Youth Choirs

Youth choirs are thriving in high schools and churches across the nation! While some have thought that rock bands and contemporary worship would replace the traditional choir; it seems that there is room for both venues in teenagers' lives today.

The value of music itself has been rediscovered in educational and medical fields. Research shows that music and participation in music encourages better memory retention along with reinforcing learning in many other ways. And this fall I experienced a first - a young couple enrolled their daughter, at their doctor's recommendation, in one of the choirs that I direct. She has cerebral palsy and it seems that her participation in choir will aid in the rest of her physical development.

It would seem then, that those participating in some sort of musical exercise receive a far greater benefit than those simply listening. Music touches hearts, and none are touched so greatly as those who have spent hours getting to know a particular piece, allowing it to become part of their souls. So what should we say to those who still feel that a junior and senior high school choir is passé? They will argue that worship bands are ‘in' and that's where the focus must be placed today. After all, choir just isn't cool anymore, so even if we offer it no one will attend – right?

Apparently not, at least if you ask the director of a large high school music program in the Worcester, Massachusetts public school system. John Rappaport, music director, notes on the school web page that their schools offer strong vocal music programs in virtually every school in their district. While almost every elementary school has a chorus, each high school also has a choral program, and several offer private voice lessons. Their schools participate in an all city chorus program for grades 4 – 12 and adhere to rigid standards for this program. Yet the students still participate, interesting...

In Fort Collins, Colorado, where there is another exceptional public school music program, the Lesher Junior High School web pager offers strong statistics:

48% of junior high music students will participate in high school sports

17% will play school intramural sports

49% will play on a city athletic team
(Statistics taken during the 1998/1999 school year)

According to these numbers, kids involved in music are well rounded and find time to be involved in additional extra curricular activities. We can also assume, based upon knowledge of academic requirements for involvement in school sports, that these same students also maintain strong academic grades.