Make a joyful noise!

I got an email the other day alerting me to a music institute happening on Long Island next month and, while I’m not in the habit of plugging this sort of thing here, this time I’ll make an exception because I know it’s just got to be good.

Because: one of the teachers is the music director at my parish, David Close (a.k.a. The Maestro).

Enough said.  (Just ask anyone who’s heard our choir or attended one of our Christmas concerts…)

Details:

The Liturgical Music Institute is a five day comprehensive program whose aim is to offer musical, liturgical and pastoral formation for both new and experienced liturgical musicians. Participants will take part in a ten hour liturgy course (The Liturgical Music Institute) as well as applied music workshops in organ, piano, harp, voice, guitar and conducting and plenum sessions that will focus on specific pastoral dimensions of liturgical music ministry. Participants will also attend daily spiritual conferences, morning and evening prayer and daily Eucharist. In addition to the varied workshops and presentations, they will interact with other liturgical musicians from around the country to share ideas, concerns and best practices.

The Seminary of the Immaculate Conception, situated on 215 acres close to the Long Island Sound, will provide a unique and tranquil setting for the Institute. Liturgies will be held in the historic monastic chapel with its three manual E.M. Skinner organ.

The website says that courses include:

• Rediscovering the Treasure of Chant in the Post-Vatican II Liturgy
• Resources and Tools for Preparing Sunday liturgies
• Embracing Cultural Diversity in the Liturgy
• Running an Effective Music Program on a Shoestring Budget
• Making Technology the Musician’s Friend· Using Handbells to Attract Old and Young
• Weddings and Funerals: Doing the Rites Right

Check out the link for more.