This week, guest blogger Craig Colson suggests ways we, as ministers, can benefit from modern technology in this week’s edition of Setting the Tone.Let me first start by saying how honored I am to be writing this week’s Setting the Tone for mentor and friend Ed Bolduc. Thanks Ed for the opportunity!
"The Twitter"
About a month ago, the Associate Pastor at my parish, who is 79 years old, remarked in his homily about how Pope Benedict had "The Twitter." I had to laugh at the fact that he called it "The Twitter" instead of just "Twitter" and that others had told my priest that he should purchase "The Twitter" when, in reality, it's free! The reason I bring this up is because if my 79 year old Associate Pastor, as well as our 85 year old Pope, are using Twitter, or even just talking about it, certainly the use of technology plays a role in our Church today. Of course, most of us use Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and other social networking sites on a daily basis, but how can modern technology help us in our music ministries? Certainly communicating with others through social media is much easier than calling each individual choir member or musician to let them know about an upcoming Mass or rehearsal, but there are many other technologies and tools that can cut down tremendously on the amount of time and resources we expend in our daily ministry.
Making and Sending PDF’s
To cut down drastically on rehearsal times with our choirs, cantors and instrumentalists, consider putting together a PDF of the sheet music you will be using for a particular Mass or event, and send it out to your groups before your rehearsal. I know what you're thinking....that means I have to be organized. Well....yes! It's a new year...maybe you haven't made a resolution yet. :-) My challenge to you is to get organized! Many copy machines now have the capability to scan documents to PDF. A lot of sheet music is now purchased via digital download online in PDF format. So, why not either scan the songs together into one large PDF, or send individual PDF's out to your group a day or two before your rehearsal? Many people can learn and follow their part more quickly, having seen it ahead of time.
(Editor’s note: be sure you have purchased a REHEARSAL LICENSE from the publisher of the music you are sending. Though they all vary, most allow you to create or send ‘rehearsal’ copies to your musicians. Contact the individual publishers for details.)
Audio links
Another great tool to send along with the PDF is a 'listening link' of the song. Hearing the song before coming to practice will definitely speed up your rehearsal and help both your instrumentalists and singers learn the music faster. Most music publishing websites have links for listening online (including voicesasone.com, spiritandsong.com, giamusic.com, worshiptogether.com, ccli.com, etc.). Another great website that has links from WLP composers, as well as other publishers, is mycatholicvoice.com. Sending a link to a video on YouTube that contains a recording of the song is also helpful. To send a link in an email, just simply copy the internet address from the window at the top of the web page containing the link and paste that link under the title of the song. Here's an example of what it could look like in your email:
Salvation
Belongs to our God:
Journey
for Home
http://www.mycatholicvoice.com/media/szPOd1
Even if
you play the songs a little bit differently than the recording, at least your
musicians have heard the song a few times and have a better idea of how the
piece goes. I have found that this not only cuts down on rehearsal time, but
also greatly improves the quality of the music.
Music on the iPad
The next thing I would like to touch on today will require having an iPad. iPads are amazing tools that can help us in so many different ways in our ministries. Today, there are many sheet music apps for iPad that will take our existing PDF's and compile them in one place that is portable to be with us at any funeral, wedding, retreat, etc.
I have
been using an app called Forscore for over a year now and it has made my life
infinitely less complicated. The app only costs $4.99. Within it you can download PDF's directly from www.dropbox.com
(free account). You can download PDF's from digital downloads you have purchased
online or within the app itself, or by ‘scanning in’ your own PDF's.
There are also several wireless foot-switch pedals that use Bluetooth to
seamlessly turn pages, or you can turn pages forward and back by touching the
screen.
Some added benefits of using an ipad for music scores include:
1.
No need for music stand lights
2.
Take
music anywhere...it’s always with you
3.
Bluetooth
music wirelessly to other ipads (no internet needed)
4. Write on music and mark it up
within the app
5. No need to carry around your
music books
6. Easily assemble playlists for
different Masses or events
You may
be thinking that purchasing an iPad is a big investment for you or your church,
but we've really only scratched the surface of their use in this blog. The iPad
also has the capability to be a digital soundboard controller, as well as a
remote control for certain lyric and video projection programs such as Pro
Presenter 5. You can even use it as a credit card machine to sell different
products for your ministry or church.
