Being a chorister - what do we need to know/ask?

[MollieO]

Ds has been offered a place as a chorister at a choir school. He can go as a day boy to start but will have to board once he's surpliced. Very proud of him and a bit surprised but if we are going to commit to the next five years I need to go in with my eyes open.

I know about having to be in school for Easter and Christmas, plus apparently having to cut short the family holiday if someone royal dies.

I have a meeting with the head this week. What should I ask him? I'm writing up a list of questions, some basic (who does his laundry?), some more important (how will 20 hours singing a week impact upon ds's school work?).

My DD is chorister non-boarding. One of the Dad's was a boarding chorister as a child, he says his school was great. BUT another famous choir school who his had a lot to do with was totally different in reputation and "caring" for the boys.

Just like any school it really depends on the specific school, and the match of school to parent and child. However as the boys are so young and there so long, it really needs parents to investigate thoroughly.

I think some parents get carried away with the idea of their son being a chorister and don't think through the practicalities enough. I'm not sure I'd have let ds do it if he had siblings because it really does have a huge effect on family life.

gosh lots of details. my basic question would be what happens when his voice breaks especially if it does so early. most boys will sing on through and beyond secondary transfer at 13 but my ds had a full broken voice before that . would they become" ordinary" boys in the school and would they keep the scholarship?
check neither the place nor funding I'd at risk.

hope. he had a great time. mine have all been choristers at a cathedral with no choir school so not the same as boarding, but they have really benefited from it

I would have to find a new school in the middle of the school year if his voice broke I presume. Although you get a scholarship while they sing, you have to be wealthy enough to make savings during the 5 years to pay for this eventuality.

Agree re singing. The boys really like it. Shame that everything else, for boarders, is so bad. I'm surprised that the church is so backward and inflexible in the way it treats the children who work under its very roof every day.

At ds's school the scholarship is guaranteed to continue whenever their voice breaks. Most seem to break early in year 8 but some are as early as year 7.

Ds has just finished his first year and has absolutely loved it. According to his report he's settled extremely well in boarding and has the potential to be an excellent chorister.

I hope things improve for you and your son.