join the music & sound tech ministry
If you are interested in joining the Music Ministry at St. Pat's we invite you to fill out the audition form below!
Questions can be directed to Stephen Royal at directorofliturgy@gmail.com
What you can expect from
st. patrick’s music ministry & tech:
Opportunities to grow as a Christian musician or tech
musical/tech knowledge and skills
knowledge of Catholic theology on the arts and ministry
spiritual development & praying through the music
Opportunities to pray and share with other musicians and techs
Pray with one another
Pray for the local parish arts ministry
Pray for the Church and the world
Opportunities for building relationships
Rehearsals
Parties and workshops
Sharing new artistic skills and vision.
All music is posted to your personal email or phone prior to all rehearsals.
You have access to resources at your home
Choir is organized in your personal folder before you arrive
Contemporary teams are provided charts, you tubes, information about keys and arrangements to practice before rehearsals
what we expect of you
A strong desire to grow spiritually, both privately and corporately, and a desire to be “in the Spirit” with both music and technical ministry.
A desire to grow in relationships, and show respect for others.
A desire to connect the music and text with the mission of Jesus Christ and his Church.
A desire to grow musically and/or technically with a teachable attitude.
Willingness to prepare for rehearsals:
To find time to learn and/or listen to the music before the rehearsal, as resources are provided.
Music should be prepared in correct order before arriving at rehearsal or Mass, or be prepared to use parish ipads and Planning Center.
Voices and instruments should be warmed up and tuned before the weekend rehearsal and liturgy begins.
Sound techs should know the needs of the sound system and Mass scene to which they are assigned, as well knowing what the needs of the music will be.
Willingness to be at the church a few minutes before rehearsals begin. Sound techs should arrive at a time designated by the Sound Tech Leader, Worship Leader, or Choir Director.
Musicians and Techs must commit to once, twice or four weeks a month, depending on the rules of each role, choir or ensemble.
Details specific to expectations and rehearsal times, as well as contacts, for each ensemble, team, or choir can be found on the main Music & Sound Tech Ministry page. Contemporary Christian Vocalists and Instrumentalists also require a 2-Step audition process, which is described below.
DO YOU HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT OUR PARISH EXPECTATIONS?
Do you have any questions or concerns with the expectations above?
Is there anything else you would like us to know? Send your questions or thoughts to the Director of Music at: sroyal@stpatchurch.org or to the Sound Tech Leader at: ncoffey@stpatchurch.org
contemporary team audition process
Contemporary musicians should listen to MP3s or YouTubes of well-known praise and worship teams, and pray/worship with them, as well as learn or absorb musical techniques from them.
Audition #1
Please submit a video by your phone, and send as a text or email to the following contact:
Stephen Royal, Director of Music
574-215-5951
directorofliturgy@gmail.com
If you are unable to send this, please contact Stephen Royal personally, and request an initial interview. Please prepare your video as described below. If you are a vocalist, please submit one video in which you sing the melody for 1) one song of your choice, as well as a 2) one of the following:
● Cornerstone
● Oceans
● Amazing Grace
● Ave Maria - Schubert or Bach/Gonoud
● Panis Angelicus
● All Creatures of Our God and King
If you sing harmony, also submit a video with harmonizations to two of the above.
If you are an instrumentalist, please submit one video or one piece of your choice (classical, jazz, pop, folk, rock in which you demonstrate 1) your normal but full range of abilities, and 2) a hymn or Christian song. Acoustic guitarists should demonstrate both strumming and finger picking if they are able. Drummers should 1) play alone, and 2) with a song demonstrating full musical abilities and steadiness of beat/groove.
Audition #2
If the worship music you present seems like a good fit for our parish, then we move on to a second audition. You will meet personally with two or three leaders, during which we will briefly pray and discuss your goals and vision. Then, when the team arrives you will play certain songs with the team, accompanist, or singer at a rehearsal in order to see how we “fit.” (Charts and recordings will be provided one week prior to the rehearsal.)
Note: Keyboardists will also be asked to vamp with chords, light and/or vigorous patterns within chords and rhythms. After the song, demonstrate your ability to play major, minor, and possibly jazz/blues scales and arpeggios. You may also improvise solos if you wish. Finally, verbalize your current knowledge of keyboards, sound patches, midi connections, and computer software and what kind of sound you have used and prefer in worship.
Note: Drummers will also be asked to play both slow and fast basic back up rhythms, with occasional fills. Be able to play appropriately for a variety of styles, in order to provide the correct backbone, groove, or drive for the team in tempo.