Minimum Fees for Church Musicians - 2008
Normal weekly duties
Fee for 48 Sundays
[see (b) below]
| Band A | One Service / Mass, no choir | €3,063 |
| Band B | One Service / Mass, choir with a Sunday rehearsal | €4.083* |
| Band C | One Service / Mass, choir with a weekday rehearsal | €5,106* |
| Band D | Two Services / Masses, no choir | €5,106* |
| Band E | Two Services / Masses, choir with a Sunday rehearsal | €6,586* |
| Band F | Two Services / Masses, choir with a weekday rehearsal | €7,964* |
The amounts above are the minimum suggested fees in 2007 for trained and competent church musicians who are willing to undertake appropriate in-service training.. Factors such as level of qualifications, length of service, responsibility for a junior choir and the amount of administrative work involved should also be taken into consideration.
*These fees relate to a combined organist/choir director position. Where the positions are shared between two people as choir director and organist, it is suggested that each should receive 75% of the appropriate fee with the implication that the total cost to the parish will be 50% higher than the rates above.
WEDDINGS AND FUNERALS
Where a church has an appointed organist it is normal practice to pay him/her the appropriate fee when the marriage couple/family wish to engage an organist of their choice. The implementation of this principle requires flexibility so as to avoid misunderstanding and unfair criticism of musicians. It is recommended that each church should have a worked out policy in this matter, agreed in advance between clergy and musician.
Weddings
The minimum suggested fee is €200, but should be higher when the musician is required for a rehearsal or when music has to be purchased or learned.
Funerals
The minimum suggested fee is €110 for one service; €160 when music also is provided at a service in church on the eve of a funeral. Travelling expenses, 78c per km, may be paid where appropriate. (The Association of Funeral Directors has been informed of these rates.)
OTHER GUIDELINES
(a) Fees should be reviewed annually by reference to pay inflation and national pay agreements.
(b) Church musicians should be entitled to at least four Sundays off each year and the parish should pay the deputy for those Sundays. The responsibility for finding a deputy should be primarily that of the musician.
(c) Musicians should be allowed two Sundays sick leave in any one year, for which period the parish will meet the cost of a deputy.
(d) The minimum suggested rate for deputy work is €69 for the first service on any day and €47 for each subsequent service.
(e) A written contract should be entered into, outlining the terms and conditions of service and listing the duties, including the festivals other than Sundays, for which the musician is required.
(f) Additional payment should be made for duties over and above those set out in the contract.
(g) Church authorities should reimburse expenses incurred by church musicians - such as choir music, postage and stationery – within an agreed budget.
(h) Church authorities should encourage and expect musicians to attend appropriate courses (in music, liturgy, theology, etc.) in Ireland and elsewhere at least once every three years and should contribute towards the cost, recognising the benefit accruing to both the parish and the musician from continuous professional development.
(March 2008)
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