Right down to the last note

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Oh, it was “joyful” alright! It’s too bad others weren’t as joyful as you that moment. In my book, you did good!
 
I also boycott songs which are poor quality.
Like we didn’t know you would that! Duh! I am rather surprised that you would use the word “boycott” with something dealing with the Church that I know you love so much. I’ll just mark this one off as another one of your ways of voicing your opinion in your usual descriptive, dramatic way. But that’s you, and I still love our differences and discussions!

With all due respect to Janet, Janet is in the music ministry: if you’re in, you should be totally in. I personally would not let any of my ministry members get away with this and I guarantee any other music director here would not tolerate it as well. To be frank, to “boycott” a song that you personally do not like is rather childish. Church ministry is no place to show your likes or dislikes. It’s so counterproductive. In all my 60 years in music, I sang many songs I did not like while in a choir. The director did not accept the fact that you just stood there and didn’t participate; actually, it never really crossed my mind to “boycott.” I signed up to sing and I did just that. Can you imagine if people in other ministries of the church had a problem with something and refused to do the job they signed up to do? These actions do not belong in ministry and if your feel that way, it’s time to find another ministry if you still want to serve.
 
I’m not technically in the choir, I’m just the guest bongo player.
 
I’m not technically in the choir, I’m just the guest bongo player.
Thanks for that! I needed some levity today. And I bet you play a mean bass guitar when not playing that awful piano at Mass as well. I was told (name withheld to protect the innocent) that you disguise yourself and attend a Life Teen Mass at a parish far from home because deep down you really love it!
 
I can’t seem to find the right vocal range. If I start out low, I can’t get the lowest notes. If I start out high, I can’t hit the high notes.
Any suggestions from my singing brothers, sisters, and music ministers?
 
Heh. I don’t have a great voice, but I can sing. I love music and wish I could read it, but I have a good ear and can follow along quite well.
 
I can’t seem to find the right vocal range. If I start out low, I can’t get the lowest notes. If I start out high, I can’t hit the high notes.
Any suggestions from my singing brothers, sisters, and music ministers?
Jack, you are not alone. Sounds as if you are a true-to-form Bass, with a limited vocal range. I have one true bass in one of my choral groups (others either baritones or tenors). He sings an octave lower than everyone else like you and has a problem with some notes even in the baritone range, even though having a pleasing voice. He does the best he can. Suggestion: Just like those old aching knees that prevent you from getting up without holding on to something, deep knee bends everyday helps a lot. The vocal chords need a little exercise also. I would do some vocal warm ups before singing…la, la, la, la, la, la, la…going up the scale and back down again, and then modulating up a key or so each time and repeat several times until you reach the highest note you can without straining. Over time, you will effectively get to sing a higher note with not much effort. Try it several times daily at home or in the car, especially before going to Mass; it’s easier than physical exercise! It will take time, but with perseverance, it will work. Let me know how it goes.
 
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Heh. I don’t have a great voice, but I can sing. I love music and wish I could read it, but I have a good ear and can follow along quite well.
You’re just one of the majority of most volunteer church choral groups, and you’re totally accepted in any of my groups. Didn’t read enough to know if you sing in a choral group or in the pews, but keep singing!
 
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Rondirect, you are the expert. I will practice the la la exercise in the shower before Mass tomorrow. Thanks for the tip. You are the expert. I will try.
Pray for me. Thanks again.
I will get back to you.
 
Rondirect, you are the expert. I will practice the la la exercise in the shower before Mass tomorrow. Thanks for the tip. You are the expert. I will try.
Pray for me. Thanks again.
I will get back to you.
Thanks, but far from an expert. It’s just a basic warm-up exercise that will “warm” the voice up just like anything else. Start low to medium high, then each time start a little higher to a point that you don’t strain your vocal chords; not good. On the way to the top of the your range, think of reaching down on top of the note, do not stretch up to sing it. After a little warm-up the first time, you will see a minor difference; over time it will get better, and always hydrate too. If allowed, bring a bottle of cool or room temp, not cold, water. I do.
 
I think I did a little better at Mass today. Thanks to the la-la drill.
 
At the Mass I attend everyone stays to either pray the Leonine Prayers after Low Mass or sing one of the four seasonal Marian anthems.
 
At the Mass I attend everyone stays to either pray the Leonine Prayers after Low Mass or sing one of the four seasonal Marian anthems.
Much to the surprise of many who know me here now, I like that. I wonder, though, if we could get 500 or so to stay at any one of our 5 English OF Masses. Ironically, as you mention this, the Spanish community priest presided over one of our English Trinity Masses (he does so once in awhile). After the Prayer after Communion, he asked everyone to turn to page 123 and recite the “Anima Christi” prayer together. It was a first for me and the assembly, but it was a nice touch.
 
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JanetF:
I can read music, I just can’t translate what I read to my vocal chords, so I have to hear songs a few times too before I join in. Our Youth choir director has everyone practice when they introduce a new song which helps! I don’t always sing loudly, but I usually sing, unless I really hate the song. The recessional Sunday was Rain Down which I detest, so I stood.
Janet, in all due respect, you might just be in the wrong ministry. Music ministry members are there to lead the congregation in prayer through music, not stand in protest against a song they detest. Not everyone is going to like a particular song, but their responsibility is to sing it anyway when in ministry. “Rain Down” is a nice song, not a favorite of mine, but the people like it, so the choir sings it. If an EM hates the taste of the wine, should they refuse to offer it when assigned to do so to others? Just sayin…
I think you misunderstood.

Janet is in the congregation. When the youth choir is doing a new song, their director has everyone in the congregation practice it, I would assume before mass. Janet, who was in the congregation, dislikes “Rain Down,” so she stood silently in the congregation while the choir and others sang it.

She is not in the music ministry, so she does not have a responsibility to sing a song she doesn’t like, nor sing at all if she prefers to remain silent.

Just saying. :+1:t4:
 
At the Mass I attend everyone stays to either pray the Leonine Prayers after Low Mass or sing one of the four seasonal Marian anthems.
At my parish, we pray the Prayer to St Michael and the Angelus after Sunday mass. During the Easter season we replaced the Angelus with the chant Regina Caeli. ❤️
 
Janet, in all due respect, you might just be in the wrong ministry. Music ministry members are there to lead the congregation in prayer through music, not stand in protest against a song they detest.
I’m not in music ministry, just part of the congregation
 
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