Singing lessons or choir for 5-year-old girl

I have a 5 year old kindergartner who has a lovely voice and LOVES to sing. Does anyone know of a class/group/chorus appropirate for this age. . .the ones I have seen are all for older children. Thanx. Lisa

Chorus for 6-year-old girl

My daughter is 6 1/2 and she sings beautifully. I'd like to know what would be an age appropriate way to encourage her, and have her develop that talent. I saw a posting about a choir for children and would like to check that out. Any other advice or suggestions regarding classes/teachers would be much appreciated. Thanks. Christie

The age range is 5 to 18, I believe. They have solo voice lessons and offer an opera, too. From what I've seen, the teachers are talented and great with the kids. Many of the kids go on to careers in the arts. They also have a theatre arts camp in the summer.

If you're looking for voice lessons or a chorus or the experience of opera for your kids, I would highly recommend this. Their number is 925 945 7101 colleen

Alternatives for 5-year-old boy

My just turned 5yo son has been singing with the SF Boys Chorus for a few months, but it doesn't seem like the right place for him. He adores music and sings constantly, but he's too wiggly and playful to enjoy rehearsing for performance. I'm looking for a chorus or singing group that will be fun, introduce him to lots of different music (rather than just perfecting a few songs) and not try to teach him to sit still and sing like a professional (which is a nice goal, but way beyond him). Any ideas? It seems that most choruses (Piedmont, Kairos) start kids a bit older, more like 6 or 7, and with good reason. Is there a mellower alternative out there for kids 4-7 who love to sing? Judith
P.S. I checked the website, and despite a similar query earlier this year, there was no useful info.

Piedmont Choirs has a great training department that mixes music education, singing, and fun. The beginning level conductors understand the fidgets of kids and incorporate it into rehearsal. There is rehearsal time devoted to music theory (kids move at a self-pace with support). As they progress through the levels in the choir, the children are expected to grow in their concert behavior, but perfect concert behavior is not expected in the Training Department. The young gentlemen are always a hit at concerts.

My two daughters have been singing with the choir for 5 and 3 years. One entered in the Training Department and one entered in the Performing Department. The choir has given them a good education in theory, intervals, sightsinging, and a continued love of music. Both are in the Performing Department at this time and traveling each year. They are meeting other young singers from all over the United States and the world. It has been a fantastic experience for both of them.

I don't know how old your son will be in September when the choir begins rehearsals. I believe that in some cases, the choir may relax it's age requirement, but you might want to check with Judi Fabrizio in the choir office (547-4441 x304). There are usually auditions in June, September, and January for entry into the choir. Terry, Piedmont Choir Parent

For the church, I direct a ''y'all come sing and make music'' class on Thursday afternoons from 5-5:45 p.m. We sing lots of simple songs, rounds, play percussion instruments (drums, scrapers, wood blocks, shakers, resonator bars, boomwhackers), dance, practice attentive listening, turn-taking and encouraging creativity. Most Thursdays we spend some time with solfeg (do-re-mi) and ear- training (it's so fun, the kids don't know it's music theory). Our age range this year was from 4-85, I think, with the group mostly consisting of kids aged 4-10 and their parents. AND, we are taking a break for the summer and will begin meeting again the Thursday after Labor Day. There is no charge for the class, and we are a ''come as you are, Unitarian Universalist or not, religious or not, and play'' kind of group. Process over performance.

Process, process, process is also the focus of Kindermusik classes, which do a great job of preparing K-1 kids for more formal music training (like a children's choir) without being intimidating. This summer, I'm offering a five-week class, ''Adventures Around the World'' (visit a different country each week), for 4-7 year olds on Tuesdays beginning June 28th from 3:30-5 p.m. Like the ''y'all come sing'' class, we sing a lot, play many different kinds of percussion instruments, dance, play games, practice attentive listening, and turn-taking. Unlike the ''y'all come sing'' class, the age range is restricted (activities are more specifically developmentally focused) and students need to register ahead of time. This creates a different group dynamic, and may be better for some students. Class size is limited to 8, so there's a lot of individual attention. There is a charge for Kindermusik, $115 includes materials, a cd, 2 instruments. I will also offer semester-long classes for 1.5-3, 3-5 and 5-7 year olds in the fall. Please see my website http://MVMusik.com or http:// kindermusik.com.

The church does have a Children's Choir, which is on summer break, returning the Thursday after Labor Day, but I suspect it may be too performance-oriented for you (for now). We rehearse on Thursdays from 6:30-7:15 p.m. and perform roughly once a month in Sunday worship services (10:45 a.m.). There is no fee to participate, but children must register in advance (contact the church office for a form, 525-0302). For more information about the UU Church of Berkeley or Unitarian Universalism, please see http://uucb.org and http://uua.org.

About me, I teach because I believe music changes lives for the better, and is essential in early childhood. When we make music with other people, we learn valuable skills for living: listening, turn-taking, imagining, connecting, and communicating effectively. We also learn to be more at home in our bodies and sensitive to our emotions. We become more fully human. To teach is my privilege and one of my greatest joys.

Thanks for reading. Michele

Chorus for 5-year-old boy

I need some recommendations and input into the various kids' choruses in the East Bay. Can anyone speak to the differences or strengths and weaknesses of the SF Boys Chorus; the Pacific Boychoir; the Piedmont Choruses and the Kairos Chorus. (I checked the website already). My son is only five and I'm looking for something that is fun, above all, but also high quality musically. He ''auditioned,'' on a whim, for the SF Boys Chorus and got in; now we need to decide whether to do it or not. rachel

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