Choirs

A study conducted by Chorus America cited benefits of choral singing for children that include skills in the following area: team building, listening and following, creative, social, discipline and personal commitment.

A study conducted by Chorus America cited benefits of choral singing for children that include:

• Teambuilding skills. Choral singing teaches choristers “how to row in the same direction.” Understanding the importance of blending vocally is as critical to the music as it is to personal interaction.
• Listening and following skills. Learning how to take direction is fundamental to the success of any organization, especially in choruses, where following the lead of a conductor makes the difference between great art and a poor performance.
• Creative skills. Singing is an art form that stimulates and encourages creative expression. The human voice has power to educate, enrich, unite and inspire.
• Social skills. Choral singing has helped children spread their wings socially and develop confidence.
• Discipline. Choral singing requires children to be organized and disciplined in their everyday lives. Balancing rehearsal schedules and concerts with school work and other commitments forces choristers to manage their time carefully.
• Personal commitment. Choristers recognize that they are part of a larger community and that their fellow choristers rely on them to make a level of commitment that ensures a consistent standard of performance.

The National Governor’s Association (NGA) in its May 2002 issues brief outlined how the arts enhance workforce readiness for students. The NGA noted positive associations between study of the arts and certain desirable student behaviors. Students who participate in the arts are:

• Four times more likely to be recognized for academic achievement
• Three times more likely to be elected to class office
• Four times more likely to win a school attendance award
• Four times more likely to participate in a science and math fair or win an award for writing an essay or poem.