Sacred Music

The St. Cecilia Academy for Pastoral Musicians is a program offered by the Archdiocese of New York’s Office of Liturgy in cooperation with St. Joseph’s Seminary and College (St. Joseph’s Seminary).  The program is comprised of four courses (12 graduate credits), earned through St. Joseph’s Seminary (a MSCHE, NYSED and ATS accredited graduate school).  Upon completion, students are granted certification as a pastoral musician by the Archdiocese of New York.  Credits earned through the St. Cecilia Academy may be used toward the Master of Arts in Theology program at St. Joseph’s Seminary, should a student wish to apply to the MA program for continued study

Many dedicated parish musicians (salaried and unsalaried) have received musical training, but have not had the opportunity to study the principles of liturgy and sacred music. The Saint Cecilia Academy provides this training in a cost-effective manner.

The following courses are taught by highly qualified professors, and are offered on a  rotating basis:

Introduction to Liturgy (3 credits)

Liturgical Music: History of Sacred Music, Principles of Sacred Music,Liturgical Music Planning (3 credits)

Liturgical Year/Art and Environment in Worship (3 credits)

Principles of Chant – Theory and Practicum (3 credits)

Courses are fully accredited Masters Level Courses and may be used toward the pursuit of the Master of Arts Degree in Theology from St. Joseph’s Seminary.

Most courses are offered at both St. Joseph’s Seminary and the Seminary of the Immaculate Conception (Huntington) via a distance learning classroom.  The schedule of offered classes for the forthcoming semester may be found at: dunwoodie.edu

At the conclusion of this course of study, a qualified musician (i.e., one who holds a degree in music or who can demonstrate musical proficiency) will receive a certification as a pastoral musician in the Archdiocese of New York.

Musicians sponsored by their parish may enroll in the Saint Cecilia Academy at no cost.

Once enrolled, students receive a 50% discount off Seminary tuition ($750 per course, plus a one-time $50 registration fee).  Parishes may wish to cover the cost of tuition for their musicians, especially if they are unsalaried.

“The Saint Cecilia Academy matched all of my expectations. It gave me the confidence to know that I now have the knowledge, tools, and resources I need to do my job as music coordinator of my parish. As professional musicians, we receive top level training at music universities and conservatories, but very little official training that prepares us for the real-world opportunities that many musicians encounter in the church – i.e., ‘church jobs’. If you are a professional musician who works in the church, this is the program that fills that gap.”
– Shana Mahoney, Saint Barnabas Church, Bronx

 

“The Saint Cecilia program has surpassed my expectations. The Seminary is a beautiful place that fosters learning and fellowship. The classes have been wonderfully useful and relevant to my work. Attending the Saint Cecilia Academy allows me to be challenged and to better myself and my work so that my parish can better glorify God and find sanctification. It is a friendly, inviting, nourishing atmosphere–all will feel welcome and all will benefit from what there is to be learned.”
– Paul Loman, Saint Ann Church, Yonkers

Contact the Office of Liturgy or fill out our registration form for more information!

The Organist Training Program seeks to provide the qualified keyboardist with the skills and training to successfully serve as an organist in a parish setting through a low-cost, goal-oriented, and flexible pedagogical structure. Lessons are taught by members of the archdiocesan Music Commission and other highly-qualified organists throughout the Archdiocese.

Interested students are directed by the Office of Liturgy to a prospective instructor. The instructor then determines whether a student has the potential to benefit from the program. Qualified students should be able to demonstrate keyboard (piano) proficiency, possess an interest in the ministry of music, and have a desire to improve musical skills through a commitment to regular practice.

Interested students are directed by the Office of Liturgy to a prospective instructor. The instructor then determines whether a student has the potential to benefit from the program. Qualified students should be able to demonstrate keyboard (piano) proficiency, possess an interest in the ministry of music, and have a desire to improve musical skills through a commitment to regular practice.

Students must have access to a suitable organ for practice purposes. The minimum requirements for an instrument include two manuals of 61 keys each and a pedal board of 30 keys. Text materials and printed music are essential elements of the instruction and are required, as per the direction of the instructor. Copies of service music, psalmody, and hymns from the student’s parish repertoire should be made available to the student by the parish. Students are required to have access to organ shoes and a metronome.

Lessons are scheduled either at the instructor’s or student’s church at the discretion of the instructor. The location of the lessons will be decided in advance of the beginning of each semester. If student is under 18 years of age, a parent or guardian must be present for the entirety of each lesson.

The organist training program offers two certificates which serve as evidence of skills achieved. The “A Certificate” is granted when the student is able to play, with a minimum number of mistakes, a sampling of service music and psalmody representing his/her parish repertoire, along with five hymns selected from a prescribed list. The “B Certificate” places more emphasis on organ repertoire of the masters. The student who requests a certificate must perform the aforementioned selections before a jury of three professors, who then recommend certification. Certification is not intended to indicate that the student is qualified to function as a parish organist, but rather, serves to document progress made in building organ skills.

There is no minimum timetable for the completion of either certificate. Students are allowed to progress at their own pace.

Fill out our registration form or contact the Office of Liturgy today!

The Vocalist Training Program seeks to provide the qualified singer with the skills and training needed to successfully serve as a cantor or chorister in a parish setting through a low-cost, goal-oriented, and flexible pedagogical structure. Lessons are taught by members of the archdiocesan Music Commission and other highly-qualified vocalists throughout the Archdiocese.

Interested students are directed by the Office of Liturgy to a prospective instructor. The instructor then determines whether a student has the potential to benefit from the program. Qualified students should be able to demonstrate some proficiency in matching pitch and basic vocal technique, possess an interest in the ministry of music, and have a desire to improve musical skills through a commitment to regular practice.

Each semester (September-December; January-May; June-August) of instruction consists of 10 45-minute lessons. The cost for each semester is $750.00. A student is encouraged to seek the sponsorship of his/her pastor and parish, but a student may also pay his/her own tuition. Payments are made directly to the instructor.

Students must have access to a space for regular practice. Text materials and printed music are essential elements of the instruction and are required, as per the direction of the instructor. Copies of service music, psalmody, and hymns from the student’s parish repertoire should be made available to the student by the parish.

Lessons are scheduled either at the instructor’s or student’s church at the discretion of the instructor. The location of the lessons will be decided in advance of the beginning of each semester. If student is under 18 years of age, a parent or guardian must be present for the entirety of each lesson.

The Vocalist Training Program offers two certificates which serve as evidence of skills achieved. Evaluation to grant the certificates is through an adjudicated jury before the private instructor plus at least one member of the Archdiocesan Music Commission. All certificates require demonstration of sight-reading ability.

The “Cantor Certificate” is granted when the student is able to sing, with a minimum number of mistakes, a sampling of service music and psalmody representing his/her parish repertoire, as well as five hymns selected from a prescribed list. The “Chorister Certificate” places more emphasis on choral repertoire of the masters and is granted when a student is able to sing his or her part in five pieces from a prescribed list. There is no minimum timetable for the completion of either certificate. Students are allowed to progress at their own pace.

Fill out our registration form or contact the Office of Liturgy today!