Trinity Episcopal Church – Buckingham
Community Children’s Choir
Dr. Regina Gordon, Director
“Music is one of the ways we can achieve a kind of shorthand to understand each other.” Yo-Yo Ma, world famous cellist and educator
The (new) Community Children’s Choir of Trinity Church, Buckingham has been planned around three over-arching concepts:
- Children benefit from participation in worship
- Children need to feel part of the worship community
- Children who have a more complete music education possess a life-long skill — one that especially helps the young learner understand and connect with worship through the universal language of music.
Music helps provide a pathway to learn about and participate in both worship and community.
Martin Luther puts in this way. “Music is a fair and glorious gift. I am strongly persuaded that after theology there is no art than can be placed on a level with music; for besides theology, music is the only art capable of affording peace and joy of the heart.”
Goals/Outcomes for Children
Children will –
- Become meaningful participants and leaders of worship through music & drama – especially for the Third Sunday Worship services and Christmas Pageants*
- Develop a broader understanding of what it means to participate in community
- Discover a personal understanding of faith and self through music and drama
- Improve musical skills such as listening, reading and teamwork (ensemble)
- Have fun while learning and making personal connections and friendships
(* Please note: Participation in the Christmas Eve Pageant is NOT limited to choir members)
Who is welcome to join us?
All Children in grades 2 and up are eligible – some reading ability will be helpful – and children need not be members of Trinity. Children will participate in the choir on two or three levels, depending on the number and ages of the children. Each level will have some songs they sing alone, and some they sing with everybody. And each level will have a distinguishing symbol such as a small lamb or dove attached to their cotta. These levels will be based on age, participation, achievement and attendance. The older and more experienced students will be expected to work with younger students on a “buddy system”, assisting with musical learning as well as the general needs of our youngest members.
Tentative 2011 Schedule – Fall and Spring Terms
Two 8-10 week Terms
Fall Term
Thursday, October 6 thru Thursday, December 1st
*** Time: 4:00 – 5:00 ***
Daily Schedule
4:00 – 4:15 snack and social time with buddy & friends
4:15 – 5:00 vocal warm-up, musical training and rehearsal
*** Understanding that many parents work during the day, we will make every effort to assist in setting up car pools from various schools to Trinity. Pickup time can be somewhat flexible, and children waiting for a parent to pick them up will have supervised time for homework, reading, or board games in our library.
Fee: $10 per semester (helps to defer costs of snacks and music)
Christmas Pageant rehearsals will begin Sunday, November 27th after 10:15 service.