YOUTH APPLICATION MMA 2014 July 29 - August 3, 2014 Download this PDF application and fill it out completely. Either type in your responses or handwrite them clearly. Place your photo here. Youth Participant Contact Information First and Last Name: (Check One) Male Female T-Shirt Size: First Name - as you would like it to appear on your Name Badge: Address: (Street Address) (City) (State) (Zip Code) Home Phone: ( ) Student Cell Phone: ( ) Email: (Use CAPITAL LETTERS and type/print clearly. Most correspondence is done through email.) Date of Birth: / / Age: Grade entering fall of 2014: How did you hear about MMA? Have you attended MMA before? If Yes, Years Attended: Parent/Guardian Contact Information Parent s Name: Parent s Phone: ( ) Parent s Email: (Use CAPITAL LETTERS and type/print clearly.) Parish Music Minister or School Music Teacher Contact Information (Check One) Minister Teacher Name: Phone: ( ) Minister/Teacher Email: (Use CAPITAL LETTERS and type/print clearly.) Name of Parish/School where you serve as Music Minister: PAGE 1
Musical/Liturgical Information The following information helps MMA determine your track placement and provides the background information we need to ensure you have a successful week. DAILY MUSICAL TRACKS: A complete listing and explanation of the available tracks can be found under the Daily Track Descriptions page of our website (musicministryalive.com). All students are required to sign up for a specific track that they will participate in throughout the week. Below is a list of the tracks being offered. Please choose one. Vocal/Cantor Keyboard/Organ (specify: Organ Piano ) Guitar (specify: Electric Acoustic Bass ) Percussion/Drums (instrument: ) Brass (instrument: ) String (instrument: ) Woodwind (instrument: ) Flute Composer** (see next page) Liturgical Leadership** (see next page) **If you are applying for either the Composer or Liturgical Leadership tracks, note the additional requirements for application found on page three. PRIVATE LESSONS: (optional) Yes No. MMA offers 40 minute private lessons for all those interested. Each lesson requires an additional $35.00 fee that must accompany your registration. Note: you can choose to take lessons on a different instrument than your primary track. You can also choose to take lessons on more than one instrument. Please indicate what instrument(s)/voice you would like to study for private lesson(s): Please check any and all instruments and ministries you are currently involved in/with: Singer: (choose 1 vocal part) Woodwinds: Soprano Alto Flute Tenor Bass Clarinet (If this section is blank, MMA Oboe will determine your vocal part Saxophone based on your application CD.) Other Keyboard: Piano Organ Synthesizer Guitar: Acoustic Guitar Electric Guitar Bass Guitar Brass: Trumpet Trombone French Horn Other Percussion: Drum Set Other Strings: Other Ministries: Violin Liturgical Dance Viola Lectoring Cello Eucharistic Minister Other Liturgy Planning Other Composer Do you take private Do you read music? lessons? Yes No Yes No From the above, list what you consider your primary instrument (this includes singing/voice). Be sure to include a piece that showcases this on your audition CD: List your secondary instrument and be sure to include a piece that showcases this instrument on your audition CD: Housing/Dietary Information All students attending MMA are required to live on campus for the entire program - no exceptions. Roommate Preference: We will try to accommodate your roommate request; however, we encourage you to be adventurous and consider letting us choose a roommate for you - maybe one from a completely different state (or country)! Special Needs and/or Dietary Requirements: PAGE 2
Liturgical Leadership Track Visit the MMA website (musicministryalive.com) for a full description of this track. Participation in this track is limited to fifteen students. Those interested in applying must meet one of the following two criteria: You must have previously attended MMA - OR - You are applying to MMA for the first time but are entering your second year of college this fall (meaning this would be your only opportunity to participate in the track). Additionally, you must complete the following essay questions. They should be submitted separately from the other application essay questions on page four. Essay responses and the timeliness of your application will have the greatest impact on your acceptance to this track. Question 1: Try to imagine yourself five years from now. Do you see yourself serving the Church? In what ways? What are the steps you will need to take in order to serve the Church in those ways? Question 2: Think about a time when you felt you were given great responsibility; where the success or well-being of a situation or event was dependent on your leadership skills. Please describe this situation in detail and explain how you handled this leadership role. Composer Track Visit the MMA website (musicministryalive.com) for a full description of this track. Participation in this track is limited to eight students. Those interested in applying must submit