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The College of Saint Rose in Albany will offer a weekend certificate program in liturgical music from January until May.

Skilled musicians are welcome to the six-session course, but it's designed for amateur musicians or anyone with some theological background and an interest in liturgical music.

Participants will "get more of a sense of how they fit into music ministry" and "a lot of in-depth, more spiritual understanding of themselves," said Dr. Joseph Eppink, a music professor at CSR and the choirmaster and organist at St. Andrew's Episcopal Church in Albany. He's played the organ for churches since age 12.

"I think it gives them a deeper understanding of their own faith," he continued, as well as why certain music is used in liturgies: "Often, we sing a song in the liturgy, and that's all it is."

Coursework
The sessions analyze the purpose of music for different occasions, from weddings and funerals to holy days. Sessions open with prayer and break out into groups according to specialties, including choral conducting and cantor training.

Outside of class, students can take advantage of included private lessons with professionals in areas like voice, guitar and organ. They are asked to keep journals on song selection at their own liturgies and assess their ability to meet the needs of their faith communities.

The hymn "Gather Us In," for example, is appropriate on days when liturgies focus on discipleship and serving as one body, Dr. Eppink noted. A session might encourage students to discuss how this plays out in their congregations.

During the course, Dr. Eppink gives background about Protestant documents and catechesis; his colleague, Marie Bernadett, the music director at St. Vincent de Paul Church in Albany, tackles the documents of the 1960s' Second Vatican Council and other insights into Roman Catholic liturgy.

A closing ceremony in the spring features a liturgy organized by the students and their testimonies about the course. One alumnus declared that the experience totally changed her understanding of liturgy.

"Just to [hear] that was amazing," Dr. Eppink said. "If you are working in the church, you need a spiritual life - and we often get so busy, we forget about that."

Next time around
The program debuted two years ago with 10 students, a mix of Protestants and Roman Catholics of various ages and abilities. Dr. Eppink hopes to attract people of other faiths this time around: "It helps us understand our own journey as Christians."

Two of his college-age students are considering the course. The new organ in the college's recital hall, Dr. Eppink's frequent plugs for the course and CSR's creation of a new minor in liturgical music have contributed to "a growing search in our young people to really consider music ministry," he said.

"It validates the music ministry, as do the readings [and the sacraments] for the priesthood," he added.

Dr. Eppink started the program after noticing that music ministry was being cut or treated poorly in many parishes. "It's time," he said. "We need to help boost whatever we can."

(Register at www.strose.edu/liturgicalmusic or call 454-5143. For information, contact Dr. Eppink at [email protected] or 301-3345.)[[In-content Ad]]

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