As mentioned in another thread.

I was interested in a some sort of award system, as it helps me, the kids and especially the parents keep track of what is being learnt.
Usually when children are learning music, playing an instrument etc, they are taking grade exams with some accreditation body. This helps the parents know they are making progress. The children I have coming to schola at the moment are from religiously practising families, who appreciate the religious content of what we do. But I am trying to attract children from less religiously committed families, so have been thinking about ways to package what I do to make it more appealing. Having an award/exam system is part of that effort, as is offering scholarships, so the monetary value of what is actually being given to the child is understood and appreciated. (Everyone qualifies for a scholarship ;-)
I came across this scheme Voices for life by RCSM which is a very attractive scheme. For me it has two drawbacks - it is coming from an Anglican rather than Catholic perspective, (though I think they are open to any and all denominations using the scheme), and they are using modern notation as the basis for their study.
Having read their materials for their level one award, I put together my own list of ideas to form an award, though I think their various modules are a useful basis and capture much of what one would want to do.


I note the following:
My schola is for 6-9 years old, they leave at end of year when they are ten.
We have 5 terms - St Gregory term, Mater Dei term, St Thomas Aquinas Term, St Patrick term, Corpus Christi Term. The work on saints relates to the term we are in, and could be an adaptable element, could also include Parish or national patrons, musical saints , personal patrons etc. etc. The saints sheets consists of a colouring picture, a one page bio, or piece of writing from the saint, they write a prayer to the saint to pray for themselves.
Our schola does not sing a Mass, thought we are following Jubilate Deo and learning pieces to prepare to be able to sing a Mass, musical choices reflect this, We do sing at Adoration, so for example this term , being St Thomas term we learnt Adoro Te devote. I think there could be a selection of pieces for each choir level which would allow directors latitude to pick pieces suitable for their situation.
As with the Voices for life scheme, assessment is not done by external examination or all at once. The kids have a copy of the requirements, and as they complete elements it gets signed off for them. Some elements are just a matter of accruing sufficient time coming to choir, others are assignments completed at home.
Elements requiring examination are done before or after class from time to time, as they express themselves ready. There is no pressure, if I feel the element is not ready yet I encourage them in their work so far, I might help them see what further work needs to be done (though usually they know this themselves) and express excitement that they are nearly there and I can't wait to hear it again soon!

our kids have schola jumpers (and robes). Our local guiding association has a Church music merit badge, which has a picture of Gregorian chant, and I purchased some of these for use. With the simple addition of a Roman numeral, and by sewing them on with different coloured threads, the badges can be transformed into different coloured levels.

Here is the badge: See the one called 'Church Music'

Weaknesses and areas that need work still:

I am happy enough with the elements concerning participation, learning things about choir, saints, adoration etc.
1 )My concern is about the musical elements which is my weakest area. So far, because my schola are all beginners, I am happy with very simple elements, but to develop this to have ore levels would take more expertise than I have.
2) I have found the Ward method very helpful, and wonder is there learning elements there which could become part of the award scheme, but don't want to make it unusable for teachers not using Ward, and also I am only learning that stuff myself, so work to be done there.
3) There are other teaching materials out there - Words with wings, Noels books, etc; could they be included in some way as options? or as suggested resources?
4) The RCSM scheme offers a teachers book as a guide for Directors, and a nice book for the student, which ncludes worksheets etc. I would like to get this scheme to the stage where is could be presented as a package like that, with the director choosing from among various elements, and the appropriate Students pages being downloadable. The choir could then have their folders, with their work for the term / year assembled in order, to follow in class or at home as homework.
5) It would be nice to be able to jazz it up, with a website, and maybe even formal accreditation or links with somebody?, all the material for teachers and students downloadable for free, links to other useful sites, practice videos etc, maybe even a shop to sell the badges if we got so fancy as to design our own!

I know there are lots of people doing music with kids in parishes here without support of any kind, and without training themselves, so the quality is problematic, and the Church's vision for music not well understood. The more this scheme could become a starting point and support for people like that the better.

I attach:
A Pdf of my list so far - Elements in the left column, ideas of assessment method on the right.

Some of the homework sheets, also the musical elements we are covering in class as we study chant together, which form the basis of the musical learning for the level one award.

(Please these are rough drafts, I have borrowed some elements/ideas from other peoples resources, or put them together myself.)

I would welcome feedback - help - expressions of interest - large amounts of funding (just kidding) - any other useful contribution you might make.
Would anyone be interested in developing this further and trialing it?

Regards
Bonniebede.