Frequently Asked Questions
Rehearsals take place at St. John’s Cathedral, 127 E. 12th Ave. Spokane, WA 99202
Group choral rehearsals give an opportunity to sing with other children who are singing correctly, which enhances their understanding of true vocal production. The vocal production taught in the SAYC rehearsals is consistent with what is learned in individual lessons, but in a more social environment and in an age appropriate manner.
In young people, the vocal physiology is not fully developed until students get past puberty. If they are working to try and emulate an adult solo voice (which is how we learn anything that we do aurally – emulate it) chances of damage are high. Even the best of teachers cannot see physical damage that is interior. Also, the literature used for such lessons is usually more advanced in vocabulary and life experience. Another reason why it is hard to start serious study before puberty is that the child’s ability to concentrate solely on the aspect of vocal production for the length of time they need to in practice and study is not yet in place in a child of that age.
Learning to sing correctly is a process that involves learning correct vocal technique, developing aural skills, learning music literacy, and much more! If your child enjoys singing and is dedicated to participating in choir and music, we encourage you to bring them for a placement interview!
We realize that an audition can be intimidating. Our initial meeting with singers and parents is a “placement interview” which we use to determine the level of ensemble that will best meet the child’s needs. Directors lead the singers in some basic vocal and rhythmic exercises during the placement interview, and no preparation is necessary.
At the Youth Choirs, you will find a group of singers, both boys and girls, who are all committed to a love for music and singing. If your son enjoys singing, he will find himself among friends at SAYChoirs!
Kodaly is a music methodology for teaching children music literacy. The Kodaly methodology is based upon the work of Hungarian composer, Zoltan Kodaly, and focuses on singing as a child’s primary path to musical growth. Kodaly promotes musical literacy through the use of the solfege system (do, re, mi).
Orff Schulwerk is music methodology developed by composer, Carl Orff. In Orff methodology, young musicians develop their musical abilities through a combination of singing, chanting, playing instruments, and movement. Orff encourages that students experience and create music as a pathway to learning musical literacy.
Yes! Choir is a great way for beginning singers to gain musical skills and confidence in a group setting. If your child enjoys music and singing, the children’s choir provides them with a fun and inviting setting for them to pursue their interests.
In music, timbre is also known as tone color or tone quality. It is the quality or ‘color’ of each person’s sound that distinguishes different voice types.
Many colleges and businesses look favorably upon students who have shown the dedication and commitment required to be involved with any musical organization. Students who learn to work in a choral setting gain skills in organization, listening and attention to detail. They are more successful in interview situations and show confidence in all areas of performance. Many colleges offer scholarships to students of Voice, without requiring them to be Music Majors. This allows them to continue to sing and study voice in an academic environment, without incurring extra expense.
We encourage our singers to participate in their school organizations. The opportunity to learn more literature, become exemplary leaders and develop a support base at school are all reasons we hope students will participate in their school ensembles.