SOUNDBOARD - A Newsletter for Church Musicians

SOUNDBOARD is the newsletter published by the Church Music Committee. The complete archive of back issues is now available on-line. Each issue contains articles written by church musicians and features such as notes and news, hints and tips and of course the organists’ crossword.

Getting Started

If you’re just starting out as an organist be sure to read Surviving your First Year as a Church Organist and Naughty Tips for Novice Organist. Do you need some assistance in choosing the music? The ‘Top Ten’ series provides some suggestions for Introductory, Recessional, Wedding and Funeral Voluntaries. There are also Some Suggestions for Lent and Easter Music and Anthems for Harvest and Christmas. 

Share Your Experiences 

Compare your experiences with that of others in the 'Church Music in…' series which over the years has visited many churches including Leeson Park,  Castleknock & Clonsilla Parish, Christ Church Cathedral Waterford, Christ Church Dun Laoghaire, Howth, Monkstown Parish, Rathfarnham, St Patrick’s Dalkey and the Unitarian Church, Dublin. Do you do things differently in your church? Why not be the one to write the next article in this series.

Congregational Singing and Choir Training

Have you ever asked yourself Where are the Singers? or are Paid Singers in Parish Churches the answer? You'll also find advice on Promoting Young People's Participation in Congregational Singing and How to Promote Good Standards of Hymn-singing.

Something for Organists of All Abilities

Are your voluntaries listened to and appreciated? You'll find advice on this and many other aspects of Music in Worship in articles such as Introductions are so important and Where are your music records? 

How Pipe Organs Work

Have you ever wondered What’s Inside a Pipe Organ? Read A Short Description of Pipe Organs or dig deeper to find out about The Pipes of the Organ: Diapasons, Slider Soundboards or Organ Ciphers. Find out just what it takes to maintain organs in the article Tuning Organs and for an organ builder's perspective on some of the organs in Ireland see Organs — Good, Bad and Indifferent.

Pipe Organs in Churches and Elsewhere

Not all organs are in churches; see some of the organs installed in houses around Ireland in our House Organs series. If that makes you jealous then read Own Your Own Pipe Organ to find out what you can achieve with the help of a little technology, or find out how one organist enhanced a pipe organ in Two-manual Organ + Keyboard = Three-manual Organ!

Personalities in the Dublin Music Scene

Over the last few years we've interviewed many of the personalities in the Dublin church music scene as part of the 'Talking to...' series. Catch up on all the interviews here: Alison Young, Barbara Dagg, David Adams, David Leigh, Eric de Courcy,  Dr Harry Grindle, Hilary Dickinson Guter, Mervyn Cooper, Peter Barley and Tristan Russcher.

Training Courses 

We encourage church musicians to seize every opportunity for in-service training. Read about how much they have enjoyed the experience in articles such as Sing a New Song to the Lord, Courses for Organists, Learning to Conduct — in Cork,  RSCM Summer Course for Organists and The Charles Wood Summer School. 

The Future of SOUNDBOARD Depends on You

Future editions depend on you providing the articles for publications. Submit your articles to the editor Randal Henly. You don't have to live in Ireland. Why not be the first international contributer to SOUNDBOARD?

The SOUNDBOARD Archive

• May 2008 : Soundboard No. 16
• November 2007 : Soundboard No. 15
• March 2007 : Soundboard No. 14
• October 2006 : Soundboard No. 13
• June 2006 : Soundboard No.12
• March 2006 : Soundboard No.11
• October 2005 : Soundboard No.10
• May 2005 : Soundboard No.9
• December 2004 : Soundboard No.8
• June 2004 : Soundboard No.7
• January 2004 : Soundboard No.6
• June 2003: Soundboard No.5
• January 2003: Soundboard No.4
• June 2002: Soundboard No.3
• December 2001: Soundboard No.2
• May 2001: Soundboard No.1