Why I Volunteer

START A CHOIR

Why I Volunteer

July, 2005

Interview with Carrie Szermeta, volunteer pianist for the New Richmond United Methodist Church, Pennsylvania.

EPK: Carrie, you have said that you volunteer your music services for your church and that you prefer it that way even though your church has offered to pay you. Why?

CS: I prefer to volunteer my services for three reasons;

#1. I can play whatever I want to play and however I want to play it. If someone complains, I can say "you get what you pay for."

#2. I am a member of the church I play for. My services are part of my tithe.

#3. I am less nervous about playing when I volunteer.

EPK: How long have you been involved in your music volunteering?

CS: 18 years.

EPK: How many members are there in your church?

CS: Around 120

EPK: Does your church have a choir? If so, is the choir director paid? And do you accompany the choir?

CS: Yes, we have a choir. The director is not paid and yes, I accompany the choir unless I have to work...then, my sister accompanies the choir.

EPK: How often are you the organist/pianist? If you aren't the full-time organist/pianist, are the other musicians paid?

CS: No musicians are paid. My sister plays the organ and I play the piano. When I have to work, they just have organ music.

EPK: How often does your choice of music clash with congregants? and why?

CS: Some want only church music played in church. I feel that all music expresses an emotion of some kind. I use my music for emotional release and find church to be an emotional time. Most of the time, the congregants are happy with what I play. Our last minister told our new minister to "let Carrie play what she feels like playing...it will be easier for you that way."

EPK: Your statement, "You get what you pay for"--Does that mean you feel you provide an inferior product or just a product that wasn't chosen by that person?

CS: I don't feel that I provide an inferior product. I just feel that if I'm volunteering my services, that I should be able to select the music I want to play. If I'm being paid, I must play what I'm told to play. I get enough of that at work.

EPK: Is it your pastor or hard-line parishioners that complain?

CS: Some pastors have complained; others understand and accept. The parishioners complain sometimes, but they are usually trying to make some other kind of point...you know, small church in-fighting and politics. I sometimes send them a message with what I choose to play. I even wrote a song once to convey the message.

EPK: How did you get started? Did someone ask you?Were you manipulated into the job? or Did you talk to the pastor at that time or whoever was doing the music and volunteer your services?

CS: My sister asked me; she was also working weekends at the time and needed my help.

EPK: Are you glad you took the job?

CS: Most of the time it is a job that I enjoy. Music is the best way for me to connect all three aspects of my spirit, ie. thinking, feeling and willing. Once in a while, it would be nice to have a Sunday off. Either I'm getting up for work at the hospital or church every Sunday (our church starts at 0930 hours).

Carrie, thank you for volunteering--both for your church and for sharing your thoughts and feelings about volunteering with us.

Thank God For Music,

Evelyn Pursley-Kopitzke,

Start A Choir Producer

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