Show Choir -- Is It Worth the Time Commitment?

Hi, C.!

I can understand why, especially with two girls, this would be a bit overwhelming at the outset. Uniforms, dance shoes, several pairs of hose each, choreography camps, rehearsals, competitions at which they'll each need at least another $30 for food at the concessions plus programs, buttons that light up, and paying for people's choice award votes! And that's if you don't pay for a group picture! A certain color scrunchy for in their hair and curling irons, make up and hair spray to take on the road. I could go on!

However, I would like you to look forward to the SECOND YEAR! All you need is the hose and hair spray. Everything is already done and paid for, and you still have years of knowing that your girls are at school, with caring and committed adults, getting GREAT physical exercise, team-building skills, musical education, and that they are literally too busy or too tired to get into much trouble! They are learning to respect the property of the schools they visit and the buses they ride on, respect the feelings of the other choirs as they pass them in the hall, and respect the opinion of the judges even if they don't agree.

If you can't already tell, I play for a show choir. =) I agree with the other commenter that I am almost moved to tears when I see the kids put together their show for the first time. If your girls are serious and plan to stick with this, please try to look past the initial expense and make an overall decision. I guarantee you'll like watching the show when your girls are in the front row!

Okay, so this is not exactly the same, but I'm now ten years out of high school and my Favorite memories all revolve around the musical groups I was in. I remember the other stuff, but it was the musicals, the jazz band, the jazz choir, show choir, the honor choir, the honor bands, the marching band, the regular band-- all the practices and events are what I worked my butt off for... My best friends were all in all these too and I believe all the work brought us closer. The music gave me something to look forward to. I agree with you that it's "better than other social outlets for teens." I'm a professional photographer whose done my fair share of senior photographs, and it seems there are soooo many kids out there who dont participate in school events and at that early age are already into the 'partying' scene... My idea of partying when i was in HS was to go over to a friends house and just hang out.. Maybe i was just a 'band geek' or 'choir geek' but i know i would much rather my daughter (i have at 10 1/2 mo old) grew up to be a music geek than a drinker or a stoner or whatever other reckless behavior kids can get into... Now that i'm a mom myself i'm startin to realize how much work it takes and is going to take to be there for my little one.. I know I liked being in all that stuff, but i do remember hating to sit thru all the other bands and choirs.. You can only take so much! But, just remember how hard your kids work and try at this. It takes a LOT of effort and a LOT of work for them. Even if the shows are horrible, you have to think of how proud they will be and how much the need your support. It takes a lot of dedication for them to be in Show choir, but I, at least, feel that the benifits outweigh the bad stuff. Good-Luck!

My brother (who is now 16) has been in show choir since he wasin 6th grade. A typical teenage boy who thinks he has to act all tough (by competing in four wheeler races, getting in to regular teenage trouble) looks SO unbelievably happy when he preforms with his show choir it seriously makes me cry every single time. I think you should let your girls try it, who knows, they might end up not liking it and you won't have to worry about it. But it could be something they end up being feverishly passionate about, and you'd never know if they didn't try it. Just think about how you'd be able to fill with pride watching them preform. As teenagers they should be able to do their own hair and makeup, and I know that most of the girls (and boys!) do eachother's hair and makeup before the shows. There had been issues with who's going to be picking him up when he gets back into town late at night, but the parents always came together carpooling and the like. I just personally don't like the idea of telling kids they can't try and extracurricular activity either. Good luck either way!