November 2007
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Ann Keary

I have been an organist and choir director for about eight years but still feel I'm only just learning! The very few times I feel I've got it right certainly helps me to overcome the many times I'm floundering! I hope fellow organists and choir directors can empathise with this.

My experience as a Junior Choir teacher has varied considerably. This is mainly due to fluctuation in numbers. I began with about ten children ranging from 8 to 12 years, most of whom would not have any other musical training. We practised one evening a week for an hour and sang in church at the family service once a month. The rehearsals always begin with loosening and stretching exercises. At that time the choir participated in church only once a month and there was time to teach basic note reading skills. There was also the opportunity to learn the hymns very well and to have a new anthem to sing each month.

After a few years the number increased to about 20. To add further interest, we began to learn a wider range of songs and participated in a few competitions such as the (now discontinued) Feis Maitiú, the Wesley College Feis, the Feis at Kilcoole and at Newpark Comprehensive School. We were encouraged by adjudicators’ remarks and the results we received, a few times gaining 2nd place.

During this period also, we invited other choirs to join us for worship. A particularly memorable weekend was when the young choir from Meath Street visited us. For most of these children, to see trees, green fields and plenty of space, was quite an experience. The energy and joy they put into their singing was quite a wonderful experience for us to hear.

However, as with all choirs, a dip in membership was inevitable. External events, such as participation in competitions brought a halt for a while to visiting other choirs. The important thing was to keep going, even with just six or seven members. What helped maintain the interest even in this few was an increase of participation in church to two Sundays in the month.

Gradually, over the past few years, membership has increased again to eighteen children. However, the number of younger children is much higher than before. I have about eight children under the age of 8. Because of this, rather than practising in the evening we now have our rehearsals at 8.30 to 9 a.m. twice a week. This also ensures a much more consistently high level of attendance than before. The primary school is next to the church and so the children can arrive for rehearsals before school begins. If there was not a school affiliated with our parish church I know it would be far more difficult to maintain any semblance of a junior choir. Even as it is, the interest in singing with boys or older primary school children has been replaced by other interests. This is my reason for encouraging the smaller children if they want to join the choir. Musically and technically I am much less ambitious, but the chance of holding onto these children as they grow is much greater than waiting for older children of the age of 9, 10, 11 to join.

In the earlier years I always auditioned singers before accepting them to the choir. However, I feel enthusiasm to join a choir and an opportunity in life to sing with friends, especially to the glory of God, is something which shouldn't be denied to anyone. Yes, I do have one or two droners but I have found, time and time again, that with a little patience, they will learn to sing in tune with their friends singing around them. I firmly believe in spending a few minutes at each practice at pitching and other vocal exercises. These definitely help to improve the voice and the general quality of the choir. Games which include using the voice can be great fun. Suggestions and aids through books from the RSCM are invaluable.

Again, because the choir is a very young one, I have not yet used the RSCM Voice for Life scheme; but I would love to give it a try. Each year, however, I choose a leader, who must be an all round example to the other members, in attendance, respect and responsibility. This leader wears a special medal which was donated to our parish by the family of Lionel Freeman who sang in my adult choir for many years but has now sadly passed away.

My desire is to keep building up this young choir in the hope that I will see quite a healthy number of 10 to 12-year-olds. My dream would be to be able to hold onto these young singers as they move on into secondary school. So far, because of my limited number of free evenings and because of the busy lives of these young people, I have not succeeded. Any suggestions??

Ann Keary is organist and director of music at Kilternan Parish Church, Co. Dublin. She also teaches at the DIT Conservatory of Music & Drama.

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