competition run amuck...6th grade choir limited to auditions?

[shortbun]

When I was in High School, we had a select choir. We won state and national competitions. It was based on a highly competitive audition. There was also a choir for anyone who wanted to sing, no audition. Make this suggestion in your anonymous letter. Excluding 6th graders from singing is ludicrous. This day and age, many 6th graders would be too cool to sing-what's the harm in letting those who want to sing, sing? Very dumb!

 

[powellrj]

in our middle school your choice is band, choir, art, and general music. You have to audition for the smaller groups but they have larger groups that are available to everyone. My middle DS has played guitar for several years (weekly private lessons) but there is no place for a guitar playing middle schooler!! I am so glad he had the general music option. He LOVES it. They have attented traveling broadway shows, learned to play keyboard and learned about other types of music. I know many people give general music a bad rap, but for many kids its a great option. I am sorry that more schools don't offer it. There needs to be a place for everyone, not just the "talented" ones.

 

[Hippychickali]

Ok. It seems like a lot of people do not have a problem per sey with having to audition to make a certain choir. The problem seems to be that there is no alternative for those who don't make it. I would recommend explore the options closely, I stated in my previous post. I would not, however, send an anonymous letter. Take ownership of your comments and it will give you much more credibility and a better chance of seeing something come to fruition.

Ali

 

[ksjayhawks]

I agree that there should be opportunities for all kids to participate in some type of activity/activities. There is a difference in sports and chorus. If there are two choruses, then they both get to perform at a concert. However, 6 bb teams as mentioned above is a bit much. When my daughter was in jh years ago, they had a no-cut policy for sports. They had 4 teams a-b-c-d. The a and b teams always had games. The c teams did if another school had a c team that they played against. The d teams rarely had games and were rotated in the last spots of the c team. The kids on the c and d teams realized they were not the top players. They would come to practice, but rarely get to play. Maybe it is better to cut and give the kids the opportunity to try somethings else that they would be successful at and get to participate in. Who knows what other talents they might have?

I always thought it was interesting that there could not be cuts for sports teams, yet there were cuts for cheerleading, drill teams, special choruses and bands, etc.

To the OP, I would find out the rationale behind the audition process for next year. Perhaps it is a space/room issue. Perhaps it is a budget cut issue. It is too bad that there isn't a general music for everyone at that age,but there must be a reason. If not, your dd will take the electives and she will survive. Can she try out again for chorus in 7th, 8th grade? Go to the school and talk to the principal. He/she should be able to answer any questions that you have.

Keep us posted as to what you find out.