two liturgical compositions. The first must be a liturgical setting of Psalm 145 as listed below. The form should be refrain, verse, etc., like you would hear during the Liturgy of the Word. The second piece must be a setting of the strophic hymn also listed below. You are welcome to submit other liturgical compositions in addition to these songs listed below. Appropriate song choices would be a gathering song, Psalm, communion song, etc. Send completed and clear musical scores and MP3 versions of both songs along with your application and audition CD. Your score must include melody, text, and piano and/or guitar lead sheets with chords. Choral harmonies and/or descant parts would be helpful, but are not required. Do not send orchestral scores or include obligato parts. Do include copyright information. Psalm 145: (Refrain) The hand of the Lord feeds us; he answers all our needs. (Verse 1) The LORD is kind and full of compassion, slow to anger, abounding in mercy. How good is the LORD to all, compassionate to all his creatures. (Verse 2) The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food in due season. You open your hand and satisfy the desire of every living thing. (Verse 3) The LORD is just in all his ways, and holy in all his deeds. The LORD is close to all who call him, who call on him in truth. The Revised Grail Psalms 2012, GIA Publications, Inc. Used with Permission. Christ Be in Your Senses Christ be in your senses, marked with sacred sign. In the Incarnation flesh became divine. Christ be in your hearing, tune you to rejoice; in each shout or whisper, hear God s calling voice. Christ be in your vision, guard you day and night; keep your feet from stumbling, shine God s holy light. Christ be in your speaking, train your ev ry word. In your daily witness let God s truth be heard. Christ be in your breathing, constantly impart grace to ev ry movement, peace within your heart. Christ be in your senses, marked with sacred sign. In the Spirit s presence, flesh becomes divine. Text 2002, Mary Louise Bringle. GIA Publications, Inc. Used with Permission. PAGE 3
Youth Track Essays Instructions: If you have attended MMA before, be aware that the required essay questions change from year to year. These questions help the admissions committee, team, and staff get to know a bit more about who you are at the time of application, so sending responses from previous MMA years will not serve anyone well. It is important that you answer all questions fully and develop your answers. Your responses should be typed in 12-point standard font (such as Times New Roman or Arial). Include Youth Track Essay Form at the top of your essay page along with your name. Write out each question and type your response below it. All students should answer the first three questions and then answer the additional question that corresponds to your application year. Important: you must mail in your essay responses with your application form. We cannot accept emailed essay responses. Question 1: Tell us who you are: your family background, where you live and go to school, what you are interested in studying, and why you are applying to Music Ministry Alive! Question 2: Tell us about your musical skills. Do you read music or have formal musical training/ education? Do you have experience singing world music or singing in other languages? Do you come from a musical background? What musicians inspire you? Why are you drawn to music? Question 3: The final mission of the liturgy is go in peace gloifying the Lord by your life. When you think about the different ways you have served as a music minister, either in your parish or school, how has your ministry leadership and the songs you have led either helped or hindered this mission? Question 4: Please answer one of the following questions based on your application year. First-year Student: When you think of your musical gifts, what would you like to work on most, if accepted to Music Ministry Alive? Second-year Student: It has been almost a year since your first year of Music Ministry Alive! What insights or skills are still alive and working within you (or not)? Please share an experience. Third-year Student: Having experienced two years of MMA and all that goes with it, and knowing that this year will conclude this chapter in your ministerial formation, how will you push and challenge yourself to not let this year become routine? Will you try a new track or workshop? Will you reach out beyond your group of friends to welcome in our newest members? Take time to write out your response. Recommendation Letters You must submit two recommendation letters with your application. People who know your musical talents should write these letters, such as your music director, pastor, music teacher, or youth minister. Letters from friends, parents (unless they lead your music group), non-liturgical youth leaders, or teachers (other than music/religion teachers) will not be accepted. PAGE 4
