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.