I have a group of grade school kids for 20 minutes once a week; there's no way I'd attempt to learn Ward for that. We started with WWW's in September this year, and so we've only been through the first 5 chapters, but so far it is perfect for the level of interest, commitment, and enthusiasm that the kids have.

Each level in the Ward Method takes only 5 days of study. Most teachers take the training in the season prior to when they would begin teaching.

The main difference between the two methods is that the Ward Method is complete musical formation (including Gregorian chant and Catholic formation), while Words with Wings is an introduction to chant. Do you want your students to understand how to read music? Do you want your children to sing the intervals involved in the chant? Do you want your students to learn chironomy and the rhythm themselves? Do you want your students to compose? Do you want your students to learn both Gregorian notation as well as modern notation? If you said yes to the previous questions, Ward would be the way to go. The 5 day training is indeed intense- but doesn't the music of our church deserve it? Don't our children deserve it? Words with Wings is a step for some. Some of us are in the place to take the leap of faith.

Children becoming familiar to chant is a wonderful thing. 5 days of study surely is not long, and many (full!) scholarships are available to study Ward. The teacher's materials are also included and students at schools/churches do not need to purchase any materials. Ward can be virtually free to study and implement.

That being said, in 1924 13,000 teachers held a Ward diploma, 500,000 children were trained by these teachers, and the method was in 45 states, Canada, the Philippines, and more than 60 religious communities. (From Justine Ward and Solesmes by Combe p. 32) Surely Mrs. Ward not only wanted children exposed to chant but to have them implement it in the liturgy.

Finally, a point I forgot to make: One of the most beneficial aspects of Ward is the teaching of proper vocal technique. The children that are trained in this method have a resonant, flute-like quality- perfect for chant.

Salieri-
The wonderful thing about Ward training is that all you need to begin is a good sense of pitch. All the other details are taught in the training. I'm sure your theater background is great for classroom management and positive energy!

For rehearsals and scheduling, it is probably best to see when the group can and is willing to meet. If they are gung-ho and parents want to drive, shoot for a few times a week. If parents have other obligations and the distance is too far, do one rehearsal and you could send things home to work on. There are workbooks that are available for Ward. You could also make your own worksheets, etc. Ideally you want to meet as often as you can for proper reinforcement of vocal skills. With supportive parents at home, they can assist.

For Ward, the basis is in the Solesmes tradition (Mocquereau). However, also included is traditional folk music, classical music, etc. The students are grounded in a strong musical formation and are very pliable with regards to music. (ie- Our choir performed a musical theater selection recently and they did great.) Intervals, rhythmic counting (ictus, etc.),and chironomy are all included in Ward training for the teachers and the students.

God bless!

Thanks everyone.

I'm going to order Words with Wings, have a parousal, and see if that will fit the bill; and I will certainly look into the Ward Center at CUA and see if they offer any summer programs.

I'm trained for Ward method, but I see children only once a week in a parish school (for about 40 minutes), so it's not easy to use only Ward method. 'Words with Wings' has been a great joy with the children in my classes. It's been working very well for the children from 3rd grade through 8th grade, as well as a mixed group of homeschool children's schola that I've been directing for 5 years. Amazing thing is that both beginners and advanced chanters in the schola are learning this together very well (while the two groups have separate times for learning chants for Masses.)

At the school, I usually spend the first half of the class on sacred music and the other half on secular music. We also talked about the different singing styles and the attitude of reverence in singing sacred music. The book starts with the emphasis on sacred texts. It was amazing to see how they catch on instantly and started to sing Psalms beautifully. I'm thinking maybe I should use some lessons from Words with Wings to adult schola too. ( I also love the title of the book.)


This week we are learning to sing Litany of Saints in Latin, lessons 4 and 5. (had fun guessing saints' names in Latin.)

Thanks for the wonderful book, Mr. Brouwers and Arlene for the translation.

Ok, I admit that I went to the Ward site and found that I can take a week long course without certification (hardly an issue since no one's going to insist on it in today's chant climate) for $600 tuition in San Antonio, TX, which has to be less expensive than going to Washington - I did not find the cost for a week long course in Washington, but woudl be interested in knowing what it costs.

I have always been very impressed by the Ward Method and Wings, being built upon it but two very talented people very qualified to create such a course, it can only create more teachers who will want to go on and do Ward as well.

So these two satisfy a desperate need. I am thoroughly convinced that WINGS at the Catholic Music Educators convention which is attended by people who run and spend the money at Catholic Schools, would be very successful. It could easily be funded and used by the after-school program for children of working parents which exist in Catholic schools almost everywhere. Once funded there, it would be easy to move into the main course of music study in the school.

While the tuition at CUA is high, scholarships are available for the course; when Angela and I took the course, one student was there on a full tuition waiver.

Carl D, I'd be most interested in that!

The Ward certification, much like Orff and Kodaly, is sequential. Observation of the teachers does occur, and advanced levels are offered when needed. This past summer Ward II at CUA was offered and was quite successful. The Gregorian Chant Practicum was obviously a huge success as well. The most amazing part is that Ward I had the most participants that anyone can remember. The rooms had to be changed and it still was packed. What a blessing! I can imagine two classes of Ward I if that rate keeps up. God bless all of you teaching chant to our children.