NPM Breakout Sessions

Singing Made Simple - Making the Text Come Alive
This workshop will focus on expressive singing. Participants will learn to interpret and highlight the meaning and spirituality of a text while understanding and conveying the musical line. Janet Natale will present methods and techniques for expressivity, such as articulation, dynamics, intonation, improvisation and text emphasis, and will discuss which methods are most applicable in the various styles of singing. Diction and tone quality will be discussed, with an eye toward the differences between solo singing and choral singing. Using these various aspects of musicality, the singers will be able to imbue the texts they sing with richness, meaning, spirituality and artistry. References to resources for expressive singing and for the spirituality of the singer will be provided.
 
Instrumental Initiative – Ringing for Worship
This workshop will focus on reinforcing basic handbell ringing techniques, correcting bad ringing habits, and exploring the various ways bells can be utilized at liturgy. Additional methods, such as bell weaving and proper mallet technique, will be presented. The presenter will also discuss options for ringing successfully with less than a full choir. He/she will present ideas for using bells in creative ways that set the proper tone to help us pray. This workshop is geared to directors and ringers who are comfortable with playing at least Level Two music. References to repertoire, resources for handbell ringing and the spirituality of the ringer will be provided.

Learning Liturgy – Preparing Communal Prayer Outside of Mass
Mr. Tony Varas will discuss the principles for facilitating community prayer outside of Mass.  He will demonstrate how the principles apply to the preparation of all communal prayer by offering a few specific examples of common Roman Catholic prayer forms.  The discussion will include the historical roots of the prayers along with practical resources to help with their preparation. If you are sometimes asked to prepare the Liturgy of Hours, Tenebrae, Stations of the Cross, Solemn Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, Blessings, Marian Devotions, Taizé Prayer, or other Interfaith Prayer you’ll want to participate!