From the back row to the bima

[figmo]

Remember how I complained about the cantorial assistant at Temple Beth Shalom's Rosh HaShanah services?

Apparently a lot of other folks complained, so he's not going to be doing Yom Kippur.

Instead, guess who's chanting the Kol Nidre? Yup. Moi.

Any help/advice/etc. would be most appreciated.

Comments

[cellio]

Wow! I'm jealous. :-)

I assume you've got the music, and you're certainly a seasoned performer in general, so what kind of help/advice are you looking for? Pep talk before getting up in front of the congregation?

[skreeky]

*laugh*
Sounds like "DON'T BE THAT GUY" is a mighty fine start!

[aliza250.livejournal.com]

Congratulations!

Remember to think about *why* you are doing this, and make it a service to G-d, and your congregation, not just something to sing.

Practice. Chant to your cat, your plants, your friends. Don't worry about taking G-d's name in vain - practicing, learning, is one of the quite acceptable reasons for using Those Names outside of prayer.

Think about the people whose davening you've admired - what did they have in common?

If there are tapes or audio files you can listen to, that might help, or harm, depending on how the style matches your own.

Too bad I can't drive down to join your congregation...

[aliza250.livejournal.com]

P.S. I asked my father(*) if he had any advice he would give you; I'll let you know if he has anything to offer.

(*)My father is a (retired) Conservative rabbi with what I've always considered a wonderful classic davening and Torah-reading style. Plain unembellished chanting, but done melodiously and at a pace where you can hear and understand the words.

[tnatj.livejournal.com]

Advice from a goy: Relax. There is only you and the music. Sing from the heart.

[randwolf.livejournal.com]

And, hey, remember to feel good about it--someone thinks you're good enough to do it.

[figmo.livejournal.com]

It's more like "there were so many complaints that they figured a total stranger was a better bet than this guy." I kid you not.

[randwolf.livejournal.com]

Gawwww!

Do good anyway.