Audition CD The audition CD is an important part of the application process and provides MMA with information needed to decide your acceptance. Everyone applying to MMA must submit an application CD containing the appropriate tracks. You will need to go to the MMA website to download the appropriate MP3 files, sheet music, and instructions for creating a CD. Visit the Audition Guidelines page at the following web address to access these files: musicministryalive.com. This song choices for 2014 auditions are Fresh As The Morning by Tony Alonso and My Soul Is Thirsting by Michael Joncas. You may download the MP3 and sheet music files of these songs with permission for the sole purpose of completing your audition. When you complete your audition CD, your copies of these files must be destroyed. There are also placement vocal exercises that need to be downloaded as well. They will aid us in determining your choir placement and in some cases the vocal part you will be singing. Please take your time and read the following instructions carefully as they apply to you. VOCALISTS/CANTORS: You will be singing two vocal exercises for voice placement. There are placement MP3s for men and women. You should only sing as high and low as is comfortable. You will also be singing both Fresh As The Morning and My Soul Is Thirsting for your audition. The MP3 download includes instruction and a spoken count in for ease of use. Please download the PDF version of these songs for your reference. Important: Consider including additional tracks that highlight your gifts, including classical pieces or songs in a foreign language, etc. VOCALISTS/CANTORS WHO ALSO PLAY INSTRUMENTS: Please follow the instructions above AND also include a short piece showcasing your skills on each of the instruments named on your application page 2. INSTRUMENTALISTS: It would be extremely helpful for all instrumentalists to include at the very least either the vocal exercises or one of the included pieces, purely for vocal placement in our Sing choir. Additionally, you will be playing both Fresh As The Morning and My Soul Is Thirsting. Please see the website PDFs for the instrumental part you should play from. We want this to be as user friendly as possible, so either play the melody line or the obbligato part if it has been included. If you are a pianist, download the piano score and play the introduction, verses, and refrains of each of the pieces, as described above. Guitarists, you should play your instrument along with the provided keyboard track. For all instrumentalists, you can include a short piece to further highlight your gifts. INSTRUMENTALISTS WHO PLAY MULTIPLE INSTRUMENTS: Please follow the instructions above and also include a short piece highlighting your instrumental gifts on each instrument you include on your application. INSTRUMENTALISTS WHO ALSO SING: Please follow the instructions above and also include the vocal versions of either Fresh As The Morning and My Soul Is Thirsting along with recorded versions of the vocal exercises. COMPOSERS: Please follow the instructions above as they apply to you, but also include an audio version of your compositions as additional tracks (this can be just a short sample of each piece). IMPORTANT COPYRIGHT INFORMATION: Permission to use these songs has been granted by GIA Publications. Once your application CD is completed, you are required to destroy any copies of the sheet music you made for that purpose. If you would like to purchase full versions of these pieces, please contact GIA directly at giamusic.com. PAGE 5
Final Checklist Included with this application is the following: A neatly printed application form with all questions accurately filled out The BEST email address to reach you at (most correspondence is done via email) A recent photograph of yourself A typed essay form with your name at the top Leadership Track applicants - additional essay form Composer Track applicants - sheet music and recordings for all compositions Peer Minister applicants - additional essay forms (see website for application) An audition CD - clearly labeled with your name A neatly printed listing of the specific songs included on the CD Parental/Guardian consent signature (if under 18 years of age) Two letters of recommendation (must be included, cannot be emailed) $450.oo registration fee (if application received on or before March 15, 2014) $500.00 registration fee (if application received between March 16 - May 10, 2014) $35.00 Private Lesson fee (if applicable) DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS IS MAY 10, 2014 Space is limited, so do not wait until the last minute! All registration fees must be included for your application to be considered for acceptance. You will be notified of acceptance by email no later than May 31, 2014. Complete application forms and mail along with check payable to: Music Ministry Alive! Mailbox #4188 2004 Randolph Avenue St. Paul, MN 55105 Parental/Guardian Consent If you are under the age of 18, your parent or guardian must sign this form. No exceptions. I, grant permission for my child, to participate in Music Ministry Alive!, to be held July 29 - August 3, 2014 at St. Catherine University in St. Paul, MN. Signature: Date: PAGE 6