music scolarship - does he really need to join the choir?

[wingcommandermoi]

Morning Mumsnet brigade,

I was wondering if anyone out there might know the answer to this.

DS1 is about to do grade 3 trumpet and grade 1 flute. He's 9, in a prep. His head of music just said that she'd like to encourage him to go the music scholarship route in preparation for senior schools, which we're very happy to follow, but that he'd also need to join the school choir, on top of the orchestra which he already goes to.

He's always said he has no interest in singing in a choir, and when mentioned again he got quite grumpy about it.
I don't want to force him to do something he's likely to (try to) bunk out of on a regular basis, so I want to get a sense of other people's experience in this matter. And I'm trying not to rub the head of music the wrong way...

Thanks all!

[stringchild]

Hi in our prep and senior schools dd all scholars and award holders have to be in a choir of some sort if not a choirester, to retain their status; I would check with the schools you are interested in as all may not be as strict. I think they do wave the rule if they can’t sing though 😀

[rogueantimatter]

Choirs are a great training ground for musicians. Though it does depend a bit on the individual choir.


In scotland many state schools make membership of a school choir a condition of doing (the scottish equivalent of) GCSE and A level music.

Why doesn't he want to go to choir?

[hapsburg]

Depends on the schools - if this is the rule at your prep then you may have to go with it if your DS does want to try for a music scholarship for his next school. The prep head of music is probably just trying to present candidates with as much and as varied musical experience as possible. Singing is great for aural training too.
Check with senior schools you are looking at to see how important this will be to them.
DD was a music scholar at her prep and is now at her senior school - she hasn't had to do choir at either, although in both cases she discussed with head of music and agreed with them that the time would be better spent practising her instruments.

[Kutik73]

I think singing is quite important for any musician. It's great for musicianship but also as long as I understand almost all schools expect music scholars to join the school choirs (we went through both state and independent music scholarship process).

Has he done before? If not, it may be worth letting him try. He may find it okay, or even better, enjoyable. Obviously if he still hates it then you shouldn't force him though. And maybe you can talk to the head about it.

However, even if the head allows him to skip choir for now, if he doesn't enjoy singing then it may be a problem once he becomes a music scholar?

[wingcommandermoi]

rogueantimatter, he can sing but I think it's that particular choir he has no time for. It's a lovely school but it's not a very musical school, the annual choir productions are a bit mediocre in terms of quality, and the music teacher herself is a bit of a depressed character, and not very inspiring. He also doesn't like the tunes she choses. He wants to do descant stuff and there is barely any opportunity for that. And most importantly, noone he likes is in the choir...

Thanks Stringchild, will check with schools we're looking at.

[wingcommandermoi]

Thanks Kutik. That's interesting. Looks like probably the best will be to make him have a go, and hope he grows to like it!

[KelpianCasserole]

Hi Op
My DD was a Cathedral Chorister. She part boarded but some were full boarders and some day pupils. It changed her life and she went on to do a music degree. She would ubderstand your son completely re school choirs, its a different league entirely

[Kutik73]

DS's school choir was exactly the same. He was keen but had completely uninspiring experience and it became so obvious that he was just wasting time. He left in the end. Since then the school has employed a new singing teacher and he seems doing fine. But now DS has only one term to go at the primary school so didn't bother to re-join.

DS is in a choir outside of school now and sadly he is not particularly enjoying it neither, but for different reasons. It's part of the programme he is in so non-avoidable I'm afraid and he has to learn to survive there.

If your DS likes singing but doesn't like the particular choir, then you can perhaps find one outside of school? So he'll miss school choir but still receives the training elsewhere. Do you think the head is fine with it? You can say it's due to the schedule? I am personally not so keen on DS doing the activities he doesn't enjoy as time is so precious.

[wingcommandermoi]

Thanks Kutik and Casserole. I guess we're going to have to give it ago before we look at anything else. And it would be so much easier time wise if he could fit it in his school day rather than doing some more to and fro-ing.
To think I loved my school choir so much at the same age, but it's a lot down to the teacher. Hope she retires soon, bless her.

[wingcommandermoi]

Oh and thank you Hapsburg, I hadn't seen your reply. Very helpful.

[rogueantimatter]

Gosh yes. A lot depends on the choirmaster. Tricky

[TheFlannelsAreBreeding]

Yes, a musical child can find a school choir pretty awful - lots of bad behaviour, no reading music or singing in parts. Dd1 finds it pretty upsetting and frustrating at times, but stays because she doesn't want to let her teacher down.

She loves her 'proper' choir (robed church choir with a lovely Director of Music), though.