rvisser

One thing I have noticed with older female singers is that moving them from soprano to alto isn't the viable solution that I thought it was (I'm assuming your out-of-tune sopranos are older…

Thanked by 2Roborgelmeister CHGiffen
After 15 years of school Masses, I have come to the conclusion that it is more important to spend rehearsal time on good settings of the Ordinary over whatever hymns or responsorial psalms you are us…

Thanked by 3davido MatthewRoth Abbysmum
@Felicia - I will definitely be including Elgar's "Dream of Gerontius." I reached out to the H.S. English teacher this summer to see if we can tie this in with his literature class. I …

Thanked by 1Felicia
I look forward to seeing what others suggest!
For littles (I'm thinking K-3, maybe 4):
- See Amid the Winter's Snow - older ones can sing the verses, and really young ones can…

Thanked by 1Chant_Supremacist
I think six Sundays off per year is too much. I'm 15 years in as a church musician, and would hesitate to request that much time off. The only years I have had that many weekends off are the one…

Thanked by 1davido
I am curious what suggestions others will have, because I am always looking for ideas for this age group.
A few things I am using this year with my middle schoolers include:
- St. Patri…

Thanked by 2Abbysmum LauraKaz
I have been in a similar situation, although it was with a Catholic music teacher who did not have much knowledge of liturgical music. Here are some things that worked for me. Your mileage may vary.<…

Thanked by 4Roborgelmeister davido irishtenor Bri
I would add hymns for Benediction (O Salutaris and Tantum Ergo) as well as the four Marian antiphons. We often have Benediction for school events, so this has been important to teach the kids. Even i…

Thanked by 6DavidOLGC francis ServiamScores Chant_Supremacist CHGiffen oldhymns
@Chant_Supremacist
"The" is pronounced "thuh" when followed by a word that begins with a consonant. It is pronounced "thee" when followed by a word that begins wi…

Thanked by 8Bri irishtenor Abbysmum LauraKaz GerardH Liam Chant_Supremacist Roborgelmeister
It sounds like you have done some really amazing things with the students in your parish. I have been in this situation before, and it is very difficult! I was the DM (11 years) at a large parish wit…

Thanked by 8StimsonInRehab Dr_Haze PaxMelodious Abbysmum Chant_Supremacist CHGiffen MatthewRoth Bri
I have had great success with Zoom recorders. I have bought several for parishes where I have worked, and currently use the very basic version (it is pretty idiot proof).
https://www.amazon.c…

Thanked by 3Chant_Supremacist Abbysmum CHGiffen
@abbysmum - My Grade 3-4 schola (24 kids) sang for two funerals this school year (by request of the families, who heard them sing for Mass on All Saints Day). I will be using students for future fune…

Thanked by 2CHGiffen Abbysmum
I teach music at a K-8 Classical Catholic school. I have students 2x per week for 45 minutes for Grades 1-8, but Kindergarten is 2x per week for 30 minutes. Additionally, I teach a high school schola…

Thanked by 1LauraKaz
I used dimmable stand lights this year. We sing from the loft and the church was quite dark despite our stand lights.

Thanked by 1Chant_Supremacist
Queen of Peace, Cloquet, MN (NO)

Palm Sunday
Choir - 25 middle school students
Hosanna chant (English)
Procession: All Glory, Laud, and Honor (a cappella during pr…

Thanked by 2CHGiffen tomjaw
Queen of Peace, Cloquet, MN (NO)

Thanked by 3CHGiffen Josaphat1934 tomjaw
@ MarkB - I remember a Cathedral music director telling me (a 20-yr-old college student, at the time) not to pursue a career in church music for the same reasons you listed above. I was a new convert…

Thanked by 2Abbysmum CHGiffen

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Username: rvisser
Joined: April 2022
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