To write an email to the school about dd and choir?

[Jorah]

Dd (year 10) is in the choir at her school. It's an independent school and they take the choir very seriously. She has recently been ill and missed ten days of school so four rehearsals for the end of year concert. She went today and all was well, she knows the pieces as they've been singing them all year. The music director has just sent an email saying she isn't allowed to sing at the e d of term concert as she's missed some rehearsals. Dd is in bits

I'm not an "emailer" and I'm usually happy for the school to do whatever it thinks is right in most situations. But dd loves the choir and is really committed to it. She swears there is nothing new and she's sung these pieces all year.

Shall I email? If so can you help me with what to write as I'm hopeless at confrontation

Jorah

I hate this type of teacher, there's absolutely no need for it.
i'm not belittling your dd choir btw it sounds very good, but why do they take it so bloody seriously.
I've seen this a lot, but usually the big pro ones.
I suppose he just wants it to sound good and thats to his credit, but if they've been singing them all year, I bet there's lots in the corridors not even in the choir who know the music, just from hearing it for so long
I hope she gets the result she wants, it does sound very unfair.

Yes I agree with you. Poor kid she is terrified of doing anything wrong and gets really anxious about stuff. Singing is something she really enjoys although she doesn't have much confidence. I'm feeling more and more cross about it!! Must go to bed!

I'm glad she's emailed him herself as it shows how seriously she feel about it

Fingers crossed he lets her participate

If she isn't let back in you need to have a word with this teacher. He evidently hasn't applied common sense or taken the trouble to find out why she wasn't there.

And for people saying this is normal;we're talking school choir not adult chorus. Adult choirs have enough trouble getting decent singers these days so it's not a good idea to put them off whilst they're still at school!

Well done to your dd for writing the email herself. I sincerely hope she gets her place back.

And for people saying this is normal;we're talking school choir not adult chorus
There's typical school choirs and decent school/ youth choirs.

My school choir as a child was pretty good. We'd do challenging pieces, but we'd take a term to learn pieces etc.
Choirs at some schools I've worked at the choir is struggling for numbers abd is more of a glee club to promote wider singing

Another choir I was in as a teen was performing on a national level, learn pieces in 2 rehearsals ready to do afternoon rehearsal on performance day. Other times we'd do big choral works and it was normal to be singing with excellent adult ensembles too.
Just because participants were under 18 doesn't mean the bar should have been lowered. If anything, the high standard in youth music is what helps promote high level musicianship. For some schools there is a level of music beyond typical school clubs (just like some do sport to a level beyond typical school sport).

OP It's good for her to have sent the email. Her reason for absence can be verified by the office. Hopefully if she hasn't missed too much and she's otherwjse very good then he'll reconsider. If not, she'll have to chalk it up to life.

I think this is crap. It is not her fault she has been ill, and her illness therefore shouldn't disqualify her. I would complain, myself, if he doesn't reconsider.

The reason for her absence isn't really relevant; the point is that she wasn't there and therefore wasn't present to pick up the final points of interpretation and iron out any remaining mistakes. It's not about punishing her, it's about ensuring a high quality of performance (but it sounds like she is a borderline case and the director may relent).

The reason for her absence isn't really relevant; the point is that she wasn't there and therefore wasn't present to pick up the final points of interpretation and iron out any remaining mistakes. It's not about punishing her, it's about ensuring a high quality of performance (but it sounds like she is a borderline case and the director may relent).

Yes I agree with all this. Having slept on it I suppose the excellence of the music was why we chose this school so we can't really complain. However she's very diligent usually so I hope for her sake he relents this once, although I'm not holding my breath. They do a lot of big choral stuff so I expect it's very important to be there at every rehearsal. I've told her not to take it personally.

Sitting in the cathedral watching everyone else sing is going to be torture for her though!!

Ah. If she didn't go to see him after she was back at school, apologising for missing rehearsals and explaining she had been ill, then that explains the email to me. I wouldn't expect info of illness to be passed on to extra curricular activities.
Hopefully having explained she'll be let back in.

School choir teacher here... is it to do with having held rehearsals on stage already, each pupil having their place, knowing when to come on, having organised microphones and sound with the team, and then not having access to the theatre/sound team again till the performance because other musical groups/events are now scheduled?

Its a nightmare at this time of year. All our stuff gets set for x number of pupils in x amount of space with x amount of resources.

If there is a rule like miss 4 and you are out its probably for a reason.

Thank you to all who replied. Dd got an email today apologising as the director of music didn't know she was ill. She's back in! Three hour rehearsal tonight!

Brilliant! Glad DD stuck up for herself and got a great result!

Great news!

That is good news. I also think the director of music would be impressed that she bothered her arse to email her self and explain rather than getting her parents to do it because that shows maturity and commitment.

Yes I'm so glad I didn't do it. A lesson for the future!

Excellent news , well done to your dd for dealing with it herself .

Hooray

Well done to your DD

Great result. Well done to you both.