New Chorus for East Bay 11-year-old who is now in SFGC
My daughter has been singing with the San Francisco Girls’ Chorus for 5.5 years (3 in prep chorus and 2.5 in the chorus school). She has learned an immense amount and progressed through the program fluidly thus far. While she loves to sing, she feels that the chorus is “too much” in that it is 1) too strict in limiting the number of rehearsals a student can miss (maximum is 5 all year at her level) and 2) if there is a joint rehearsal with the SF choristers, which happens 14 times per year, there is a commute to SF for the East Bay choristers and 3) a lot of music homework can at times be given, such as only a few weeks to memorize 15 songs before the holiday concert. Can anyone suggest a different chorus in the East Bay that is also seriously committed to a strong theory, sight-singing and multiple-parts (e.g. unison through six parts) music training in multiple languages, but feels a little more relaxed?
Chorus Mom
Parent Replies
My daughter is a member of the Marin Girls Chorus. The website is: http://www.marinchorus.org/. This is her second year and so far we are very happy with it. I think you can get a free class to check it out and see what you think.
Both of my children are singing at the Piedmont Children's choirs. They practice twice a week, also teach theory, and seem to work on musically difficult material. My son said that this is the best choir he has been in - this is the fourth choir they are attending (3rd one in the East Bay, one in Germany). Both of my kids love it, and their practice time is usually in the car driving to rehearsals from Berkeley to Piedmont. Several boys from the San Francisco Boys Choir joined them in the past as well and seem to be happy there.