MMS XII: "I Send You Out
On a Mission of Love"

Mark Your Calendars Now!

June 26-28, 2008

The Music Ministry Series is our annual conference during which we offer church musicians, liturgical planners—both young and old—the opportunity to work with and learn from world-renowned musicians and composers representing publishers such as GIA, Oregon Catholic Press and World Library Publications. This two and a half-day conference is held during the summer to give everyone, even teachers and church youth groups a chance to attend.

This year MMS XII will be held the last weekend in June. We also are moving to Our Lady of the Valley Catholic Church —a new location! We also are expanding our sessions with new topics and artists!

New Artists!

New Sessions!

New Location!

MMS XII
June 26-28, 2008

Our Lady of the Valley Catholic Church
5514 Double Oak Lane
(off Highway 119)
Birmingham, AL 35242

Click here for directions.

Vocal Sessions
Master Cantor Classes - Rigorous vocal work for church cantors focusing on leadership skills, exhibiting a positive presence and encouraging congregational participation. Come prepared to lead a responsorial psalm selected from a variety of musical settings. Maximum 12 people per class. May only attend one session.
Friday AM - Meredith Augustin
Friday PM - Kate Cuddy
Saturday AM - Meredith Augustin
Saturday PM - Kate Cuddy

Choral Experience - In-depth sessions focusing on various vocal and SATB choral skills. Attendees will participate in the "Participant Concert" on Saturday afternoon. May sign up for any or all sessions. (Beginner/Advanced)
Choral Experience I - Friday AM - Kate Cuddy
Choral Experience II - Friday PM - Steve Petrunak
Choral Experience III - Saturday AM - John Angotti
Choral Experience IV - Saturday PM - Meredith Augustin

Guitar Sessions
Classes feature instruction in leading the congregation with the guitar, strumming techniques, various music styles and ensemble work.
Friday AM
Advanced Guitar - Bobby Fisher  
Intermediate Guitar - Steve Petrunak
Saturday PM
Guitar Improvisation - Bobby Fisher

Keyboard Sessions
Keyboard Skills - Sessions working with a variety of keyboarding techniques. Class size limited to 9 participants. First come, first served. May sign up for both sessions. (Intermediate/Advanced level)
Friday AM- John Angotti
Saturday AM- Kate Cuddy

Keyboard Improvisation - This class focuses on working with a variety of musical styles while developing keyboarding skills. Class size limited to 9 participants. First come, first served. May sign up for both sessions. (Intermediate/Advanced level)
Friday PM - Paul Tate
Saturday PM - John Angotti

Composition Sessions
Contemporary Music - Sarah Hart (Friday AM) - Discussion will focus on crafting music, what makes music contemporary and setting music to lyrics. The session will also include ideas for writing for different audiences such as children, adults and choirs.

Poetry and Lyrics - Sarah Hart (Friday PM) - This is a very hands-on session where attendees will write their own lyrics and participate in a discussion of what makes a great lyric and why certain lyrics move us. Participants' examples will be shared.

Setting Scripture to Music - Paul Tate (Saturday PM) - Review and discuss scriptural settings, particularly the Psalms and discover how various musical styles can apply to different liturgical settings.

Instrumental and Ensemble Sessions
Hands on experience performing in a group. Instrumentalists and percussionists please bring your instruments, if possible.
Percussion - Dion Clay (Friday AM & Saturday AM)
Discover ways to enhance liturgical music through the use of various rhythm techniques and percussion instruments. (Beginner/Advanced)

Instrumental Ensemble - Bobby Fisher & Dion Clay (Friday PM)
Ensemble setting focusing on combining various instruments to enhance liturgical music. (Intermediate/Advanced)

Mixed Ensemble - Bobby Fisher (Saturday AM); Steve Petrunak & Dion Clay (Saturday PM) Sessions working with vocalists and instrumentalists in a contemporary setting. Attendees will participate in the Saturday afternoon "Participant Concert." (Beginner/Advanced)

Liturgy Sessions
Liturgy I - Liturgical Planning for Religious Educators - Deanna Light (Friday AM) Session will highlight how to plan and choose music for children and youth and offer training for young cantors. Learn how adult music ministers can work effectively with children and youth, how to communicate effectively with other professionals and develop techniques for teaching music principles to children. Explore quality music for young voices that you can use in your classroom and liturgies—music that is already in your hymnal resources.

Liturgy II - "Meeting for Worship: Principles for Liturgy - Deanna Light (Friday PM) Have you been wanting to make your liturgies more effective but are stumped as to how? Come hear about seven simple principles that can help you do just that! These ideas can be applied not only to musicians and cantors, but also to anyone who participates in any ministry in the liturgy—and by your congregations too!

Liturgy III - The Theology of Our Eucharistic Songs - Steve Petrunak (Saturday AM) The theology of the texts of the Eucharistic songs we sing is varied and vast. Are the songs we're singing during Communion what we want to "teach" our assemblies about the Eucharist? Come and explore the many theological perspectives of the songs we sing at Eucharist. This session will also provide thoughts and ideas regarding liturgy and music planning.

Liturgy IV - Contemporary Liturgy - Sarah Hart (Saturday PM)
This session will cover the topic of contemporary liturgy and its components. The primary focus will be on how to include all parts of the community in the liturgical setting and incorporating music into the liturgy.

Choral Conducting Sessions
Choral Conducting - Deanna Light (Saturday PM)
Will focus on proper techniques for directing choral groups and/or church ensembles.

Effective Choir Rehearsals - Meredith Augustin (Friday PM)
Will focus on management strategies for working with people, time, and resources when working with children, (and parents), teens and adult choirs.

Skills Sessions
Music Theory 101 - Paul Tate (Friday PM)
The beginner's guide to basic note-reading skills—covering clefs, rhythms, note-reading, etc.

Basic Vocal Arranging - Paul Tate (Saturday AM)
This session will explore topics such as creating descant parts for your favorite melodies, creating two-, three- and four-part arrangements of melodies and how to re-work existing arrangements to better suit your choir's configuration.

Spirituality and the Music Minister - John Angotti (Friday PM)
Explore how a deeper level of personal spirituality enhanced by a new vision of the spirituality of the liturgy can expand your ministry. Through music and prayer, discover new ways to inspire your heart into action.

Proclaiming the Word - Deanna Light (Saturday AM)
Lectors will work on techniques for effective proclamation using text from a variety of publishers and scriptural sources.

Youth Session: "The Story" - Sarah Hart (Saturday AM)
This session will include a discussion focusing on how our actions and words affect the lives of others around us and about choosing to "write good words" into one another's stories.

Click here for Registration & information brochure
(pdf format)

Feel free to duplicate the form and distribute to friends and family.

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Early Bird Registration: by June 2
$250

After June 2 Registration: $275

One-day Registration: $135

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MMS XII Registration starts at
5:00 PM
Thursday, June 26, 2008

MMS XII
Taizé Service
7:45 PM

Thursday, June 26, 2008

Free - Open to the Public

MMS XII Artists' Concert
7:00 PM

Friday, June 27, 2008

Free - Open to the Public

Download a copy of the MMS XII schedule. (pdf format)