Welcome to the St. Tarcissus Liturgical Music Program!
Summer Music Seminar: Introduction to Reading Music
Join the music ministry of St. Tarcissus for training in the basics of music notation. We will cover the fundamentals of reading rhythms, pitches, and navigating a printed sheet music. If music looks like a lot of lines and dots to you, this is a great opportunity to learn how to decode what is on the page. Many of us say that we don’t read music because it’s just too many symbols, systems, and notes to learn. However, investing in a few fundamental concepts enable you to be a stronger, more comfortable music-reader, whether you are singing from the pew or the choir loft.
We will meet on three Wednesdays from 7 to 8 pm on July 28 (Auditorium), August 4 (Auditorium), and August 11 (Church). Handouts will be provided; you are invited to bring note-taking materials if you wish. Anyone with a musical curiosity is welcome to participate, regardless of your present level involvement with the parish music ministry.
Families are welcome (instruction will be geared toward ages ten and up). Please RSVP to Laura Kempa, Director of Music, at lkempa@sttars.org or 773-763-8228. Sessions will be successive.
Want a preview? Can’t come but still interested?
Check out this website! - www.musictheory.net |
 Consider joining one of the music groups here at St. Tars! The groups here have different styles, different commitment levels, different rehearsal times, and different Mass schedules. Despite the minor differences, they all have the same goal: to lead the congregation in sung prayer and to glorify God through the music they each produce. So take a look at our music groups. You might find something that you’d like to try. And if you would like more information about any or all of the groups, please feel free to call our Director of Music, Laura Kempa at the Rectory at 773-763-8228 or send an email to lkempa@sttars.org.
Instrumentalists
If you play any musical instrument, we could use you! We typically use instruments such as organ, piano, and guitar for the instrumental foundation of our musical groups and basic song leading at Mass. All other instruments including, but not limited to the flute, violin, viola, oboe, clarinet, harp, and percussion are used as supplemental instrumentation for these groups. Rehearsals and Mass times/dates depend on the particular group or need.
Qualifications: Basic music reading skills, ability to play in tune and tempo with a group or a soloist.
Cantors
Song leaders are needed at most Masses, especially those Masses with no ensemble or group present to provide the leading. Typically, cantors will be scheduled for the 7 am, 8:30 am, 10 am, 11:30 am and 4 pm Sunday Masses. In addition to these Masses, cantors are scheduled for funerals, weddings, and also on various Holy Days whose dates may happen to fall within the week. Rehearsals will be ongoing, typically four times per year.
Qualifications: Basic music reading skills, ability to sing in tune and tempo with a group or a single accompanist, ability to effectively engage congregation in song.
 Children’s Ensemble
Children from fourth grade to eighth grade are invited to join the Children’s Ensemble. These children will lead sung prayer at the 10 am Mass on the first Sunday of each month. In addition to these regularly scheduled Masses, the Children will also lead song on special days such as: Christmas Eve, Easter Sunday, and First Holy Communion. Rehearsals are on Tuesdays afternoons from 3:05 to 3:45 pm in the Church.
See Children's Choir Schedule for the rest of the School Year
in Adobe Reader (pdf - 47 KB).
Qualifications: Match pitch, ability to sing with a group, attend rehearsals, and attend scheduled Masses and events.
Parish Choir
This group, formerly known as the “Adult Choir” is a multi-part harmony choir singing everything from a capella gospel style arrangements to traditional full organ full voice hymns. This choir leads song at the 8:30 am Mass on the 2nd and 4th Sundays of the month, and also leads song at the 10 am Mass on the 3rd and 5th Sundays of the month. In addition to the mentioned Masses, the Parish Choir will help to lead song on special days such as: Christmas Midnight Mass, Christmas Day, the Triduum, Easter Sunday, and Pentecost. Rehearsals are on Thursday nights from 7 to 8:30 pm in the Church, exempt the Thursday prior to the 1st Sunday of the month.
Qualifications: Match pitch, ability to sing with a group, attend rehearsals, and attend scheduled Masses. The ability to read music is a plus, but it is not necessary.
 Guitar Ensemble
Under the direction of Brian Hirami, this group leads song at the 10 am Mass on the 2nd and 4th Sundays of the month. Sometimes referred to as the “folk group,” this ensemble sings a variety of pieces using guitars as the foundational instrument. In addition to leading song at the 10 am Mass, the group also helps with: various Holy Days, Christmas Eve, and Easter Sunday. Rehearsals are on Wednesday evenings. For more information, contact Brian Hirami at 773-710-4873.
Qualifications: Match pitch, ability to sing with a group, attend rehearsals, and attend scheduled Masses.
The ability to read music is a plus, but it is not necessary.
Resurrection Choir
The Resurrection Choir helps to provide music for funerals at the parish. Members of this group are on an “on-call” basis, where each member is made known of the funeral as soon as the funeral Mass is planned and the group is requested. If the singer is available, (s)he meets with the group thirty minutes prior to the funeral for a brief rehearsal. If a singer is not available, (s)he will be called for the next funeral. There are no scheduled rehearsals as the group meets prior to the service itself.
Qualifications: on-call availability (usually in the mornings) and ability to match pitch and sing with a group. The ability to read music is a plus, but it is not necessary.
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