Young Voices - Really?

[StaunchMomma]

DS's primary routinely send upper year classes to this and now he's of that age.

AIBU to just not get the point of tens of thousands of kids all singing at the same time? It's hardly a choir situation when thousands of kids are belting out Taylor Swift songs, en masse?

I hear people saying it's an opportunity to 'perform' at a huge venue but it's not really, is it? With that many people singing, it's the equivalent of singing along at a concert, surely?

My son hates singing and loud noises and absolutely hates it when they are made to sing/do dance moves in assemblies. I'm not sure why I should force him to do it.

Surely these things would be better as optional?

I certainly wouldn't be happy to spend out on tickets for it (I've watched a few videos and it looks awful - plus it's a sea of kids so you're not going to see your own) and I don't see that it's fair to force my DS to do it when he won't get anything out of it.

Am I missing something?

YABU - It's a great opportunity, just go and put up with it.

YANBU - It's ridiculous, avoid at all costs.

We already knew beforehand which performers were going to be there so I gave her a heads-up 👍

I also don't like the idea of lots of class time spent on learning songs either, TBH.

It does sound like your school’s approach is quite different to others. Ours rehearse once a week after school, not in class time.

Off topic but my son is doing it in Sheffield this january but we can't afford the t shirt (or any tickets). Will he stick out like a sore thumb? 😬

Well I think there is a lot to it other than the on the day singing. They work together to prepare then have an exciting trip out to a huge venue.

DD was in it in Manchester. I could see her school and work out which one was her. We texted so we could wave at each other.

DS hates singing and loud noise but would have preferred this to the camping in the Lake District in the rain palava that he got stuck with.

Experiences innit.

@AngelicaElizaAndPeggy If he wears a plain white t shirt it will be fine. The choir is enormous so it won't matter at all.

Heather Small this year. Tony really does love himself and it was hilarious seeing him schmooze up to the mums in the audience last time we went.

It's completely optional at my school - we run an after school club for those who want to attend. We even have a few who love singing but who would be overwhelmed by the full day who sing in the club but don't come to the event itself.

Karaoke at the O2 is fairly accurate, but it is good fun and that many people all singing together makes for a super atmosphere.

I do think it's a strange decision to make, really. They must know some of the kids won't be interested and using class time will take away from curriculum time.

First year was awful as the school were up in the gods of the O2 and so were we. Second year they were front and centre and so were us parents, I could actually see my DC not just a sea of other people's children singing badly.

If your DC Does do it, don't feel obliged to watch. It's like a school concert on steroids with a bad "'celeb" as an interlude

I dunno. Is it a good experience for a kid who hates singing and performing?

My dd did it aged 8 in 2020. Only choir go from her school. She enjoyed it ok but it's a long day, they have to wait around loads, there's millions of people, performance was forgettable and it cost nearly £100 for the 3 of us to watch her, the tshirt etc.

I've told her she can do it in 2023 if she wants but we won't be going to watch.

Jeez, school concerts are awful!! I think the tickets are £38! For a mega-assembly and a shit 80's throwback celebrity?!

Nope!!

DD is doing it in Jan.

But it’s only those in the school choir and it’s optional.

Both my children have done YV. It was a nice enough experience (if not a bit annoying for me as I don’t like large crowds, driving and parking in large city, late finish etc). I did end up feeling it’s a money making venture above all else and cost me a small fortune in tickets, T-shirt, travel etc. which was hard to find at the time.

This seals the deal for me. I will be sparing both my kid and myself the pain of Heather Smalls annoyingly nasal voice. You just know they're gonna sing that 'What have you done today to make you feel proud' song and I'd fully eye roll myself into a coma!!

But there’s always stuff in class time that doesn’t interest some kids. My son has zero interest in football but apparently he must play it twice a week in school hours.

Son adored Young Voices though. He was grouchy about the idea before he went, and bored in some of the rehearsals, but he got a huge kick out of singing at the O2 and still talks about how cool it was, years later. He’ll remember it for life I think.

It's definitely Heather Small at the Manchester venue we are taking ours to - and they definitely will be singing the chorus to "What have you done today to make me feel proud?" while Heather will sing the rest as it's in the songs list. Along with a truly odd Spike Milligan medley that's very hard to sing.

DS2 did Voice in a million in year 3 which is very similar (was at SSE arena). He absolutely loved it, honestly best thing he ever did. He did it in 2019 so last year before Covid.

He left primary this Summer and they all had to do their best memories, his was going there. I don’t think you realise how powerful all those kids singing together are until you hear them.

DS did this three years in a row, pre-Covid, and LOVED it. DD wouldn't have done it even if we'd paid her.

Mine are both at High School and did it via choir.

As a parent it was worth it just to feel the energy and excitement from the children when you walked in.

I did it at primary in the early 2000s and loved it.

Who cares if it’s thousands of kids singing at the same time the main thing is that the kids have fun and enjoy it. You seem a massive fun sponge.

If your kids aren’t bothered and you don’t like the idea of it either then don’t go and watch. On the day of the performance tell the school your kids are ill.

My DD's have both done it and loved it. Choir members only and they cannot take whole choir - think it's about 60 of them allowed to go.

I just think it's an amazing experience for them - they all seem completely hyper during it!

My oldest also did VIAM and didn't think that was as good.

My eldest did it for 4 years in a row pre-Covid and my youngest did it last year and is again this time. I can see how some kids absolutely love it but it would be other kids worst nightmare. It shouldn’t be compulsory at all, at our school it’s completely voluntary and the practice sessions are after school.

It's an amazing experience and my daughter is doing it again this year as she loved it. I really wasn't looking forward to going to watch as dislike big crowds etc but honestly had a brilliant time.

I'm not a fun sponge, I just hate assemblies/school concerts with a passion, as does my son, and this sounds like an enormous great singalong assembly!

Not all kids, or adults, are the same!

Yeah, that's the kicker for me. It shouldn't be compulsory.