Teaching children to sing
The education of children is of utmost importance, especially in the field of sacred music. Some of the greatest composers of the Church started their career as young as 7 years of age.
Have a read of this short list and be inspired:
G. Dufay (1397-1474):…
At an early age the authorities at Cambrai Cathedral recognised Dufay’s passion and talent in music and he was soon sent to study under ‘Rogier de Hesdin’ in the summer of 1409, at the age of 12. He was soon enlisted as a choirboy at the Cathedral. After a few years at the Cathedral, Dufay went on to study more music under ‘Nicolas Mali’ who recognised his efforts and presented him with the prestigious ‘Doctrinale’ in the year 1411, which had never been presented to a child before.
T. Tallis (1505-1585):
It is believed that Tallis was probably a choirboy or child of the Chapel Royal St. James’s Palace, the same choir that he sang with as a man and where Byrd studied as a boy.
G. P. da Palestrina (1525-1594):
It is believed that once while Palestrina was walking the streets of Rome and singing he was overheard by the Choir Master of Santa Maria, he was very impressed with the boy’s vocal talents and started training him in music. Later, Palestrina was appointed a chorister at Santa Maria Maggiore. Some others believe that Palestrina could also have been trained by the famous composer Jacques Arcadlet.
O. de Lassus (1530-1594):
He was a famed choirboy from an early age, it is said that he was even kidnapped for his beautiful voice. At the age of 12 he went to Mantua in Sicily, and later to Milan, to learn and pursue his musical ambitions.
W. Byrd (1543-1623):
He and his two brothers began their musical tuition as choirboys at the age of 7. Byrd then became a chorister at the Chapel Royal, here he was taught by the Master of Children, Thomas Tallis.
T. Victoria (1558-1611):
He started playing the keyboard from the age of 8 and soon became a choirboy in Ávila Cathedral. He was also spiritually directed by St. Teresa of Ávila.
C. Monteverdi (1567-1643):
From his early childhood was taught by the famous musician Marc’Antonio Ingegneri, who was the Maestro di Cappella at the Cathedral of Cremona. He was also a choirboy in that Cathedral.
(From Australian Sacred Music Association)
