Professional Musician?

In the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints we have a lay ministry.

I received my first assignment, or calling, in the church, when I was in high school.  I was asked to teach the Sunbeams (3 year olds) in primary.  Since then, I have had many callings in all the organizations of The Church.

For the past 3 years I have been able to serve as the primary pianist.  I have waited all my life to be able to serve as primary pianist.   Finally after years and years and years of practice and the lack of a more qualified available piano player in our ward, I was called to serve as the primary pianist.

About 1 1/2 years ago Brother Sandoval was called to serve as the primary chorister.   Brother Sandoval LOVES music.  Brother Sandoval LOVES to sing.  Brother Sandoval LOVES children.  Brother Sandoval has had NO musical training, but that doesn't matter because Brother Sandoval was born with musical talent.  Below is a youtube clip of Brother Sandoval, who is a limo driver, singing for one of his clients.  

Like I said, Brother Sandoval hasn't had any musical training.  I have had piano lessons on and off  since I was in the 2nd grade, so I kind of  know how to read and count music, and I know what a measure is, and I even know what a fermata is.

When Brother Sandoval was first called, we got together and I taught him the fundamentals of how to be a primary chorister.  I taught him things like how to figure out if a song has 3 or 4 beats to a measure.  I taught him what an upbeat is.   I even taught him what a fermata is.  And over the past year and a half we have had practice sessions at the church before primary so he can be ready to teach the children the primary songs each week.

I must say,  it has been a  joy to serve with Brother Sandoval.  He is full of  enthusiasm  and is so excited to sing and teach the children their primary songs.   He even has the children, including the  11 year old boys, VOLUNTEERING to sing solos in front of everyone in primary after they had learned a new song.

With that background, I wanted to share the text communication between Brother Sandoval and me this morning:

Bro. Sandoval:  Kathleen I've been practicing "HE SENT HIS SON" I want to review that hymn.  Opening hymn "I LOVE TO SEE THE TEMPLE & we'll finish 3rd verse of "AS A CHILD OF GOD"....THANK YOU KATHLEEN FOR ALL YOUR PROFESSIONAL HELP.

What I wanted to reply:  Professional help?  lol

My reply:  Thanks for the list of songs that we are going to sing today.  I don't know how professional I am.  I guess in the church we are all professionals.  In the church, you too are a professional chorister!