Developing and Managing a Music Program is unique to music ministry in our congregations. We will assess where our programs are starting and envision our dream programs. We will share strategies for building programs that support our congregations’ missions, incorporate technology to expand our worship outreach, engage in the vital work of anti-racism, and create authentic relationships that foster an inclusive community.
The course will meet online for six 2-hour sessions and include music-making, short writing assignments, information and resource sharing, small-group conversations, a congregational survey, and a capstone assignment to create a roadmap for your program.
This training is sponsored by the UUA’s Music Leadership Certification Program and is open to all music professionals. Please contact mlcertification@uua.org for more information regarding the certification program.
Time to complete: approximately 1.5 – 2 hours per module. Participants must complete the first module and pre-class assignments prior to the first class meeting.
The instructors are Susan Peck and Natasha Steinmacher.
Susan Peck has been a UU musician since 1997, serving a mid-sized congregation in Corvallis, OR, and a small congregation in Hillsboro, OR, as well as working 4 years in a small UCC congregation. She served twice on the UUMN board of directors and filled a handful of musical leadership roles at UUA General Assembly, including Pianist (2006), Choir Director (2008), and Music Coordinator (2015-16). Susan is currently Director of Music at First Unitarian Church of Albuquerque, a church of about 750 members. She completed the Music Leadership Certification Program in 2020.
Natasha Steinmacher has been a professional church musician since 1998 and has served the music ministry at the Unitarian Universalist Church in Cherry Hill for over 20 years. UUCCH is a mid-sized congregation with a vibrant music program that features an adult choir, children’s choir, handbell choir, and a ukulele Band. Natasha served the wider UU denomination as Music Coordinator for the General Assembly 2023-2025 and as Pianist/Choir Accompanist in 2019 and 2009. Natasha is a UUA Certified Music Leader who completed the Music Leadership Certification Program in 2020.
In addition to her work as a UU musician, Natasha teaches piano, voice, and ukulele and is a preschool music teacher.
