A Children's Choir for your Synagogue

The JMI National Children's Choir Shabbat
Shabbat Shira Friday 6/ Saturday 7 February 2009
JMI Choral and Cantorial Section
Director, Stephen Glass

Mission: to bring children's voices into the synagogues to delight and inspire as many Jewish congregations as possible. Our children are our future

Bringing children's voices into the Shabbat service will

1. focus attention on the breadth of beautiful and inspiring music which exists for the enhancement of synagogue worship
2. Instil a love of the music of Jewish prayer in all its variety from an early age
3. encourage children to attend synagogue
4. provide a context for intergenerational bonding with children participating in the service
5. possibly increase synagogue attendance in general

The Process:
1. JMI will create a framework of 'The JMI National Children's Choir Shabbat'. The Pilot project will be on Shabbat Shira Friday 6 / Saturday 7 February 2009.

2. There would be a national announcement in the Jewish press and the project would be given as much publicity as possible nationwide through the synagogue movements.

3. Synagogues interested in participating would Register and pay a registration fee (£35) to receive the Shabbat Shira Children's Choir Pack.

4. The Pack would contain selected music for four to six most suitable first pieces to teach the children for Kabbalat Shabbat, or Saturday morning. There will be listening formats such as MP3s. There will be tips on how to teach the music, advice for choir leaders on how to recruit, establish and maintain a children' choir, suggested fun warm-up exercises other relevant materials. It will outline the values to be striven for to give a sense of pride for the synagogue and achievement for the children.

5. Participating synagogues would have their name and logo on the JMI website with links to their own website. They may write up to 200 words about the music for adults and children in their community.

6. Each participating synagogue will have a poster to put up in their synagogue announcing their participation.

7. Each child that participates will have a special badge with appropriate wording that they can wear to rehearsals and to the service?

8. Registered synagogues would be enabled to be in direct contact with JMI advisors when queries arise. They would also have a network of colleagues creating children's choirs to share information and music.

9. JMI will give continuing support to the choirs to ensure growth, musical diversification and enrichment, continued recruitment and expansion, etc., concomitant with the aims stated above.

10. a small committee or group needs to be set up to help administer the project. Please volunteer for this.

Participating Synagogues

Registration Form (word doc)

Tips from Viv Bellos

Main Page