We received a letter from our church with information on preschool choir for our 2 kids. Would love to hear from some who have done this with their kids--is it fun or not? I have a 3 year old daughter and 4.5 year old son, so at least they would be in the same group. They do both love music but have no experience with group singing! I'm a little hesitant because it's a longer term commitment--they have rehearsal every Wed for 30 minutes and then 4 performances. (My understanding is that parents are really encouraged not to miss.) I've seen the kids perform and they look so cute...of course, some don't sing and others are real hams. Just hoping for some inside scoop! Outside of preschool, we generally just do 6-8 week activities through the park district and stuff like that since their interests seem to change fairly quickly.
We go to a mid size church and are not currently super active in it, if that matters. I should also add that the preschool director is a very nice, friendly woman and has been working with this age group for several years. guess that's a big plus!
Yes, as a leader and parent.
Get ready...there will be some kids who will scream the whole time, hide or face the wrong way, wave to their parents, try to be the loudest singer, and even strip down to their Superman underoos!
Preschool choir is so cute. Enjoy it while you can.
Talk to the choir director. Ask him/her all your questions. As a former children's choir director, I know that children come and children go. If they are going to perform four times (in church, I presume), you'll want to set your children a good example by being enthusiastic about their going every week. They'll like it more if Mama likes it, too. Thirty minutes isn't very long, they might have a really good time, and music is very good for them.
I'd say give it a try! My kids both started in the preschool church choir. If you need to miss a week here or there, no big deal. My daughter is now in a high school show choir. Music is great for brain development, math skills, social skills, etc. AND it's a lifelong activity. Generally, the preschoolers learn easy songs that are fairly short. Precious!
Our kids start doing 1 church performance per year when they turn 3 and go into Sunbeams. They do a good job. It entirely depends on who's teaching them the songs. If they do it in a fun entertaining way then it's fun. If they are impatient and demanding then it's not fun. Either way the kids will learn music and learn to love it even more.
My kids both sing in church choir. They didn't start until they were 5. They love performing, and being part of church choir has helped them with singing in school choirs, divisional choirs and musical theatre.
My son started at age 4. The director made it really fun for them, they used a lot of hand gestures and movement and always played a game during the 30 minutes. My son is very quiet and music really opened up another way for him to communicate and to be comfortable in front of an audience. I'm so glad we did it!
Our Kinderchoir starts at age 5, but they are so cute when they perform!
Yes, there are some that are extra wiggly, and some that won't hardly stand up there, but it does take being in activities like that to start learning expectations.
This is a great way (if they have a fun and understanding choir director) to start learning group singing.
I worked at a small church and was in charge of the Pre-K and kinder choir for a couple of years. Most of the kids LOVED it! If your children love music then I am not quite sure what you are hesitant about.
Preschool choir sounds like an oxymoron to me.
Both of my children have participated in our church choir since age 3 and they love it. They are 4 and 5 now so we have been doing it a couple years. Yes it is a comitment but so is any other activity. It really isnt a big deal if you miss a week or 2 just dont miss to much or they wont know the songs.
Yes it is fun!! Try it!!
ETA: I mean this in a nice way - be aware that other adults involved in the choir might be more active in the church than you are and might encourage you to show up at church more often than you do. If you really do not want to get more involved in church as an adult, just be prepared with some nice replies in case anyone asks.
I wasn't ready for my kids to be out late at that age, so that is why we didn't do it. but i'm not a people person either, Hubs takes them now that they are older, and I will say it is hard to ALWAYs have someplace to go, but they like it well enough and I figure they are learning a bit of music anyway.
ask if you can sit in a room nearby and listen, find out how many adults will be helping, check those adults out. if they don't like it or if you don't like it, then pull them and try again later.
At our church, there is the regular choir at the traditional service. At the JUMP service (which is contemporary) there are a few regulars and a few casual people who sit in as the choir along with the regular musicians that play (drums, guitars, piano, and flute). Additionally, there are two youth groups one is the preteen/teens (10-19 or so) and the other are the kids that are 5-9. Both groups do some singing and signing but the teens also do some stick ministry.
I personally asked my daughter if she wanted to do it and since she did, she has signed up. It's once a week practice...which she misses EOW during the school year because of Scouts.
