David Fawcett

If you involve children and young people in church #music, or want to do so, join us in Dulwich on Saturday 28 June.
A day of practical demonstrations, topic discussion, peer-to-peer mentoring and support.
www.rscm.org.uk/events/young...

Good to see the Church Times considers the launch of the RSCM Young Voices Toolkit to be front-page news. I agree! Let’s get more children everywhere leading church #music.

I think we know the answer to this one… #Church #music #Anglican #Evensong

The RSCM Young Voices Toolkit is already proving useful. This morning, someone contacted me for my thoughts on an aspect of starting a junior choir, and I was able to point to a page of the Toolkit.
www.rscm.org.uk/young-voices...

I delighted that the Royal School of Church Music's 'Young Voices Toolkit' has gone live today. It's a fantastic new step by step guide with associated resources for any church seeking to reconnect with children and young people through #music. www.rscm.org.uk/young-voices...

If you are building a junior choir in your church, or want to do so, then join the new RSCM Young Voices Network on Facebook, to share experiences, gain inspiration and fresh ideas, and help deliver a resurgence in children leading #music in worship. facebook.com/groups/15932...

Trad CofE church in 1980s: 'We need to lose the choir, because it's in the way of our drive to make the church more accessible to the young.' Choir: 'What about these 20 kids? In the choir stalls, every week'. Church: 'They don't count.'

Church now: 'Where are the children?'.

I'm delighted that we're taking seven of our choristers from St Mary's, Swanage to join with RSCM Voices West in singing Choral #Evensong in Wells Cathedral on 22 February. We are proud to be pioneers, as the RSCM explores how once more to involve young people in these events.

RSCM calls for action to keep children singing in church choirs Two thirds church choirs have no members under 18, its survey says

The decline in young people singing in church choirs has been steep. But it’s not irreversible. With the inspiring initiative that the RSCM is about to launch, more of us will feel confident to do our bit to turn the tide. If not us, who? If not now, when? www.churchtimes.co.uk/articles/202...

This online event aims to encourage other people to try what I set out to do, and get children back into church choirs and leading #music in worship. We've assembled resources to support churches in this, and will introduce them on 2 April. Sign up here: www.rscm.org.uk/events/onlin...

You are more than welcome to reach out! Drop me a DM if you like.

Can you help with this, @salisbury.anglican.org? Please repost. @jonathantriffitt.bsky.social

Calling out to churches in the Salisbury Diocese. Which of you are successfully growing ministry among children and young people through music (choirs or otherwise)? Or who would like to do so but lacks resources or ideas? Get in touch if you are interested in sharing learning.

As two more choristers receive their surplices, we celebrate the fresh approaches which have grown a faithful choir of 16 children. And from recent discussions it begins to feel as if this could be widespread. The message of #music as mission is hitting home. The Spirit is moving in the church.

Absolutely

It’s great to see a schools singing programme led by a cathedral that doesn’t bypass the parish churches, but helps them connect musically to local schools.

Eleven children singing Choral #Evensong with the adults tonight. Three months ago, that would have been unexpected. Two years ago it would have been a dream. Four years ago it would have been inconceivable. Just do it. Bit by bit. You can rebuild children’s involvement in church #music. Keep on.

Are any church or chamber choirs which are planning a European visit this spring or summer short of an experienced and confident tenor/baritone? I was hoping to book a singing holiday but can’t find one that suits. Please spread the word.

If an adult does it, it’s a delightful magic trick. If he does it himself, the magic is lost.

The choir of St Mary’s, Swanage, ahead of our nine lessons and carols yesterday. Fourteen of our choristers joined the adults to make up a choir of 50. We are going to have to start thinking about reconfiguring the choir stalls to fit everyone in. Four more new choristers arriving in the new year!

Two Christmases ago, only two of our current crop of under-14yo choristers were in the choir. This evening, 14 (out of a total of 15) sang to a packed church in our Town Carol Service. That’s how fast it can grow, if you provide the conditions and keep working at it. Church #music has a future.

Quick pitstop after an hour in a cold church, making up 15 folders for our junior choristers ahead of the Town Carol Service on Sunday. A reminder of the many unpaid hours church musicians put in over the official quota if they want to rebuild children’s involvement in #church #music.

Did they think we wouldn’t notice that 80% of our feed is ads or clickbait? Dodgy ads at that. Barely ever see anything from people I’m connected to.

Then I shall keep my own eyes on the PRS website, and look forward to that cappuccino.

I reckoned a bit of breathing space after ARCO in 1982 was a good idea. Forty-two years later, I’m still breathing…

Don't feel sorry for her. As you say, it is performative. And very amusing to watch.

Perhaps there's still time for me to go for FRCO after all....

So true...