teacher.
 
JimmyM said:
I’m thinking about becoming a priest, but the problem is I am a horrible singer …
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No. We had one priest who was tone deaf, but it didn’t stop him being an effective priest.

There are ways around it, or iwhich could help to make it easier.

Get a song leader. As far as possible make the mass parts spoken rather than sung. Have a good choir. Turn the microphone off if you’re wearing one while you’re singing.

Or join the Trappists…

Just kidding.
 
I haven’t read others’ replies, so sorry if I’m a broken record. “No” is the simple answer, but as a sacred music major in college, I beg for seminarians who are a little less vocally talented to take lessons from a professional. It may cost, but there are typically major issues that can be quickly (relatively) overcome with a trained vocalist aiding you. Most “bad singers” are better than expected. Seminaries today rarely give musical training, but it is good thing for the soul to be well rounded in the beauties man creates, including song. If a “bad singing” seminarians takes a year of vocal lessons he can spare his future parish a lifetime of poorly intoned Kyrie’s and Credo’s.
God speed and may His divine protect remain with you always.
 
nbhart said:
IIf a “bad singing” seminarians takes a year of vocal lessons he can spare his future parish a lifetime of poorly intoned Kyrie’s and Credo’s.
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Oh that I should ever be able to hear a Credo intoned in chant, other than Papal liturgies.
 
Go to one of your cantors. I know that if someone came to me and asked about teaching singing, I’d be so happy to help I’d probably trip over my tongue. They will know someone who knows something, and I’ve met a girl who was tone deaf who learned how to sing (won’t be on Broadway, but can carry a tune without a bucket). By the way, my pastor thinks he can sing. He CANNOT. It doesn’t change much. Our retired priest is so against music in Mass that he won’t sing and tries to force the musicians to not sing, especially at funerals and weddings where he gets more say. Musical ability is not required. On the other hand, the ability to give more than one homily might be.
 
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