I'm the poster in question. I'm speaking of parishes. Yes, there are some but I am speaking in general terms. Children's choirs are very rare in parishes. Every one that exists deserves support.

I'm not sure how I missed this thread, but it's timely indeed. I'm currently being hit over the head with the "we don't have enough music ministry opportunities for our young people" club.

Each year for the last two I've tried to establish an RSCM America-based chorister program for boys and girls ages 7 and up. Since the program has never grown, the question of what to do with the changed boys versus the girls never became an issue.

The group struggled from week to week and Mass to Mass with consistency in attendance, and given that the group was extremely small, morale became a serious issue. 6 singers, reduced to 3 for Mass due to absences, doesn't make for a particularly positive experience, especially when they've worked so hard to learn an anthem and other materials.

I'm being told that I'm not doing enough to recruit and promote. I need to attend all of our religious ed classes (which currently meet every night of the week, with different age groups meeting on different nights and different times), I need to call or text young people personally, I need to print flyers, and on it goes. I'm also being told that the kids need a better "mix of music" (read, "give 'em sacro-pop, not chant).

The difficulties I think revolve more around differences of opinion and understanding of philosophical principles of music programs for young people than around deficiencies in recruiting and retention techniques.

I was intrigued to read an article over at CNP by Gary Penkala titled, "A Youth Choir: Does Your Parish Have One?" He mentions joining the Chorister's Guild, but not Pueri Cantores or RSCM, and working to form childrens' understanding of liturgical ministry as well as tastes in music. But then he says that we need to include music from today's liturgical composers (contemporary? Does he mean Haugen and Haas?) as well as the masters.

We all recognize that there's a huge hole in most parish music programs, but the question becomes what do we do about it that is both effective, enduring and consistent with the move toward orthodoxy in music that we're working so hard for?

I know I'm at my wit's end on this subject. I keep being asked to do more to build the program for the "youth" but I'm never given any kind of basis for the mandate or indeed any clues on how to make it happen. I often feel that I'm making bricks without straw.

Kathy, it sounds wonderful. Where do you find Jubilate Deo Mass? Is there a seperate book I can purchase, or does CMAA have free download? I'm starting a children's schola next week with homeschooling children. I told the parents from the beginning that we will be focusing on Gregorian chant because it's most liturgical, an important part of Church tradition and teach them how to sing properly. I also told them the pop style music actually don't help them to sing properly and can even damage their singing voices, which I believe is true.

The St Cecilia Schola has it on their website in several easy to use formats:

http://www.ceciliaschola.org/notes/jubilatedeo.html

I just went to the school Mass (Latin OF) a while back for my birthday, here at OLOA in San Antonio. The school choir is phenomenal---I still remember the Kyrie, well, sort of.

We use a combination of Pueri Cantores & RSCM materials. I still believe that
RSCM's "Voice for Life" offers a wealth of good ideas. The value of Pueri Cantores
is that your choir can join with other Catholic children's choirs for a very positive
experience. We went to the Pueri Cantores Festival in San Francisco last November. We rented a bus. We had as many parents as children! John Romeri
and Chris Tietze where excellent!!! All around it was a very positive learning
as well as "marketing" opportunity. Our school principal, who has been supportive, and our Pastor, who is very actively involved were both there. This
fall, after planting seeds for four years, the choir will rehearse twice a week
during the school day!!!! Last year grades K-3 had 30 minutes one afternoon
after school and Grades 4 + rehearsed one morning at 7:15 AM!!! Hardly ideal.
But have a dream, make a long range plan and try to get the parents actively
involved- so that it becomes their tradition, not just something the director wants.
Work, never stop studying and pray!!! The Holy Spirit will take care of the rest.

I know this particular post I quote is old, but this:

[to recurit singers] I need to attend all of our religious ed classes (which currently meet every night of the week, with different age groups meeting on different nights and different times), I need to call or text young people personally, I need to print flyers, and on it goes.

ought to be part of the, "is a few Masses a weekend and a couple rehearsals a full time job" conversation over at TNLM.

(Save the Liturgy, Save the World)

Kevin,I just got from the Pueri Cantores' seminar in Chicago last week, and ate it up. It looks like a fantastic organization, and I'm hoping in a couple years I can get some kids from my school to go to one of the events. I was very impressed with the leadership at the seminar, as well as the creative strategies offered.

Outline what the repertoire is, I'm interested in understanding what you are doing, Dale.

It's very impressive. How old are the children? Do they also learn to sing Goregorian Kyriale?

Thank you for your much appreciated comments as I labor as a "musical missionary" in this diocese! The children are ages 7 - 15. They sing once a month at the Saturday Vigil Mass and the older ones sing also once a month with the adults at the Sunday 11:00 Mass which has more music and ritual i.e. incense and the propers sung to simple Gregorian chant tones. Many of these children haave sung with me in years past when I taught at the local private Catholic school. There we sang the Ordinary of the Mass in Latin to Gregorian Chant in its original notation. Also we prepared choral literature for the school Mass. This summer we had our first choir camp for a week. This was 3 hours each morning of singing and somewhat listening to and discussing the development of Catholic liturgical music. We sang each day for the noonday Mass.

I know this is an older thread, but I totally echo the request for something at the Colloquium that would equip and inspire the teaching of sacred music to children and youth.

Whoo hoo, Kevin, how exciting! I look greatly forward to hearing how it all goes. And I echo your comments about Pueri Cantores; I hope we can get started with that program in this diocese soon. I know something is in the works now, but I can't divulge much more information yet. :)