Anyone have a DS in a cathedral choir?

[SixtyFootDoll]

DS was auditioned at his school and invited to join our local cathedral choir ( not a school cathedral)

We went along tonight, and he enjoyed it. But I cant help feeling a bit uneasy about it.

We are not 'church' people, I am ambivelent about religion.
It is a big commitment, about 2-4 evenings a week.

DS is only 8 it seems a lot for him to take on.

Anyone with any expereinces they can share?
If he wants to do it I will support him, but we only hae so many hours in the week.

[AMumInScotland]

confidence in some cathedrals there are girls choirs as well - thought they are often the "poor relation". If you look around you may find opportunities for your daughter to sing in this kind of setup. DS choir was a rarity in having a mixed treble line - I'd say girls voices can be just as good as boys, but they also change at puberty even though it's not as marked as for boys. So, a girl's treble voice doesn't last any longer than a boy's - she may become a good adult soprano, but that doesn't sound the same as a treble.

[lifelongtraveller]

The fact that there are still some choir schools which are boarding is appalling. My son is a boarding chorister and the school's rules and regulations with regard to how often and when children can go home/see parents etc are so strict and ruthless, in my opinion, that they represent serious child abuse. Do not understand how government inspectors/educational psychologists/psychologists etc can approve it. Can you imagine, even children who live within walking distance of the cathedral have to board. Absolutely insane!

[FloreatEtonia]

So why are you making your son board?

[Bramshott]

As I said, that does tend to put a lot of people off .

[choirmum]

lifelongtraveller - my children both board as cathedral choristers just 10 miles from home. They couldn't do it if they didn't board as we couldn't physically get them where they need to be! We have no complaints at all about the rules and regulations and feel very much part of the boarding family. You also appear to be condoning serious child abuse (your words) to your own child. Very odd.

amuminscotland - there are girls and boys treble lines in our cathedral choir and they have full parity with each other (4 services each per week and the same amount of rehearsal time). They usually sing separately but do some special services together.

BTW, both children love what they do and we've benefited hugely as individuals and as a family from their involvement. It's a fabulous life for the right family.