Hello there,
I am a regular, but have name-changed so as not to be identified (or to identify my DS) in RL.
DS (6.8) has a choral audition at a day school in a month's time. We have a good idea of what to expect, as he's had four pre-auditions, including one at this particular school. Although it's by no means certain that he'll get in, all four music directors at the various schools (three of them being the top boarding ones for choristers) said they would eat their hats if he didn't. (I will only be convinced if and when he's actually offered a place, though - I fear the competition will be very stiff!)
If he were to get in, we face a big decision (not least as it means moving cities). One thing that I know nothing about - and would love advice about - is what it's like being the parent of a day-school chorister, and what it's like for the sibling(s).
DH and I are both at home all day (although he claims he is working), so we are both available to drop off/collect children.
Maybe I should think up specific questions? Hmm...
- How does it work with staggered picking-up times? I'd be picking DD up at 3.35 as I wouldn't want her to have to stay at school just because her brother's a chorister. Is it better to live within a short walk of the school? (Sorry - that sounds like such a daft question!)
- Exactly what kind of commitment is involved? DH and I are both happy to commit to chorister life in the abstract, and realise that our weekends/holidays will be fully booked (not that it matters, as we never go away!) but it would be nice to have a more concrete view of it!
- Do the benefits to a child of being a chorister in your experience outweigh any potential down side? I have deliberately never gone in for organised activities with the DCs on the grounds that I feel they need to learn to occupy themselves (and that their school days are already quite long enough). Would this be a huge culture shock for DS? He is already doing long days at a prep school followed by a horrible amount of homework - but being a chorister would obviously be much more demanding.
- Do choristers still get time to bum around and be children despite the demanding schedule?
- Uummmm... There must be heaps of things I've not thought of!! Please let me know what they are!!
I would be so, so grateful for any advice from MNers who have been through or are going through this...