From: Jerry Cornish [mailto:jerry@eastridgepark.com]
Sent: Wednesday, September 20, 2017 5:13 PM
To: Heather Dobrott
Subject: Re: EPCC Music Ministry
Heather,
Thank you, thank you for these good comments. I have been coming to some of the same conclusions and find your insights right on target.
My family is rushing out the door and we have one car so I'd like to talk more with you about it.
In short,
I always come out ahead when I take your advice and I plan to do that now.
You see things clearly. I'm planning now how to make adjustments at the last minute when the plan isn't coming together. The songs are scheduled way ahead of time, usually, and I need to have some ways to evaluate and bail out when there are late changes such as players who are absent from rehearsals too much and singers who can't or don't show up for the performances.
You are my best counselor and feedback person. Please, please considering going through this thinking with me. And postponing the break if I can convince you to consider it. This could be my chance to change for the better for the benefit of the church,
especially with your experience and reality thinking as input.
Jerry
On Wed, Sep 20, 2017 at 4:21 PM, Heather Dobrott <
hdobrott@gmail.com> wrote:
Dear Jerry,
I wanted to let you know that I will be taking a break from the music ministry at EPCC. The bell choir playing on Sunday was just too much. I am not willing to perform, make an offering or share music with the congregation (call it what you will) when the group doing the piece is woefully unprepared. Much of the time that seems to be the case lately. We are doing music that we can barely get through. The comments in the hall revolve around talk of train wrecks, not knowing the pieces very well, and folks questioning if we are really ready to do the things we are doing.
The joy in making music is not there for me anymore. This is just very stressful and exhausting. I guess I just don’t understand why we are not doing music that will allow these groups to shine and really working the pieces until most of the group is secure in their parts and truly able to enjoy the music. In my many years of performing, I have never been in a choir like this. I am totally burned out. I feel like I am nothing but a huge detriment to the ministry at this point.
This was a choir filled with love and acceptance and I was thrilled to be there. But, things have just continued to go downhill since David R
. left. I feel like we are not making joyful and humble offerings, but rather going from train wreck to train wreck. I tried to offer some help, but things are just not working and I can’t take the stress. I plan to keep in touch with the many wonderful people I have met in this ministry, but I am not sure that I will return except to turn in my music. It is so heartbreaking to consider leaving as so many have, but I give up.
Sincerely,
Heather Dobrott