Off the Record

Last week, we talked about where we find our music.  We had great answers!  Many included:  store, church, school, from instruments, at concerts, in the car, on the radio, from an 'i' device or computer, etc.  We then took a trip through music listening history and talked about records, cassettes, CD's and eventually MP3's.  For many it was the first they they ever saw a record close-up (maybe even a cassette). Our focus was how listening to music was a social experience when all we had were records which were really not portable.  As time progressed, music has become less and less social and more personal.  I blame Sony and the invention of the first Walkman.  Do you remember these?  My first walkman had orange headphones.  This was the first opportunity to take our music with us on the trail, on the bike, or wherever and not share it with anyone but yourself.  Thus, taking the social aspect out of music and becoming more personal.

Is this a good thing or a bad thing?  As the year progresses, we'll continue to address this issue and in the Jr High, students will have the opportunity to share their music with their class.  We'll continue to stress the importance of respecting each other's musical tastes.

We continue to work on songs for the next school Mass (Oct 4 - 10:30am) and last week, we even began a song for the Christmas Program.  

Mr. Mattei

Silence is Golden

Have you ever sat in a room that was devoid of sound?  Weird, isn't it?  Or in some cases, refreshing.  We tend to have sound wherever we go, and when it's not there, it's weird or uncomfortable.  Often in the evening when I get home from a late rehearsal, I'll sit in my living room and just listen to the silence.  This doesn't always work when you live on a busy street or in an apartment complex like I do, but you get the idea.  Or how about this... silence at Mass?  I tend to fill most silences with music at Mass as it's uncomfortable to be silent with 200 other people, but it's something we have to practice.

Everywhere we go, sound happens.  Whether it's ambient music playing at the mall, or the clink of a shopping cart in a store.  The roar of a motor, or the crash of the waves.  I always say that if you can hear the music echo through a store, that store is doomed to close!  Along with all this ambient sound, we have the sound that we create.  How many of us get in the car and immediately turn on the radio?  Or turn the TV on when you get in the house?

This week, along with continuing on working on our school repertoire for Mass, we're going to talk about where we find music in our lives and how important it is, and how important it isn't, also.  We'll talk about how we listen to music, and how music is part of our individual lives.  In grades 6-8, we'll begin talking about playlists, how to create them and why we create them.  We'll also discuss methods of listening to music, finding music, the importance of BUYING your music, and how music can create the soundtrack of your life.

Here's one of my favorite songs...

Enjoy your week.  Practice silence!

Mr. Mattei

And with your Spirit!

When the responses of our Mass officially "changed" in December of 2011, the response that threw everyone for a loop was "And with your Spirit", which is derived from the Latin - et cum spiritu tu.  It became a more formal response than "And also with you".  It doesn't seem so welcoming anymore, does it?  Really, the priest has the best line "The Lord be with you!" And we really want to say "YES, and also with you!  Good morning!  How are you!  How's your day?" - so "And with your spirit" seems like a downer.

In class, we've been talking about HOW to respond and not just responding because that's what we're suppose to do.  Putting some "sub-text" behind "And with your spirit" to make it seem like it's a welcoming response to the priest.  We have great priests at OLA, and they are always very welcoming at Mass, so when they say "The Lord be with you" - let's say "And with your spirit" with some enthusiasm and excitement.  It's hard to do.  Let's make the effort to try and be less and less robotic.

Speaking of changing the text of the Mass, many of our prayers that we sing at Mass had to be re-written to reflect the changes in the Mass text.  We've learned a few melodies for these changes and we started a new one today.  Wanna listen to it? 

Check it out!

 

Remember, singing at Mass brings us together as community.  Especially singing our prayers.  

It's Fun Fair week!  We'll continue our nautical songs in K-5 and in 6-8 grade, we'll keep working our our Mass responses and why we sing our Prayers.  We'll also do some singing!!

Enjoy the Fun Fair!

Mr. Mattei

First Week of Music Class with Mr. Mattei

We are the church!!!!   Huh?  We are a building?  Confusing, isn't it?

When we come together as community to pray, we are coming together as CHURCH.  Our responses and our singing bring us together as community as we pray TOGETHER as CHURCH.  Remembering that we can pray anytime and any place to God, but it's special when we can pray together.  Have I said that enough?  Sometimes I feel it's not said enough or taken to heart.

Our Liturgy is structured in a way that can become redundant and dare I say, "boring" or "robotic".  Our responses like "and with your spirit", "Amen" or "Thanks be to God", are a lot of times second nature and just tumble out of our mouth's without any thought.  How is that praying?  That's just "getting the job done".   To be an active member of CHURCH, our responses are our way of participating in our prayer and are just as important as the words that preceded the response.

Just as a good sauce can heighten your favorite dish, music at Liturgy can heighten our prayer at Liturgy.  Music helps bring people together.  Our music at Liturgy is not there as background or as an accompaniment to Liturgy, it's an ESSENTIAL part of our community prayer.   Participation in music at Liturgy is just as important as your response of "Amen" might be.  We don't come to church to be entertained, we come to pray together (there it is again!)  and we do that through our responses and through our songs.  Go to the movies if you wish to be entertained, or come see one of my shows!   But it's your job as CHURCH to be a good responder when you come to Liturgy in order to fully participate in this wonderful prayer we have called The Mass.  (that's another blog entry for another time)

In K-5 on Friday, plan on singing some great songs with a "Water" or "Regatta" theme as we get ready for our Fun Faire next week.  Songs like "Blow the Man Down" or "What shall we do with the Drunken Sailor" teach us how people worked hard together and used these songs as "Work" songs to be motivated to keep those ships moving.

In 6-8, we'll talk about music at Liturgy and where Chant comes from and on the other end of the spectrum, how the bible has made it's way into "pop" music.  Do you have any examples of how the bible has made its way into "pop" music?

Be sure and leave your comments if you'd like.  We learn from each other!!

Mr. Mattei