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Good afternoon from the Great Lakes region, everybody! We wanted to talk about making yourself look good on your resume, CV or cover letter. Having a well-crafted resume is a real asset to getting into your dream school or landing your dream job.

So what’s the difference between a resume and a CV? CV stands for “curriculum vitae,” or course of life. As the name suggests, a CV thoroughly lists any and all academic or professional work you’ve done. Length is not an issue; if you’ve done a lot of stuff, list it all! Many academic institutions may ask for a CV because they want to see the full breadth of your musicality and your personal achievement to get to know you as a person. On my CV I have all of my music jobs I’ve held, schools I’ve attended, recordings I’ve appeared on, compositions of mine, etc.

A resume, on the other hand, is short (no more than a page) and should be very focused. You’ll want to only include professional or academic experiences that are extremely relevant to the position you’re applying for and leave off everything else. Many musicians applying for orchestral gigs need to submit this kind of document. When applying for grad schools I had to submit resumes for some schools as well.

If you want some more information, check out this website run by Peabody Conservatory in Baltimore about what resumes and CVs are. Tune in next month when we’ll set you up with some more resources for how to make your CV/Resume and get into the nitty gritty of what to put on it. Feel free to comment so we can get a discussion going.

Peabody Conservatory Resources

 

(Greg Santa Croce)

Working In a Church You Wouldn’t Attend       ​

In the last three years I’ve been employed by five different churches in four denominations: ECUSA, UMC, ELCA and PCUSA. These moves have been for one of three reasons: enrolling in graduate school, completing graduate school, or for a better opportunity/salary. I haven’t always agreed with the churches I’ve served, whether it be theological or political issues, and that’s okay. Church musicians often struggle with separating their beliefs from the beliefs of the churches they serve. My hope is that, in an increasingly polarized society, we can serve in churches that don’t necessarily preach what we want to hear.

1. You’re not alone. Most churchgoers do not agree with every belief of their church. Whether it be a disagreement with denominational leadership or a local pastor on staff, it’s impossible for an entire congregation to agree fully with doctrine from leaders. It’s next to impossible for people to agree as a congregation. Have you ever sat in a meeting with church elders or vestry? Ask a pastor how much disagreement exists in the pews, you might be surprised what you find. As a staff member it’s important to maintain a sense of loyalty when you’re on the clock and representing the church, but that doesn’t mean you have to agree with every decision.

2. Research. Why do you disagree with the church? Are you well-versed in related scripture texts? Do you fully understand the other side of the argument? It’s easy for us to see what divides us over what unites us. Is the opposition inspired by Satan? Likely not. While you may wholeheartedly disagree with someone on an issue vital to your own existence, that doesn’t mean they are out to get you. Chances are they don’t understand your opinion and you don’t understand theirs. Greet disagreement humbly and keep conversation respectful with those you disagree with.

3. Have Patience. Our world is increasingly impatient. When my iPhone doesn’t recognize my fingerprint on the first try, I feel the rage brewing. I often remind myself that just a few years ago we were forced to hit the number 9 four times to type one Z in a text message. Waiting a whole week for the next episode of our favorite television series to air seems absurd when entire series are available to binge watch. Before you reach conclusions about those you disagree with, take the time to listen to their opinion. It might take weeks, months, or even years but if you approach a problem with an open mind and heart you won’t regret the time you put in.

4. Communicate openly. After I left my last job I explained in an exit interview that lack of communication was a big problem in the position. I was told “You don’t exactly come from a profession known for practicing good communication.” It’s true, many organists would rather retreat to the bench than deal with a conflict head-on. Like any relationship, communication is the key to success. Working in a church is a unique place because staff members are Christians who (typically) genuinely care about each other’s well-being, family life, and are interested in your life outside of work. Trust me, it’s not easy. Try telling a conservative pastor that you’re in a committed same-sex relationship. But my pastor knowing about my home life has helped in more ways than I can count.

5. Embrace your differences. Whatever your differences may be, embracing each other is Christ-like. I’m no theologian, but disagreement didn’t stop Jesus from approaching people. I think of Mark 2 when Jesus dined with tax collectors, John 4 when Jesus talked with a Samaritan woman, John 8 when Jesus encountered the accused woman.… Whatever you think of these stories, Jesus did meet and talk with these people. We too should strive to work with all people without first checking their beliefs.

6. Separate work and personal life. It’s one thing for fellow staff to know about your personal life, but another for them to be a part of it. I have never joined a church I served. Joining a church as a member while working on staff can create conflicts. This isn’t true in every situation, but there comes a time where you’ll be thankful to represent yourself as a paid member of staff, and not a member of the congregation. In formality you are still an employee of an organization. I don’t check work emails from home unless I’m working from home, and I don’t get work emails on my iPhone. I know a very gentle, non-confrontational Pastor who, in a session meeting, was told “As a Pastor you are to be on call for members 24/7.” He delivered an eloquent speech explaining how that claim is false. Everyone needs time away from the office, even if the office is a church. See Exodus 20: 8-11.

