Choristers?

[whattodo2019]

Our DD loves singing snd music and her music teacher has suggested we consider applying for her to be a chorister. We aren't musical and i know little about the process or where to apply. The boys i do know sound like it could be an amazing opportunity. Does anyone have any advice they could share? we live near London BTW.

This might be helpful:

www.englishcathedrals.co.uk/latest-news/be-a-cathedral-chorister/

It seems a bit mean of the music teacher to make the suggestion but offer no further advice. Can you not ask them for details of local possibilities? Obviously there are plenty of chorister opportunities in London - depending on your daughter's ability, age and how far you want to travel.

Ask on the autumn music thread in extra curricular, there have been some chorister parents on it I think.

It’s brilliant - they can learn at their own pace, not just singing but theory and church Latin and piano / organ. Ask around for a choir that does the RSCM Voice for Life books and medals, and where other parents really rate the Director of Music. It is, by far, the best activity my dd does. If you lived in S London, I could recommend one.

If you are looking at cathedrals London is not well served - only Southwark take girls and they are not well treated and the repertoire is pretty limited.

Depending on where you are you could look at a big parish church with an active (traditional) choir - eg Croydon Minster, Merton, Richmond Parish Church.

It's a really wonderful nd hugely beneficial thing to do, and many ex Chorister go on to get music scholarships at Oxbridge.

Things choristers learn to a very high standard:

Team work
Self confidence
Working to a high standard, sometimes professional standards (depending which Cathedral)
Sing in different languages, exposed to huge vocabulary
Sing at events - sometimes high profile on TV or Radio
Musical education
Singing

And then there are there many benefits that music brings for the brain and mood.

Different cathedrals or churches have different commitments and levels of education.

Our son started at a church in the London suburbs doing one or two services a week, and is now a chorister at York Minster doing at least four. Plus a rehearsal most days.

Other cathedrals demand more than that, and that your child boards at the relevant school.

Scholarships and bursaries are available, but the necessity of being near the cathedral/school make it a massive commitment.

Saying that, it's the best thing DS could have done. He loves it with a passion, and his musical education has been second to none.