I myself, and the group I am working with, have come from the charismatic end of things in the church. We sing a lot, and with enthusiasm, but chant is very new. However, we are moving in that direction. I am looking for help and ideas around the following issue. We are used to our music (mostly at prayer meetings rather than liturgy) being simple enough to sing easily, and to experience a simplicity in using the texts and music conveying what we are thinking and feeling in a simple direct manner. What I mean is , if you are singing something straightforward like 'I love you Lord' it is not too hard to try to pray with your heart what you are singing with your lips.
Then comes chant, which seem to overlay this with several layers of difficulty. Musically, it can be so challenging that the technical performance can absorb ones mind to the exclusion of all else. Textually, there may the barrier to understanding of latin. A bigger issue would be using a psalm text, for example which is prayed with a Christological interpretation, in the name of the whole church, ( as the general intro to the LOTH states.) These sorts of things make the transition to what we are used to in prayerful singing somewhat difficult.
With my childrens schola it is not so much a problem, because, using ideas from the ward method, they are learning chant very simply. They make up their own intercessions or thanksgivings and chant them, and the pieces of chant chosen for them are simpler and more direct in nature.
Now I am thinking of doing a summer school for an older group (young adults) who will be capable of more. (I am not sure I am up to this, but I am up for it).
These kids are by and large past the stage of needing initial evangelisation so talking to them about prayer etc will be fine.
Any thoughts or suggestions you have that would help would be gratefully received. I don't need an essay on the downsides of charismatic renewal movements thanks, cr movements vary widely I have found, and here in Ireland the reform of the reform is being spearheaded by people, (or their children) drawn mainly from that background. (which seems to me to be very logical. CR was one of the very few movements genuinely evangelising and bringing people to conversion. Now as that deepens, the Holy Spirit is opening up the wonderful treasury in the church for deepening that conversion and rooting it more solidly and authentically in the life and traditions of the church.)

Anyhow, how do I answer or advise on questions like these?

How is it praying if a piece of music is so complicated to do, that I have no mental space left to think about what I am singing? ( I can think of one solution, maybe after living as a monk for forty years at Solesmes this solves the difficulty ;-) Not sure how many of the kids will go for that as a solution. Hopefully some will)

Is there a wider framework to consider my personal contribution in, (like the whole church praying with distributed parts ) and how do I make this feel authentic?

Is feel the wrong word or concept? How do I make progress in singing prayer beyond feelings, without feeling like it is going backwards? (Sorry that question is a mess, if you get what I am getting at thanks) Is prayer which engages us emotionally better than prayer which doesn't? (Or not better or worse just different).

In all of this I am presuming that singing chant is a way of praying. How do we practise - should this be considered prayer too? Otherwise are we not developing our ability to chant as if it is not prayer, only to expect at the right moment to switch on that extra component and suddenly it is now praying? (I picture it like practising your piano piece hands separately all the time, and going into the exam expecting to be able to play them together)

Anyway, this is long enough. You probably know better questions and issues than I have enough experience even to imagine. Helpful thoughts and input welcomed please.