Voice trial for cathedral choir (and school) - help

[StripeyKnickersSpottySocks]

God, what have I done.

I've just spoken to the local private school about their voice trials for the choir and they're going to book my dd (7) in for a voice trial. I'm really not sure she can sing. But I'm tone deaf so what to I know

They've said she's got to prepare and sing a song. I have no idea what song - any ideas?

Is this going to be really embarrassing if she's awful

I still remember the words of the (late) Dr Dennis Townhill who was organist at St. Mary's Cahterdral in Edinburgh for many years.

He always maintained that the best way to tell if your child had any chance of getting into the choir was to stand at the opposite side of the playground from them at breaktime.......

If you could hear their voice then you were already 1/2 to getting a place as it meant their voice could carry without any difficulty meaning 1/2 the work on making them into good cathedral choir singers was already done.

As for what song I can't help - but it won't be embarassing

She says she'd like to sing an Abba song.

Hello.
I have three cathedral choristers.
YOu will need to get her singing lessons.
Where are you?

If you don't want to say then email me on Beetroot beetroot @ hotmail dot co dot uk

She cannot sing ABBA!

I don't think it really matters too much what they sing. I'm pretty sure at that age they're looking for some sort of ability to stay in tune and whether they can be heard, whether they'r confident to sing in front of just a few people etc etc.

You need Beetroot really - she knows more about the Choristers side than I do (I attended a cathedral choir school/music school but was on the "music" side of it).

aha - there she is

I guess it depends on which school it is and who the DoM is - as they all have wildly differing opinions of what they've looking for and what the expect.

I shall now officially hand you over to the knowledgeable one and go and continue to mourn the fact the Dennis Townhill died last year (I only found out yesterday while googling for something else )

I know that here the trails are pretty rigid.
they have a pre audition and then are told if they should go for an audition.
they have to learn two songs and pitch exercises (sure there is a better term for this but I cannot for the life of me remember it) as well and then a test for the school.

The boys do an extra 21 hours per week on top of normal school and the girls do a little less

they all rehearse eery morning at 8 for an hour.

It is not for the faint hearted

I've emailed you Beetroot.

not srrived
co dot uk not com????

I've tried again.

beetrootbeetroot

Has it arrived yet? Its not been bounced back

replied

Our dd who is 8 is going to a choir school from september and they did say that the children can have a voice trial for a small bursary. She is musical plays piano/cello [grade 2 level]and can sing well although she is not very loud(I am stone deaf and completely non musical)I was hoping that she will make it at the voice trial but didnt know you need to be coached. What exactly do you do beetroot? I thought 8 is a very tender age to do anything with voice. Approx how many hours are the girls expected to practise .Looks like more hassle than help if it is 21 hours a week

Beetroot are you out there? I wonder if you can advise? My son is 6 and I would like some advice on voice trials and whether singing lessons are necessary and if so where to go?

Beetroot are you out there? Or can someone else help with this?