Hopefully,
I'll have the opportunity to explore some more technological uses that can
enhance our ministries in the future, but whatever technologies you use, we
always need to be sure that they do not distract from our prayer, but add to
it. As we continue to live in this digital age, may we all use our best
pastoral judgment to build up the body of Christ through the work that we do
and use whatever means necessary to reach out to a new generation as we seek
new ways to evangelize and minister to all people.
–Craig
Check out Craig's website at www.craigcolson.com.
Craig has a new CD (EP) coming out soon from WLP entitled "I Am the Way." Click here for some audio samples.
Can We Love? by Tom Booth (spiritandsong.com) – powerful song that challenges us by asking: can love like Jesus did? I love the line: "It's more than raising our hands...it's more than singing his praise...it's saying "yes." Everything, from the lyrics to the melody to the rhythm section of this song just works! Our assembly loves and comments on this song every time we sing it.
–Craig
Check out Craig's website at www.craigcolson.com.
Craig has a new CD (EP) coming out soon from WLP entitled "I Am the Way." Click here for some audio samples.
(The song suggestions below are by Ed Bolduc)
March 3, 2013 – 3rd Sunday of Lent
(These songs are off of my planning notes for this particular Sunday, which means I am strongly considering using them on these days. After each title I’ve added some thoughts to consider.)
(Click on titles for links to their respective pages.)
Beautiful Things by Michael Gungor (worshiptogether.com) - a powerful song for a communion meditation..."you make beautiful things...you make beautiful things out of us." Find the key that's right for your singer(s). (From the CD Beautiful Things).
Suggested use: Second Communion/Meditation
Can We Love? by Tom Booth (spiritandsong.com) – powerful song that challenges us by asking: can love like Jesus did? I love the line: "It's more than raising our hands...it's more than singing his praise...it's saying "yes." Everything, from the lyrics to the melody to the rhythm section of this song just works! Our assembly loves and comments on this song every time we sing it.
Suggested use: Entrance/Song of Gathering, Offertory, Dismissal/Song of Thanksgiving
From the Inside Out by Joel Houston (Hillsong) – I can't count the number of times I've been asked to sing and play this song. Our teens have been so moved by the lyrics and melody of this piece. Definitely check it out.
Suggested use: Entrance/Song of Gathering, Offertory, Communion
Journey for Home by Ed Bolduc (WLP) – a very singable refrain and an assembly part in the verse. It also seems to work well at many places in the liturgy. (From the CD The Face of God.)
Suggested use: Entrance/Song of Gathering, Offertory, Communion
Return to God by John Angotti (WLP) - another great song from John's Joy Beyond Our Dreams. The verses by Alan Hommerding are beautiful and so appropriate for this season. John added a great refrain and...the whole thing just works well. This song also works well at many places in the liturgy.(From the CD Joy Beyond Our Dreams) This song is also a part of the More Voices As One vol. 1 collection. (see the link on the sidebar)
Suggested use: Entrance/Song of Gathering, Offertory, Communion
Take Up Your Cross by Curtis Stephan and Sarah Hart (spiritandsong.com) A great fresh sound with a powerful opening lyric: "Behold the wood that bears our name..." Beautiful...singable. (From the CD Amid Passing Things).
Suggested use: Song of Gathering, Offertory
1. The Lord Is Kind and Merciful by Ed Bolduc (WLP) - not really a contemporary 'worship-band' arrangement, but a usable, simple setting that could be nice for the season of lent. Bring in the choir/singers on the refrain and divide up the verses as individual solos. Play the verses simply, guitar/piano. Add the bass and light percussion on the refrain. (From the CD Love One Another)
Suggested use: Responsorial Psalm
2. The Lord Is Kind and Merciful by Ed Bolduc (WLP) - call and response setting with a little calypso feel. (From the CD The Face of God)
Suggested use: Responsorial Psalm
Tree of Life by Aaron Thompson (WLP) - listen to the moving lyrics of this song, set to a very a simple, almost repetitive melody. A choral version is also available, as well as lead sheets (From the CD 10,000 Angels)
Suggested use: Offertory, Second Communion
Your Grace Is Enough by Matt Maher (spiritandsong.com) - driving, singable, powerful... (From the CD Empty and Beautiful).
Suggested use: Song of Thanksgiving/Dismissal
No comments:
Post a Comment