April 2020 Edition

Letter from the Dean

Dear members of the Seton Hill Chapter,

What a surreal picture. It’s a week into our time of isolation. It seems like each day so much changes. Things seem to get a little quieter. I went in to practice today and, when leaving at 6:00, it was as though downtown Greensburg had been deserted. A couple cars where there is normally a string. A couple people walking where there are usually several more. Yards empty and cars parked. Yet, the daffodils seemed oblivious to our plight, showing their bright yellow blooms as I drove through my neighborhood. Perhaps not so much oblivious as anxious to give us a ray of hope.

As your dean, I worry about you. Each of you. Some of you are having difficult times. Some of you have become virtual musicians, playing through a camera or phone, wondering how we got to this place (and if you're like me, far more nervous than you would be on a normal Sunday!). Others are waiting for the other shoe to drop as work slows down and churches cancel activities. Some of you have been laid off, wondering when you’ll be employed again. Most of us have lost income from weddings, funerals and/or other “gigs.” All of us wonder if our sacrifice is enough. But one of the things we do as a guild is find ways to support one another.

We really are all in this together. We are an all volunteer organization that does a lot, mostly because we are a group of people who truly care about one another. I hope that during this time you won’t be afraid to contact one another. Share your fears, your joys, your surprises, and your needs. Are there ways we can help one another?

In this edition, Tyler Randolph has shared a great article on ways we can continue to minister to our people. I encourage you to read it! Our District Convener has also sent a letter. Though initially addressed to the chapter leadership, it seems appropriate to share it with all of you.

During this time of isolation, it probably goes without saying, but our chapter too is canceling activities through April. While I hope we are all back to some sense of normalcy before the end of April, I suspect that even if we are, we will all be very busy catching back up.

In spite of all this, the board continues to work online. We may have some board positions to fill, and if we do, look for election information at the end of May. We would like to have elections in June and I have asked the board to add a new position – a membership chair. We want someone who will be willing to keep in touch with our members and help us learn what is needed from them. We will also begin planning next years’ program year soon! If you have topics you would like to hear about, workshops you would like to see, or workshops you would like to give, please contact us! Also, watch for a party come June – I don’t know where it will be, but we must have a party for some of our members who have amazing opportunities this coming fall.

Please dear members, keep yourselves safe. Wash your hands, try to survive the isolation as best you can, and continue social distancing. All of you matter and every single one of you makes the rest of us better.

Be well and God be with you,

John Salveson, D.M.A., CAGO

Dean

Ideas and Resources to Educate, Entertain, and Stay Connected

By Tyler Randolph

The only thing certain about this time is that it is quite uncertain! I wanted to share some resources and ideas to keep the members of your music ministry connected, educated, and entertained. We are certainly all in this together, and it important to remember that your parishioners are in the same boat as us, asking “What can we do to fill this time?” This is by no means an exhaustive list, but hopefully something here might “tickle your fancy” and be an idea to try. Any of these can be sent out in whatever frequency you deem appropriate. With my own folks, I don’t want to overload them with too much and “spam” their inbox, but I want to give them enough variety of things to have something for everyone!

• Choral Music Recordings - YouTube is such an amazing resource... consider sending out links to recordings of choral pieces that you were planning on using. There are so many fine examples of choirs from all over that can be used as listening examples.

• Hymn of the Day – Send out a recording of a hymn, something seasonally appropriate or one you would have used for worship. Again, there are so many recordings on YouTube to hear any number of hymns from so many great churches.

• Organ Music – I recorded and sent to my musicians the prelude that I was planning on using this weekend. You can record yourself, or once again... there is YouTube!

• Video Workshops – Again, the wonders of YouTube! There are so many educational videos available. Look through and find things that might be good for your folks – breathing exercises, cantor workshops, music history, theology, it is endless! Now more than ever there is time to educate your musicians, consider sending things that normally you just don’t have the time for.

• Record a “Hymn Sing” – Ask your people what their favorite hymns are, record yourself playing and/or singing it and sending your musicians. I sent out an email for “requests” just before I started working on this article, and so far I have six requests!

• Personal Videos – It is so important, above all of these things, to stay connected! Though your ensembles cannot be together, and we cannot be all together to serve our communities, the importance of staying connected to one another is so important!! I made a short video and sent out just checking in and saying “hi.”

Creating a YouTube account is truly very easy! I had never made a video until all of this... I recorded, uploaded, and sent out all on my phone. SoundCloud is another great resource to upload audio tracks only. I use that normally to upload practice tracks for my choir. You might feel overwhelmed by all of this, and possibly the “tech” aspect of it all... it is ok, I truly am as well! We must find a way to get through this, and come out on the other end even better than before. I wish you all of the best during this difficult time, but eventually we will be out of our Lenten dessert again to celebrate with our communities the joy of the Resurrection!