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Frequently Asked Questions

As singing is a learned skill, YVC concentrates on singer education. Vocal skills, as well as music literacy, terminology and sight-reading are taught in every lesson.

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 experience,

All children with a love for music are encouraged to audition. Training choirs (TrebleMakers and Crescendo) accept entry-level singers. Vox Anima members are required to have some music reading experience.

This is a gentle audition. At first we just chat to set a friendly tone and get acquainted.

We want to understand each child’s comfort level with singing and music, so we can assign them to the right class. We want each child to feel well-matched with the group they will be assigned to in the fall, so that they will feel a little bit challenge but not overwhelmed. We try to place each young singer in similar age groups and with kids with similar music skills.

In the audition we will do some echo singing, with the teacher modeling some simple exercises and the child repeating. Then we will ask them to sing America (My Country ’Tis Of Thee) or any simple song like Happy Birthday. Also we will discuss what they have learned in school or instrumental lessons about music notation (note reading). Most kids have some knowledge of that.

We want them to understand a little bit about what we do in choir and how much fun it is to improve your singing with friends.

A member of the YVC staff will discuss their placement with their parent soon after the audition.

We provide 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 about 14 years old to begin private voice lessons. Our Voice Conservatory is an option for our older singers.

Young Voices of Colorado performs 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 learning. We choose music that encourages beautiful tone in the child’s voice. We focus on classics, folksongs from many countries and new compositions written specifically for children’s choirs.

While some of the music has religious origins, we teach 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.

Choral music develops confidence while emphasizing collaboration and cooperation. 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. Together they produce a much greater product than any individual can, and the children are inspired by each other.

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.

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.

Almost all of our entry-level singers become “TrebleMakers” for one or two years. These children are in at least 2nd grade.

Singers entering at least 5th grade 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. 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.

Tuition includes regular rehearsal instruction, the use of printed music, Saturday day camps, school tour transportation, end of year awards, rehearsal snacks and performances. Uniforms are an additional expense. They may be purchased new. Coordinators also organize a fall uniform swap where gently-used uniforms may be purchased at half price.

All Vox Anima members participate in Sing A Mile High International Choral Festival at the end of June. There are additional costs for festival room and board.

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.

Registering your child for choir with Young Voices of Colorado obligates the undersigned parent to pay for the full season (August-May; Vox Anima, VoiceMale and Signature members participate in SAMH (summer). Although we allow families to sign up for a tuition payment plan, we do not excuse payments even though your child may not fulfill his/her attendance commitment.

If within the first 4 weeks of classes a family decides that YVC is not a good match for the them, they may withdraw the singer and receive a refund on any tuition that has been paid. The $100 non-refundable deposit will not be returned.

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