You still have time… not much, but a little…

… to register to learn the Ward Method* with one of the finest Ward instructors in the US – Scott Turkington. Turkington will teach the CMAA’s Introductory Course this summer at Duquesne University as part of the CMAA’s summer course program.

In addition, the CMAA is also offering the next level of Ward Instruction for the first time this summer with instructor Wilko Brouwers, from the Netherlands. Wilko’s course will include the use of his newly published book Now I Walk In Beauty: 100 Songs and Melodies for School and Choir. Thanks to the generous donors who have supported this new publication, the book will be literally “hot off the presses” for our summer programs.

We still have room in our classes for a few more participants. Please make plans to join us in Pittsburgh June 26-30 at Duquesne University.

There will be two courses offered.

Ward Method I – That All May Sing will be taught by Scott Turkington. Participants will learn the basic principles and the practice of this method developed by Justine Ward in the early 20th century and how it can be used with our 21st century children. Its fundamental principle is that all children can learn to sing, not just those with natural gifts.

Ward Method II – Intermediate moves beyond the first year. Wilko Brouwers will share his expertise and experience with the method to pass on more advanced techniques. It will expand on the training in Ward Method I.

The CMAA is convinced that this method has great value for developing future generations of singers, both those in the choirs and those in the pews. You can be part of that project.

You can learn more details about the courses and register by following this link:

CMAA SUMMER COURSES

*Please note that CMAA Ward Courses are not affiliated with the Ward Centre.

REGISTER ONLINE NOW

St. Thomas Aquinas Chapel, Univ. of St. Thomas

TWENTY-SEVEN YEARS OF SACRED MUSIC COLLOQUIA

June 19-24, 2017
University of St. Thomas
Saint Paul, Minnesota

Don’t delay… Register now for the CMAA’s Sacred Music Colloquium.

UPDATE: ACCEPTING LATE REGISTRATIONS

The CMAA’s Sacred Music Colloquium continues to be the largest and most in-depth teaching conference and retreat on sacred music in the world. Our 2017 program offers new and expanded opportunities for learning, singing, listening, and interacting with some of the best minds and musicians in the Catholic world today!

Liturgies will be held at three great venues – the Chapel of St. Thomas Aquinas on the University of St. Thomas campus, the Church of St. Mark, and St. Agnes Church. In addition, we will have an organ recital at the beautiful Cathedral of St. Paul on Wednesday evening.

Each participant typically participates in two choirs — one chant and one polyphony. You have the opportunity to sing with fantastic directors along with other participants who love sacred music at liturgies during the week. With wide-ranging breakout topics covering a host of subjects, you can expand your knowledge and hear what other musicians are doing across the country (and the world).

Enjoy the lovely campus of the University of St. Thomas, where the sessions will held during the week.

For all the details about the Colloquium, visit the Colloquium Main Page, Colloquium Details Page, and Faculty Page.

REGISTER NOW

CMAA SUMMER COURSES
June 26 – 30, 2017
Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, PA

The CMAA is proud to present four summer courses for the summer of 2017. All courses will be held concurrently at the Mary Pappert Music School at Duquesne University.

Chant Intensive and Laus in Ecclesia – Level One

Ward Method I – That All May Sing and Ward Method II – Intermediate

COURSE DETAILS

UPDATE: Accepting Late Registrations.

REGISTER ONLINE NOW

CHANT INTENSIVE

The Chant Intensive lives up to its name: though no previous experience with chant is required, beginners and intermediate chanters should be prepared for full immersion from the start. You will learn or review how to read and fully navigate all aspects of traditional Gregorian notation (square notes), as well as an introduction to chironomy (directing chant) with a master teacher.

The course will also address correct Latin pronunciation, the sound and mystery of the eight Church modes, Psalm tones and their applications, questions concerning the rhythm of plainsong, and more. Compline will be sung to allow participants to experience the beauty of a portion of the sung Divine Office. Gregorian repertoire will be used for Divine Office and Mass.

The CMAA Summer Chant Intensive is intended for beginning and continuing students and all who love and appreciate the central role that chant plays as the prayerful song of the Roman Rite–not only at cathedrals and basilicas but in any parish. The conference will inspire and prepare participants to continue the renaissance of sacred music in our time, in both the ordinary and extraordinary forms of the Mass. In the years since the first CMAA Chant Intensive course was taught in 2008, hundreds of students have benefited from this in-depth course in Gregorian chant.

