Frequently Asked Questions

What is so special about Young Voices?
Almost all children can learn and develop music skills with good consistent instruction. We focus on the whole child, and we encourage our singers to develop not just their vocal skills, but also music literacy, expression, self discipline, confidence and commitment. These are all very special parts of being a singer and a musician.

Does my child need to have experience or vocal training?
Some of the more advanced choirs require choral experience, however, all children with a love for music are encouraged to audition.

What does my child need to do to prepare for an audition?
No previous vocal training is necessary for Young Voices membership. For our beginning choirs, we are looking for children who love to sing and can "match pitch" (that is, repeat a note accurately and on the right pitch). Singers need to be able to pay attention and follow instructions during their audition and, eventually, during their rehearsal time. For our more advanced choirs, singers should be prepared to sightread basic patterns and sing more complex exercises that we will teach them.
   All singers should be able to sing in the treble voice (unchanged voices for boys).
   Our best musicians often have studied an instrument such as piano, but that is not a prerequisite, as we work on music reading in every lesson.
   We suggest that singers attending auditions be familiar with the song "America" as we often have them sing it together, in a small group. The words are:

       My country 'tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing.
       Land where my fathers died, land of the pilgrims' pride,
       From every mountainside, let freedom ring.

What do you mean by treble voice or head voice?
The most beautiful area of the child's voice is in the upper part of the treble clef, in the soprano range. We teach the children to access their higher range with carefully planned exercises and lessons.

Do you teach private voice lessons?
The Young Voices program provides age-appropriate vocal training for children in a group setting. By working alongside their peers, children experience the synergy of choral performance while learning the rudiments of singing. We agree with most private voice teachers who suggest that singers begin private study after they have gone through puberty, when the vocal mechanism more resembles that of an adult. We suggest that children wait until they are at least 14 years old before they begin private voice lessons.

What kind of music do the children sing?
Young Voices of Colorado strives to perform high-quality music that represents a variety of musical eras, styles, cultures and languages. We carefully select our musical material based on what is best for teaching. We choose music that encourages beautiful tone in the child's voice. We do not focus on popular songs or movie tunes, but on classics, folksongs from many countries and new compositions written specifically for children's choirs. While some of this music has religious origins, we perform it for its musical and cultural value, not to promote any specific religious belief. We honor all religions. We believe the process of learning is even more important than the songs themselves.

What is the benefit of singing in a choir versus private voice lessons?
Singing in a choir provides the child with a more well-rounded environment in which to develop his or her singing voice. The children are encouraged when their voices blend beautifully to produce a sound that can fill a concert hall and inspire an entire audience.

Why do singers need to learn to read music?
Quite simply, learning music by rote (repetition) is limiting. Only by learning to read music can the singer participate in complex musical scores and performances. And only by learning to read music can they become lifelong musicians.
  Additionally, brain research has proven that music reading increases neurological activity and memory.

Is attendance important?
Choral music works in "synergy." That is, the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. We work as a team, and our choir is dependent on each and every member. We realize illness, family emergencies and required school events will often cause absences, but we encourage families to take every precaution to observe our rehearsal and performance schedule. We simply cannot do our best when we are missing vital team members.

How do you assign children to specific choirs?
Almost all of our entry-level singers become "TrebleMakers" for one or two years. Most of these children are in 2nd to 4th grade.
   Singers entering grade 5 or higher must demonstrate the ability to function well in a more advanced choir. Required skills include singing in tune throughout the treble range and being able to read basic music notation. Depending on their grade-level in school and musical skills, they may be assigned to Cantus or Concert Choir.
   Our top two choirs, Signature for girls and our VoiceMale, are highly selective groups requiring the successful completion of several years of Young Voices work.

What is included in tuition? What about uniform costs?
Tuition includes regular rehearsal instruction, the use of printed music, Saturday day camp (for younger choirs) and overnight camp (for older choirs), school tour transportation, end of year awards, rehearsal snacks and performances.
    Uniforms are an additional expense. They may be purchased new, but parent coordinators also organize a fall uniform swap where gently-used uniforms may be purchased from other choir parents at half price.

What about festivals and travel?
Concert Choir members participate in Sing A Mile High International Choral Festival at the end of June. They are also eligible for an international tour, which usually takes place in July of odd-numbered years. There are additional costs for our festival and tours, but we have several fundraising scenarios available to families who wish to earn funds.

Are scholarships available?
Partial tuition scholarships are available, based on need. Scholarship applications are available through the office. We are unable to provide scholarships for festivals or tours, but fundraising programs are available to families who wish to earn funds.

If you have other questions, email your question to info@youngvoices.org