Joey Answers the Four Key Questions
You Asked in the Jan. 28 Session 

of the CA Facilitators Program

Hello everyone.

 

The Jan. 28 session of the CA Facilitator Program centered around four key questions about how to successfully get a program going in your community. These four questions were so important, we decided to summarize Joey's response for you below.

 

Let's continue the discussion. Please tell us your thoughts by replying to this email or writing to us at [email protected].

 

Question #1:
"I'm not sure what to do next. What do you recommend?"

 

If you've already decided to start a Rising Song Circle (study group) in your community, we have made that easier and easier to do with the tools we've developed, even to the extent of writing a suggested letter of introduction to your people. You'll find it all in a brand new write-up called "Five Easy Steps to Create a Rising Song Circle in Your Community". 

 

However, as you'll see in the next two questions, creating a Rising Song Circle is not the only way to go!

 

Question #2:
"Why shouldn't I just create my own program to teach nigunim,
creating my own videos, for example?"

 

No reason at all! Most people have told us they don't have the time to develop their own material and syllabi. Rising Song aims to provide rich educational and source materials for busy community leaders, whether it's the 500 videos of the Master Classes or all the textual source materials presented in The Torah of Music. 

 

But you all have the capability to do similar things on your own. Rising Song Circles are designed for people who want to spend most of their time leading sessions and bringing their community together, and not so much time developing material.

 

Another thing I'll say is that we believe there is tremendous value in being part of the larger Rising Song community. We are deeply committed to creating a symbiotic relationship among all of our Rising Song Circles, other subscribers, and all the other musical constituencies that we serve. Our dream is many local communities intimately linked together in a larger purpose.

 

Question #3:
"I don't feel comfortable using an outside syllabus.
I'm used to doing my own."

 

Same answer as #2, except in this case I think you'll find the hybrid approach to be very attractive. Take one of our study guides and use it as a template for developing your own syllabus! Add your own flavor, to whatever extent you have the desire and time for. We still think it will save you loads of time to use our study guides as a starting point. But if you prefer, build your own! (Click here for a sample study guide. It’s the same syllabus we have been using for the CA Facilitators program.)

 

Question #4: 
"I don't feel comfortable asking people to pay $18 per month."

 

Some communities will choose to sponsor their Rising Song Circle, and not ask members to pay anything at all. There are several good models for this, from simply reimbursing your participants for their monthly subscription fees to the synagogue/community making a lump-sum investment, sort of like a virtual "Artist in Residence" program.

 

However, many communities/synagogues do not have the funds for this, so they like the idea that the entire program can be funded directly by the participants, with no investment required by the community at all. They might choose to provide "scholarships" for those who can't afford it.

 

So far, we have not found $18 per month to be much of an obstacle to building membership. And it's the only way we could possibly make all these resources available. If you send out the suggested letter in "Five Easy Steps," you might be surprised at the favorable reception. If not, then you either find a way for the community to fund it or do a program you can do all on your own, as some of you will undoubtedly prefer anyway!

 

*****

 

There you have it. Tell us what other questions you have and we'll respond directly to you, and we'll share those of the most general interest with everyone.

 

This CA Facilitators program has been a grand experiment. Thanks for being a part of it. Please tell us what you think!

 

The Rising Song Team