This summer’s course will be taught by instructor Dr. Jennifer Donelson in one section including men and women.

For all the details, including registration and schedule: CHANT INTENSIVE

WARD METHOD I – THAT ALL MAY SING

For the second time, the CMAA is offering a beginning course in the Ward method developed by Justine Bayard Ward (1879 – 1975). This method was developed by Ward for the purpose of providing a basic integrated musical education for children in primary and intermediate grades of Catholic schools. The Ward Method has Gregorian Chant as its basis. Using her method, directors of children’s choirs may work toward the goal that all the children may sing — not just those with the most obvious natural talent.

The CMAA has offered short breakout sessions about the Ward method at Colloquia, but until last summer’s first course, we have not had the time available to provide the needed training for participants to take the methodology home to use with students. This summer’s course will provide training to allow participants to teach groups of children using these tried and true methods, including the planning and conducting of regular Ward lessons to groups of children.

Scott Turkington will again share his training and experience in sharing the Ward method with participants in this course in the hope of preparing new generations of Catholics to sing in choirs, scholas and in actively participating in the parish liturgies as parishioners in the pews.

For all the details, including registration and schedule: WARD I

WARD METHOD II – INTERMEDIATE

For the first time, building on the success of our first Ward course offering in 2016, the CMAA is offering an Intermediate course in the Ward method developed by Justine Bayard Ward (1879 – 1975). This method was developed by Ward for the purpose of providing a basic integrated musical education for children in primary and intermediate grades of Catholic schools. The Ward Method has Gregorian Chant as its basis. Using her method, directors of children’s choirs may work toward the goal that all the children may sing — not just those with the most obvious natural talent.

The CMAA has offered short breakout sessions about the Ward method at Colloquia, but until last summer’s first course, we have not had the time available to provide the needed training for participants to take the methodology home to use with students. This summer’s course will provide training to allow participants to continue in their training to move beyond the first year of Ward instruction with advanced techniques and a continuation of the training needed to continue utilizing the Ward method beyond the first year.

Wilko Brouwers will share his training and experience in sharing the Ward method with participants in this course in the hope of preparing new generations of Catholics to sing in choirs, scholas and in actively participating in the parish liturgies as parishioners in the pews.

For all the details, including registration and schedule: WARD II

LAUS IN ECCLESIA – LEVEL ONE

Laus in Ecclesia is a complete course in Gregorian chant in three (3) levels:

Level One: Beginners and members of a Gregorian choir
Level Two: More advanced, which could be described as what is necessary to sing in a schola and to sing the more elaborate chants (Graduale, Alleluia, Offertory).
Level Three: Perfecting the Gregorian skills to enable the student to direct a schola or group

This summer’s course will cover Level One. A book will be provided which contains all the course material. The subject matter covers theory and practice.

In the course of the week, the students will be taken through all 15 lessons of the manual Laus in Ecclesia, level One. Much of the material will be explained, alternated with exercises and examples. Ideally, the manual is meant to provide a whole course with homework assignments at the end of each lesson to be completed and submitted for correction, and an oral practical examination after finishing the course. As it is unlikely that the student will be able to complete all this during the week, these assignments can be completed during the year and an exam can be taken at the next scheduled course, or other arrangements can be made individually.

The book Laus in Ecclesia is the revised edition of the St. Gregoire Schola’s manual. The previous five manuals which provided the teaching matter of the Schola are condensed into three levels with this revision. The first two levels have been published in France (the third is still in process). This course will include the use of the first level, which is newly published in English. This book provides color diagrams and illustrations to accompany the material. Also included is a CD which provides a model for solfeggio and rhythm exercises. These same tracks will also be available at the Laus in Ecclesia website (still in process, but planned for completion prior to the course in June).

Br. Mark Bachmann, choirmaster for Clear Creek Monastery will teach this course, sharing his many years of experience with class participants.

For all the details, including registration and schedule: LAUS IN ECCLESIA

CMAA 2017 SUMMER CHANT COURSES