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David Fawcett @choralwork.bsky.social · Apr 24

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...

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David Fawcett @choralwork.bsky.social · Apr 15

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.

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David Fawcett @choralwork.bsky.social · Apr 4

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

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David Fawcett @choralwork.bsky.social · Mar 27

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...

Young Voices Toolkit | Young Voices in Church Music | RSCM

A step-by-step approach to involving children in your church’s music | before you start | structures and plans to develop | resources | attract and motivate

www.rscm.org.uk

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David Fawcett @choralwork.bsky.social · Mar 26

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...

Young Voices Toolkit | Young Voices in Church Music | RSCM

A step-by-step approach to involving children in your church’s music | before you start | structures and plans to develop | resources | attract and motivate

www.rscm.org.uk

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David Fawcett @choralwork.bsky.social · Mar 12

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...

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David Fawcett @choralwork.bsky.social · Feb 24

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?'.

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David Fawcett @choralwork.bsky.social · Feb 17

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.

Fran Wilson @crosseyedpianist.bsky.social · Feb 17

This Sat 22 Feb RSCM Voices West partners with @choralwork.bsky.social & St Mary’s Swanage to bring together 2 choirs for a special day singing in @wellscathedral.bsky.social
Hear the 2 choirs in action in a service of Choral Evensong at 5:15pm with music by Stanford, Bainton & Bob Chilcott

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David Fawcett @choralwork.bsky.social · Feb 14

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...

RSCM calls for action to keep children singing in church choirs

Two thirds church choirs have no members under 18, its survey says

www.churchtimes.co.uk

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David Fawcett @choralwork.bsky.social · Feb 13

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...

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David Fawcett @choralwork.bsky.social · Feb 11

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

David Fawcett @choralwork.bsky.social · Feb 10

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

David Fawcett @choralwork.bsky.social · Feb 7

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.

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David Fawcett @choralwork.bsky.social · Feb 7

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.

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David Fawcett @choralwork.bsky.social · Feb 5

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.

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David Fawcett @choralwork.bsky.social · Feb 4

Absolutely

David Fawcett @choralwork.bsky.social · Jan 20

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.

Derby Cathedral Music @derbycathmusic.bsky.social · Jan 19

Well done to Year 4 at The Curzon CE Primary School, part of our Music in Schools programme, who sang at the Christingle Service at St Paul's Quarndon this afternoon. They were absolutely brilliant! 🕯️

This is one of the ways that the Music in Schools programme is engaging with local church.

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David Fawcett @choralwork.bsky.social · Jan 19

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.

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David Fawcett @choralwork.bsky.social · Jan 14

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.

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David Fawcett @choralwork.bsky.social · Dec 24

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

David Fawcett @choralwork.bsky.social · Dec 24

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David Fawcett @choralwork.bsky.social · Dec 23

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!

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David Fawcett @choralwork.bsky.social · Dec 22

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.

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David Fawcett @choralwork.bsky.social · Dec 19

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.

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David Fawcett @choralwork.bsky.social · Dec 18

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.

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