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Corpus Christi Watershed

Pope Saint Paul VI (3 April 1969): “Although the text of the Roman Gradual—at least that which concerns the singing—has not been changed, the Entrance antiphons and Communions antiphons have been revised for Masses without singing.”

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Views from the Choir Loft

Every Church Musician Deserves Music Lessons

Veronica Brandt · March 9, 2019

OLUNTEERING is an opportunity for growth. Just recently I took up organ lessons. I had been looking for lessons for my children. It took me a while to come around to getting lessons for myself. As the following video might illustrate, kids and adults take lessons differently.


Reasons to get music lessons:

You get to talk to a Musician. Strangely enough sometimes the level of musicianship in your church choir may only extend to being able to sing in tune. Having some dedicated music time with someone who is musically ahead of you can really help. There’s a whole universe of musical knowledge out there!

You get to feel more like a Real Musician. Feeling like an imposter when leading a choir can hold you back. Having the trust in yourself to stand up and expect respect doesn’t come automatically for most people. Going through the ordeal of facing up to music lessons and hopefully some level of satisfaction with your achievements can help give you the chutzpah to inspire your choir.

You get a new level of compassion with your own children. Have you ever tried helping a teenager with their mathematics homework? Getting them to show their working? Convincing them that spreading out their work and taking up more room on the page will save time in the long run? As someone who has already taken that journey, it seems as obvious as the nose on your face, but to the child it seems to be a useless sidetrack to the ultimate aim of writing the correct answer on your page. Though they sometimes get it right, mistakes creep in when you skimp on showing your working.

Just like showing working in mathematics, practising hands separately and slowly seems so time-consuming and yet, when you rush headlong into playing all together at speed, getting it right is a matter of luck. With singing there is the importance of good breathing and technique. All takes lots of slow practice. Having someone there with a good sense of when to push forward and when to hold back is a huge help in making progress.

You may get new choir members!!! Networking with other musicians is helpful for meeting more musical people. Attend your local choral concerts and look out for any familiar faces. Maybe there’s a quiet member of your congregation who is really interested in music who just hasn’t thought about joining in.

Although the internet is full of free resources, which are great, putting down some money for music lessons can save you much pain and frustration in the long run. Having a monetary motivation to make the lessons worthwhile feels like a positive sort of stress right now. Finding a way to offset the expense is the next piece of the puzzle. Maybe Patreon?

Opinions by blog authors do not necessarily represent the views of Corpus Christi Watershed.

Filed Under: Articles Last Updated: January 1, 2020

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About Veronica Brandt

Veronica Brandt holds a Bachelor Degree in Electrical Engineering. She lives near Sydney, Australia, with her husband and six children.—(Read full biography).

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Corpus Christi Watershed

President’s Corner

    New Bulletin Article • “14 September 2025”
    My pastor requested that I write short articles each week for our parish bulletin. Those responsible for preparing similar write-ups may find a bit of inspiration in these brief columns. The latest article (dated 14 September 2025) discusses OFFERTORY ANTIPHONS and contains a wonderful quote by Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    PDF Download • Draft Copy (Pamphlet)
    A few days ago, I posted a draft copy of this 12-page pamphlet with citations about the laity’s “full, conscious, and active participation.” Its basic point or message is that choir directors should never feel embarrassed to teach real choral music because Vatican II explicitly ordered them to do that! We’ve received tons of mail regarding that pamphlet, with many excellent suggestions for improvement. Please feel free to chime in!
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “Entrance Chant” • 23rd (Ordinary Time)
    This coming Sunday, 7 September 2025, is the 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C). You can download the “Entrance Chant,” conveniently located at the feasts website. I also recorded a rehearsal video for it (freely available at the same website). The Communion Chant includes gorgeous verses in FAUXBOURDON. I attempted to create a rehearsal video for it, and it’s been posted at the feasts website, called by some: “church music’s best kept secret.”
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Quick Thoughts

    Karl Keating • “Canonization Questions”
    We were sent an internet statement (screenshot) that’s garnered significant attention, in which KARL KEATING (founder of Catholic Answers) speaks about whether canonizations are infallible. Mr. Keating seems unaware that canonizations are—in the final analysis—a theological opinion. They are not infallible, as explained in this 2014 article by a priest (with a doctorate in theology) who worked for multiple popes. Mr. Keating says: “I’m unaware of such claims arising from any quarter until several recent popes disliked by these Traditionalists were canonized, including John XXIII, Paul VI, and John Paul II. Usually Paul VI receives the most opprobrium.” Mr. Keating is incorrect; e.g. Father John Vianney, several centuries ago, taught clearly that canonizations are not infallible. Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen would be another example, although clearly much more recent than Saint John Vianney.
    —Corpus Christi Watershed
    Vatican II Changed Wedding Propers?
    It’s often claimed that the wedding propers were changed after Vatican II. As a matter of fact, that is a false claim. The EDITIO VATICANA propers (Introit: Deus Israel) remained the same after Vatican II. However, a new set of propers (Introit: Ecce Deus) was provided for optional use. The same holds true for the feast of Pope Saint Gregory the Great on 3 September: the 1943 propers (Introit: Si díligis me) were provided for optional use, but the traditional PROPRIA MISSAE (Introit: Sacerdótes Dei) were retained; they weren’t gotten rid of. The Ordo Cantus Missae (1970) makes this crystal clear, as does the Missal itself. There was an effort made in the post-conciliar years to eliminate so-called “Neo-Gregorian” chants, but (contrary to popular belief) most were retained: cf. the feast of Christ the King, the feast of the Immaculate Conception, and so forth.
    —Corpus Christi Watershed
    Solemn “Salve Regina” (Chant)
    How many “S” words can you think of using alliteration? How about Schwann Solemn Salve Score? You can download the SOLEMN SALVE REGINA in Gregorian Chant. The notation follows the official rhythm (EDITIO VATICANA). Canon Jules Van Nuffel, choirmaster of the Cathedral of Saint Rumbold, composed this accompaniment for it (although some feel it isn’t his best work).
    —Corpus Christi Watershed

Random Quote

“As often as possible they gathered together the children of the village and sat them down in the cabin. Father Brébeuf would put on a surplice and biretta and chant the Our Father, which Father Daniel had translated into Huron rhymes, and the children would chant it after him. Next, he taught them the sign of the cross, the Hail Mary, the Apostles’ Creed, and the Commandments.”

— Biography of St. Jean de Brébeuf

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