PLC: Forming young accompanists
Every faith community experiences the need for the recruitment and formation of music ministers, especialy skilled liturgical accompanists. Despite this need, however, few parishes develop sustained, intentional practices for ongoing outreach. The resulting shortage of engaged, trained music ministers is felt most acutely when it comes to young musicians, who require thoughtful and persistent mentorship that understands their musical, liturgical, and professional needs. The mentorship efforts of pastoral leaders are most effective when they are informed by best-practices, generational understanding, and high-impact strategies that resonate with youth.
OBJECTIVE: Participants will be able to develop strategies to recruit, train, and mentor accompanists to serve in their music ministry.
OUTCOME: Participants develop a comprehensive plan and collect associated resources for ongoing, sustained mentorship of young accompanists in their community.
SCHEDULE: All professional learning community sessions take place via Zoom at 1:00pm (Central). Each session is scheduled for 90 minutes. The session schedule is as follows:
Session 1: September 5
Session 2: September 8
Session 3: September 12
Session 4: September 15
Session 5: scheduled individually
Session One
SESSION OBJECTIVE
Participants will be able to design [and implement] strategies to identify and invite youth for mentorship.
[1.1, 1.7, 1.8, 2.5, 2.6, 2.7, 4.3, 4.4, 4.5, 4.6, DW11/DL11, DW12/DL12, PA3, PA13]
PRE-WORK
Review the Professional Learning Community syllabus.
Download the Session 1 handout.
Complete the participant information form and email it to mattr@ocp.org.
SESSION MEETING
Join the session via Zoom using the following link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84992119200
FAQs
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A Professional Learning Community (PLC) is a small cohort of practitioners who share a desire to explore the same topic, question, or issue of practice. Cohort members learn from the facilitator(s) and one another, and in doing so develop a professional network.
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Each cohort is led by one or more facilitators who have significant professional experience and knowledge in the PLC focus area.
The cohort meets in multiple sessions over a brief period. Each session functions as an interactive conversation utilizing the activities of direct instruction, idea sharing, discussion, group coaching, and so forth.
Each session has a defined objective and suggested follow-up action. This action asks participants to put session concepts into practice. The experience of this action is debriefed as a cohort in the next session.
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The PLC structure works best when participants complete the follow-up actions between sessions.
Each session is most effective when each member of the cohort supportively and constructively contributes ideas, suggestions, past experiences, etc.
Each cohort member is the most effective partner when they both provide mutual support, encouragement, and confidentiality.
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The National Certification Standards for Lay Ecclesial Ministers were developed by The Alliance for the Certification of Lay Ecclesial Ministers. and approved by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops Subcommittee on Certification for Ecclesial Ministry and Service.
“Certification standards give evidence of a profession’s focus and activities and the values to which it is committed; designate the knowledge, skills, and attitudes it deems desirable or necessary for effective functioning as a practitioner of the profession; and may be used as educational criteria in a process of formation and assessment criteria in a process of certification” (from the Introduction).
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Participants will have access to all handouts, resources, and video recordings for two weeks after the final PLC session. In some instances, access may be extended for a longer period of time. Participants will be notified before the final session.
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Only registered participants may join PLC sessions and discussions. Participants may register up to the beginning of the first session. After this date, participants need approval to join the PLC.
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Each session will be recorded. The video will be posted to the session page and will be accessible to participants during the duration of the PLC.
Meet the Team
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Timothy R. Smith
FACILITATOR
Timothy R. Smith has spent his career writing music that fuses contemporary and traditional elements into songs that inspire and unite communities of all ages.
Tim has a passion for helping parishes and organizations respond to the Church’s apostolic call towards evangelization. His ministry has taken him across the United States — presenting parish missions, men’s retreats and music ministry workshops that educate and inspire. His presentations feature music designed to encourage participation and foster prayerful reflection.
Tim has a Bachelor of Music degree from Michigan State University and Master of Music degree from Oakland University in Rochester Hills, Michigan. He and his wife, Kim, live in Waterford, Michigan. He currently serves as the Director of Music at Our Lady of the Lakes Church.
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Matt Reichert
FACILITATOR
Matt Reichert has served the church in a variety of capacities. As an educator, Matt has been an administrator, board member, middle and high school teacher, and undergraduate professor. As a pastoral musician and liturgist, Matt has worked in parishes, schools, and university campus ministry. Matt is a frequent workshop leader and has presented at parishes, dioceses, and conferences across the country including NPM and NCEA conferences, the Mid-Atlantic Congress, and the Los Angeles Religious Education Congress. He formerly served as director of outreach and engagement at GIA Publications and was the founding host of NPM's "Ministry Monday" podcast.
Matt holds his B.A. in history and English from Saint John’s University in Collegeville, Minnesota, and two master’s degrees from the University of Notre Dame in education and leadership. Matt lives in Richmond, Minnesota, with his wife and four daughters.