7. Have a “line” and know what to do when the line is crossed. Decide which disagreements can be swept under the rug, which are worth fighting for, and which are worth leaving for. As a gay organist, I have no problem serving in a church that does not bless same-sex weddings. If my Pastor ever preached against homosexuality I would log into ONCARD and start the job search. Determine a course of action for yourself if you’re forced into awkward situations. How will you handle a homophobic comment from a prominent church member? Do you address your concerns, smile and nod, or run away screaming? I hope it’s not the latter.

8. Remember why you serve. I was a Music Education major as an undergrad. One of our first assignments was to develop a personal “Philosophy of Education;” what we believed about teaching and learning, why we wanted to be teachers, etcetera. To find meaning in your work it’s important to know why you’re doing what you do. It’s especially important if your position or salary ever comes into question. My purpose in serving as a church organist is simple: to lead people in praising God. The wording is intentionally abstract; it’s not limited to a specific genre of music or instrumentation and it doesn’t limit me to a specific audience. Theological disagreements don’t inhibit my ability to lead worship through music and thus such disagreements take a back seat to the task at hand.

I once heard a story about a senior pastor interviewing candidates to serve as executive secretary at a large suburban church. One of the final candidates, whose previous experience was largely in law offices and government roles, was asked “Why are you compelled to serve in this role, at this place?” The candidate’s answer: “I’ve been looking for a more peaceful, more relaxed, less political place to work!” You can probably guess – that candidate was not hired. Churches are political places and Jesus was political. Navigating difficult situations is part of being a Christian. As church musicians we have the unique responsibility of serving as influential leaders in worship without the ability to preach as ordained clergy. It’s up to each of us to find balance between our own beliefs and those of the church we serve.

– Monty Moniker, Southeast Guest Columnist

Greetings from the North Central AGOYO. This month we are focusing on American Organ Music! American organ music is unique in its origin and exciting in both tone and color. The following American composers’ compositions provide excitement to American organ literature.

Nineteenth Century

• Arthur​ ​Foote​ ​helped found The American Guild of Organists and served the AGO as its National Honorary President. The majority of his compositions are written in the chamber music genre, however organists are fortunate that Foote wrote this interesting work for the King of Instruments. ○ Recording (Oriental Sketch, Op. 41, No. 5)
• Dudley​ ​Buck​ ​taught organ in Hartford, Connecticut with a medium sized organ and later relocated to Chicago. The great Chicago fire later burned both the church and his studio. After the fire he focused more on composing. His Concert Variations on the Star Spangled Banner provide a unique flare to an American favorite. ○ Recording ​ ​(Concert Variations on the Star Spangled Banner)

Twentieth Century to the Present

• Leo​ ​Sowerby​ ​starting composing at the young age of ten. Later at age fifteen Sowerby developed in interest in the organ. “Comes Autumn Time” is one of Sowerby’s well known works and is based on Bliss Carman’s poem “Autumn.” This piece has also been arranged for orchestra. ○ Recording​ ​(Comes Autumn Time)
• William​ ​Albright​ ​studied in Paris with Olivier Messiaen. This study influenced his composing and resulted in his works having both tonal and non-tonal colors. The Jig for Feet is an exciting work for pedal solo. ○ Recording (Jig for the Feet, from Organbook III)
• Daniel​ ​E.​ ​Gawthrop​ ​is more widely known as a choral composer, however and Gawthrop’s previous organ study has helped him become a strong proponent of music for the solo organ. Each movement in Gawthrop’s O Jerusalem is based on a verse of scripture from the book of Isaiah in the Bible’s Old Testament. The first movement displays exciting rhythmic drive, the second movement is peaceful and slow. The third is humorous in nature and the Finale concludes the work with virtuosic flare. (O Jerusalem–Symphony No.1 for Organ) ○ Recording (Allegro) ○ Recording (Largo) ○ Recording (Scherzo) ○ Recording (Finale)

For more information on Nineteenth-century organ music please see the following by Barbara Owen: Nineteenth-century American concert organ music.

A lot of us in the job market really struggle with narrowing down what we want out of our job and how we know what job posting might be right for us. Check out this Forbes article that can help you determine what you want out of your career in the church. While it mostly focuses on career change, there’s a handy little fill-in-the-blank section in the middle of the article that is designed to help you focus your career goals. What do you want most from a position? What are deal breakers for you? What are your strengths? Weaknesses? These are all questions we need to ask ourselves when approaching a job listing or even our current position!

9 questions that will help you find your dream career.

Hello from the West region! This year we will be posting about everything from professional development, planning events, organ repair and maintenance, and self care! We hope to cover a broad range of topics that will help us all grow and develop, regardless of where we are in our present careers.

Church Organist Shortage (Baltimore Sun)

Greetings from Southwest AGOYO! This year, we will be featuring posts about how to maneuver in our job market. From dealing with congregations and clergy, to the best way to prep for an interview with a pastor, to knowing when it’s time to move to a new church position, we have you covered! We are looking forward to sharing insights with all of you as we transition from college to the workforce or within the workforce itself.

–Logan Herod