To think it's unfair there is only a boys choir (that doesn't involve an audition? at DD's school?

[usernameannon]

I'm actually a bit annoyed to be honest. My daughter is 11 and tried out for the choir at her secondary school, unfortunately she didn't get a place after an audition. However there's a boys only year 7 choir that doesn't require an audition you can just go along. She's pretty upset she doesn't get to sing "because she isn't good enough". Bit unreasonable I think

Are these after school/lunch time clubs? It is unfair but unfortunately there are only so many teachers who could run a choir and only so many days of the week to do it so if they don't have an available teacher to run an audition only girls choir then it's not going to happen.

The only way I can see round it is to have the choir as names out of a hat and accept that the standard of the choir will be lower. Enjoyment of singing is more important than an audition only choir.

^ non-audition only.

I think the should offer something, but as a choral singer I agree strongly with other PP that having a barrier free way of getting boys singing oa essential. I would therefore be very careful about how you complain as it could result in the boys choir being wound up or made mixed and essentiall become a girls choir (I've seen this happen elsewhere).

I sing in an adult choir and our situation typifies why it is important to get more boys singing. We don't audition and are chronically short of tenors and basses. Our MD is now turning women away because she can't keep the choir balanced otherwise.

It makes more sense to set up another choir where there is no audition for girls than complain about the group for boys. It would only be unfair if there was demand for this and the opportunity was denied.

Can she try again in the next round (presumably next year) and join a choir outside school meanwhile?

How well does she sing? I do feel for her, as one of the ones who was never quite good enough and thus never got the practice needed to get better at it.

So tell your DD to get some friends together who would be interested in singing in a non-auditioned girls' choir and ask the school if it's possible to start one. That's usually how clubs begin - with positive interest, not an envious attempt to tear down something that's working for others. As a million others have already said, it's very hard to get teenage boys to sing.

Either that or encourage her to join one of the many non-school community choirs.

Op I totally agree with you.

I am still bitter that the choir at my school was just for those deemed good enough.

It's a school choir for gods sake children should all be encouraged to participate in the arts for the sake of enjoyment.

I am still bitter that the choir at my school was just for those deemed good enough

Why is it not ok for schools to run things for people who have genuine talent and want to pursue it.

There's nothing wrong with asking schools or getting together with parents and pupils to suggest or set up alternatives that can be open to everyone.

Much better than moaning how unfair it is and preferring no one does it

Because schools are there to nurture everyone. Everyone had the right to try things they might otherwise not be able to, to learn & improve. Not everyone can afford voice lessons or have parents willing or able to take them to an outside school singing group.

In the same way I believe after school football/hockey or whatever training should be open to all alongside having an actual team.

Nurturing everyone also means allowing thise who are good at something to explore that.

It makes more sense to do both than none at all

It's a bit like doing a girls only science group or similar, which my girls have heavily benefited from. They're trying to encourage people who otherwise might not attempt because they don't want to stand out.

I chaperoned for a local amateur Sound of Music Audition. They needed 2 teams of 2 boys, 4 girls. We had around 120 girls coming, and 6 boys. I doubt any of the boys would have even been on the short list if they'd been a girl.
The next time they did similar they auditioned the boys separately and far more turned up, even though it was a less popular musical because they were all together and they weren't worried someone would say "boys don't do that".

If the school has any pretensions to run a decent choir then it needs to encourage the boys who will turn into the young men providing the tenor and bass parts.
With the best will in the world, girls will be unable to do this.
I'd be interested to know if a transitioned f2m would be able to.

"So tell your DD to get some friends together who would be interested in singing in a non-auditioned girls' choir and ask the school if it's possible to start one. "

YY do this!