Who are Adscensio Music Lessons for? 

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We mainly serve musicians who want to use their musical talents for service in sacred environments. While the core musical expertise of our instructors comes in the context of the Catholic Mass, we especially welcome ecumenical friends who desire to serve in other Christian or spiritual areas.  

*All lessons are offered virtually via live video conference.

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If you are not interested at all in church music leadership, we can still serve you with a rich musical foundation. However, depending on your goals, we may refer you to a partner music lesson organization that is an even better fit for what you hope to accomplish.  Trust us – we have some great colleagues and contacts to make sure that even if Adscensio isn’t right for you, you’ll get referred to the right people.  

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How are we thinking differently about music lessons?

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In these unprecedented times of COVID-19, we need to reimagine how art can bring the world together and emotionally heal us even when we need to physically distance ourselves.  

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The landscape of music performance has changed with shelter-in-place. We have seen a dramatic increase in audio and music video recordings which people do at home, especially with sacred music. It’s clear that being tech savvy in the basics of music recording and sharing is now essential. 

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Once live performances start to open again, opportunities will still be limited due to social distancing requirements. This is especially true in Catholic church environments. With the deep economic impact caused by the coronavirus, many church musicians have lost their jobs. When the need for live music ministry returns, the church will need the best music leaders to confidently take charge in highly visible roles, both in person and through live streamed prayer. 

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With this in mind, Adscensio Music is pleased to incorporate 10% of each music lesson (unless opted out of by student) to incorporate music leadership and recording skills. The specific skills for these leaders in the context of the Catholic Mass include: 

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-Non-verbal cues for piano accompanists when working with other musicians during Mass 

-The spirituality of the cantor and how it is expressed through musical approach, even when just         on camera 

-The cantor as ensemble director 

-Leading an assembly in song, whether in person or virtually 

-Managing music set lists for the Catholic Mass 

-Understanding how to choose good repertoire for a Catholic Mass, and why sacred music matters     in the real world 

-Interacting positively with ensemble members and the church team 

-Using technology to stay organized across multiple people in your ensemble 

-Using creative thinking to re-imagine what church music looks like 

-Making recordings of your own music to share with others 

-Making your own sheet music to share with others and publish 

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These are the skills that will help set you apart as a strong and credible music leader. When you combine these with a solid technical music foundation, you will be well equipped to lead the way in a music making landscape that is being redefined right now.  

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