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Extra-curricular activities

Find advice on the best extra curricular activities in secondary schools and primary schools here.

Original poster

“Big commitment” activity: thoughts?

34 replies

HornungTheHelpful · 14/01/2025 08:16

Hi, I have three children, aged 7, 5 and 3. 7 year old has been asked to try out for a very time-intensive activity (choir): 3 mornings a week before school, 2 afternoons after school, half a day at the weekend. Of course they may not get selected, but there is a good chance they will. I have very mixed feelings.

7yo is keen to try out, but I am concerned that they don’t understand the commitment. It will also hamstring the whole family, particularly as my partner works away a lot so I will be dragging 3 and 5 along with me.

Would appreciate thoughts of any with experience of this. I’ve tried leaving off thinking about it until we know if he will be accepted but I can’t!

OP posts:
Original poster
HornungTheHelpful · 14/01/2025 12:32

Thanks - that's helpful. He is keen at the moment but not sure he understands the degree of the commitment. I know it can be great fun (one of my sisters was a chorister, but at a much older age, around the time cathedral choirs started taking girls and loved it) but worry it is too much for him!

OP posts:
maltravers · 14/01/2025 11:51

HornungTheHelpful · 14/01/2025 09:48

Yep - it’s a cathedral chorister, but no change of school. He already sings and does a couple of instruments, which is why I think they’re keen. It’s not a trial day - it’s a full audition. He applied to go on a trial day and they came back asking him to audition now.

He may well not get in but if he does I suspect it will be a quick turn around - which is why I need to think about it now

Since he is apparently musical I would support this. Yes, ex chorister family here. It is a big commitment, can be tying but also wonderful and an excellent basis for anything musical going forward. He needs to want to do it of course, but it sounds like he does.

Original poster
HornungTheHelpful · 14/01/2025 11:27

Thank you, but he hasn't got it yet! I think 7 is too early to tell if they have aptitude really - he certainly doesn't have a talent for practising! I suspect they are short of boys at the moment, hence the urgency to audition him. I'd sort of expected him to go on a day this year, maybe one next year and audition when around 9, if he wanted to. So my timeline has been brutally shortened.

OP posts:
Purplebunnie · 14/01/2025 10:36

Big commitment but what a wonderful opportunity. Your son must be very talented. Good luck with whatever you decide

Original poster
HornungTheHelpful · 14/01/2025 09:48

Yep - it’s a cathedral chorister, but no change of school. He already sings and does a couple of instruments, which is why I think they’re keen. It’s not a trial day - it’s a full audition. He applied to go on a trial day and they came back asking him to audition now.

He may well not get in but if he does I suspect it will be a quick turn around - which is why I need to think about it now

OP posts:
MissyB1 · 14/01/2025 08:47

Let me guess, chorister in a school? Extremely demanding on the child and rest of the family. You can do the trial day but your kid might then beg to do it. I wouldn’t be at all keen I must say.

boulevardofbrokendreamss · 14/01/2025 08:43

Is it for a chorister position? It will rule your lives if so, high days and holidays on top of regular. It is intense.

NewLamp · 14/01/2025 08:35

I'd try it and see if they get in before worrying too much about it. They might not get in. they might not like it.

My oldest had similar commitments when a little older, and yes I did have to take the younger ones along. But, I'd take books and crafts and snacks and it was fine. It's also worth making friends with the other parents - plenty of people are happy to lift share for this sort of thing..

PreferMyAnimals · 14/01/2025 08:19

I'd have done it if there was a good reason to (I had one in a similar demanding activity with other children to juggle). I think at 7 I'd be suggesting a choir that meets once a week to see how they find it and if it's something they will want to continue, and maybe expand, in future. Does he have singing lessons already? If not, maybe singing lessons and a once a week after school community choir?

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