Need your advice on attending Mass

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You are taking that comment “think they are musicians and want to show off” far too personally. Having been in the music ministry, I know which type of person is meant here and it’s not you who prepares for the Mass.

I think you should take a break with all that other stress. You can sing to God at home too. Let somebody else work for peanuts for a while.
 
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Same principle
 
So what to do? It all begins with paying the musicians and singers who can sing, and banning the ones who can’t. Nobody is interested in that so the result is exactly what you are experiencing. You couldn’t plan poor singing any better.
 
ez3714 said:
With all love, you need to quit. Be one of the pew warmers. Sing in the car. Musicians pride is deadly.
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Pride? What pride? No, absolutely not. Never. Growing up, I took piano lessons from a church musician who taught us that all of our music should be played for the glory of God. I have no skill except that which God has graciously given me.

And I don’t sing. I play.
 
Lara said:
Let somebody else work for peanuts for a while.
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Who is this “somebody else” that you speak of? I am intrigued!

In our city, a church musician who plays hymns (not Praise and Worship) is rarer than a Democrat wearing a MAGA cap!

And if I stopped playing because of stress, I would never, ever play again. I have had very few times in my life that were stress-free. I won’t use that as an excuse. The only time I have stopped playing piano was when I had my foot surgery (right foot–the pedal foot!) in 2007 and had to spend three months in a cast. I love playing. When I am under stress, playing is the balm.

But it’s simply not right that Christian people would sit out in the congregation and criticize the musicians in their church unless they themselves are willing to get up and take over or become a music minister/director of music/liturgy themselves. No one provides liturgical music and deliberately does a rotten job of it. Everyone who plays or sings is doing the best that they can at that moment. Sometimes, the music just doesn’t go well for various reasons, often because of nerves, tiredness, sickness, or a distraction (e.g., a crying baby). Oh, well. It’s not a performance, it’s a service.
 
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I am a female as well and I call everyone dude. Sorry if that took the wrong way with you. Things that are sanctifying make you more holy. My old spiritual director was a very nice priest who suggested taking things that we would usually say annoy us or are things we struggle with and let it sanctify us. Don’t give into the negative feelings you have about the singing in Mass, offer it up and let God use it to make you holier.
 
Still unclear, no one gets on my nerves. Where did I say they did.

@bumblebee this is not my thread, did you mean the OP
 
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Lara said:
So what to do? It all begins with paying the musicians and singers who can sing, and banning the ones who can’t. Nobody is interested in that so the result is exactly what you are experiencing. You couldn’t plan poor singing any better.
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We dont pay people. It is truly voluntary. We dont turn anyone away. People might start out with no experience, but after a while it is worked out what they can do.
 
I saw your comment at me and thought you were OP also so responded as if you were both the same. No one said you got annoyed I was using the OP as the example of sanctifying someone. Chill
 
I am not upset, I thought you had confused me with the op. And was quite confused abiut your comment.

Peace be with you
 
JulianN said:
Well, the higher key may be ‘better’ for you, but not for a lot of the rest of us
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See what I am saying?!? Organists only want the other guys to sing in a good key. They never say: ok, let us sing both lower and higher. I guess tgey feel sorry for the old man who cannot sing well.
 
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jesusmademe said:
See what I am saying?!? Organists only want the other guys to sing in a good key. They never say: ok, let us sing both lower and higher. I guess tgey feel sorry for the old man who cannot sing well.
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The Organist is not in charge where I am, the conductor is. Don’t you guys have a conductor?
 
They try to play in a key that the majority of people in the church can sing.
 
GiftofMercy said:
The Organist is not in charge where I am, the conductor is. Don’t you guys have a conductor?
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I have to say that in every parish I’ve ever attended or worked, and they are many, the organist was in charge of the choir and music.
 
We have a conductor as well who is in charge of the choir. No organist - just a pianist. We also usually have three or four PhD music interns from Florida State University in our choir. They are a great addition, and our choir sounds very professional.
 
JulianN said:
I have to say that in every parish I’ve ever attended or worked, and they are many, the organist was in charge of the choir and music.
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Yes, this is the norm in many places in the U.S. in liturgical churches. My organ teacher is the Director of Music and Liturgy at his Episcopalian Church, and conducts not only the choir, but also the handbell choir, and when there is a concert, he hires the orchestra or ensemble and conducts them as well. Very talented man with a lot of education! He doesn’t work as a volunteer, btw–this is his job, and of course he gets paid an adequate salary for his work.

Most Evangelical Protestant churches no longer use an organist, but utilize a Praise and Worship band. Usually the members of the band are volunteers, but the really big churches hire a professional band, which is one reason their Praise and Worship music is so good. (I realize that many of you, including me, do not really like Praise and Worship music, but that does not negate the fact that some P and W is really well done by very competent musicians.)
 
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