For the third time in 20 years, I will begin a children's choir program this coming year. Each time I have gone in more significantly deeper direction towards part-singing, reading and notation. In 2005, my last program went to Rome to sing at the Pueri Cantores gathering. They noted the use of chant and polyphony that kids from around the world had sung and were thrilled to be able to do it. My girlchoir (yes, I split them up by gender) got to the point that they could easily sing a NO liturgy or an EF liturgy each week and begged me to let them sing each week, but their parents balked.Yes, they learned to read and sing the propers, just were not allowed to use them.

For this time, as in each before, I have used the Royal School of Church music curriculum, now called Voice for Life. It is not a cheap venture to say the least, but well worth it. The kids progress through a color-coded level process. In addition, I will use the Ward method for chant and notation. This will be the newest component but I believe the easiest, as test work with kids this past summer taught me that four line staves are easier to read for them than five line staves. There is no question that solfege in application to both notational systems will be applied.

In addition, I have assembled a Book of customs for the kids to know. This book is actually a small book regarding how to behave at liturgy, what one does in terms of ritual behavior and preparing to go to Mass (vesting prayers as one puts on one's choir robe,etc). The parents have asked for these as well and proved to be useful all the way around. I have tests on these behaviors and they are part of their progression of the levels.

I do use the ribbon system that RSCM advocates because, like Boy Scouts, we need public signs of our progression in knowledge and ability. I know some find it weighty, but I find the ribbons really encourage the work to get done.

I also heartily advocate splitting by gender. Boys find it much easier to sing with boys and it does not become a "girl" thing to sing. The boys tend to be much happier with themselves. Also, the voices of boy trebles and girl trebles are very different for me.

I will have a choir camp in the summer and begin with a week of long days. But it builds the group. This kind of program takes about 3-5 years to mature, but, hey its time. Also, this will begin the process of reform for the parish. The kids learn Latin while its still "easy" and connect to the larger tradition. Reform is easier with the kids than adults.

Pray for us.
Kevin in Atlanta