Musicians and Cantors

            Thank you for your committment to this ministry.  All rehearsing of music will take place at 4:30pm on Sundays in the Sacred Heart Chapel unless otherwise stated.  Both volunteers and campus ministers who wish to participate with music should arrive promptly and dress in an appropriate, dignified manner suitable for church. When at rehearsal, all musicians are expected to sing and participate readily in the rehearsal. Additionally, anyone singing or playing an instrument should avoid cell phone use during rehearsal.

Rehearsal

            The music rehearsal lasts from 4:30 to 5:15 pm and will be led by the music coordinator. Typically, rehearsal will consist of rehearsing all songs in the liturgy once, starting with the prelude and ending with the closing hymn. In cases where time is scarce, mass parts, the Gloria, or the Alleluia may be omitted from rehearsal. If there is extra time at the end of rehearsal, musicians, at the direction of the music coordinator, will go back and rehearse any songs that were skipped or that need additional practice.

Volunteers

            CSB Campus Ministry readily welcomes all volunteers who wish to make music with the liturgy team. It is of the utmost importance that all campus ministers create a warm, welcoming environment for volunteers. Volunteers are expected to attend rehearsal from 4:30-5:15 pm like all musicians, but are free to leave after rehearsal to do other things as long as they return by 5:45 pm. If any musical volunteer needs a special music binder prepared (for example, a B-flat instrument) they should contact the music coordinator several days in advance, who will assure said binder is prepared.

Cantors

            Anyone, campus minister or volunteer, can be a cantor. Cantors will be selected during rehearsal on a song-by-song basis. One does not need previous experience to cantor, but the proper procedure for cantoring should be gone over with anyone who doesn't know the process. This involves taking the designated cantor music stand up near the ambo, as well as knowing how and when to invite the congregation to join in via hand and arm gestures. Additionally, cantors are not needed for every song. While they are highly advised for the psalm, most other songs can be performed well in the absence of a cantor if a low number of vocalists are present.

Mass

            Mass begins at with a prelude several minutes before 6:00 pm. All musicians should be ready to play at that time. During Mass, all musicians will be located in the choir pews near the Noack pipe organ. The pews should be kept clear of personal belongings and musicians should be quiet and respectful during the entirety of the Mass. Vocalists should position themselves near the choral microphone and instrumentalists should position themselves nearer to the piano to avoid overpowering the vocalists on the microphone. Musicians will have music stands which can be retrieved from the door to the left of the organ.

Post-Mass

            After mass campus ministers should place all music stands and amplification equipment in their proper locations. Stands go in the room they were retrieved from and amplification equipment goes in a storage area across from the organ near the pews on the other side.