what opportunity for a boy loves to sing in HS

Parents Forum
1

<p>I am new to this forum. I starts a thread “National History Day” as an introduction to my 6th grade boy.</p>

<p>In that thread, I explain what kinds of activities that I have tried to expose my son into so far. </p>

<p>One of the area he shows interest and talent is singing. He was picked by school to participate in county wide musical event. We did not expose him any musical experience at home except sending him to violin private lessons. He did have one year choir at first grade. His teacher gave him very high praise about his talent and he did show great talent in the audition. </p>

<p>but we never pay much attention to this area until he showed interest to “audition” for solo role. He told me he is interested in voice private lesson and he likes to have solo part if he is part of choir. This is the only time he shows interest to be better than everyone else. He is not interested in karate tournament even he had 6 years training in karate and got his black belt. So, for him to say he wants to audition for a solo role is a big surprise for me.</p>

<p>So, I want to know what kind of vocal opportunity for him if we want to use this passion and talent to help him with college admission. No, we don’t want him to get music scholarship and do music major. We want him to have a well-around EC and find something he likes and can stand out in HS to get him into most selective university if he can handle the academic part (which I think he can).</p>

<p>What I mean is if we let him take private voice lesson and make him good at singing. what can he do with his talent besides choir?</p>

<p>We Chinese are not crazy about singing but I will give him a chance to try.</p>

2

<p>Check with the junior high and high school your son will be attending to see what opportunities there might be for him.</p>

<p>A lot of junior highs and most high schools (at least in our region) offer opportunities to compete, even on a national level, and to tour internationally if you perform well. High schools also have opportunities for serving in leadership positions within choir organizations, which looks good on college applications.</p>

<p>Also check with community theaters for opportunities to participate in musical performances, even if it’s painting sets or helping backstage. These are good volunteer opportunities to help promote arts locally and give a kid valuable experience in “the way a project works”. It teaches them about planning and hard work.</p>

3

<p>Any EC is good.
If his singing is for a community-based group rather than something else such as his own band or the city opera, that is better because it shows colleges he supports his community (and you said he doesn’t want to sing for a career). It also shows that he pursues his passions, which everyone should do.
I don’t think he would need voice lessons unless they would help him get into something like the community-based group I mentioned.
Another great idea is for him to start a singing club at his high school. I might suggest an A cappella group for students who want to sing but don’t want to be in the high school’s choir or musical. They could do something as little as have 15-minute-long performances after school on the sidewalk. This would help with colleges in the following ways: He started a high school club, he was president of a high school club, etc.</p>

4

<p>You might find this book helpful: “What High Schools Don’t Tell You (And Other Parents Don’t Want You to Know): Create a Long-Term Plan for Your 7th to 10th Grader for Getting into the Top Colleges” by Elizabeth Wissner-Gross. The book describes how to research opportunities in different fields.</p>

5

<p>I would second a capella groups. Considering it is a big deal on many campuses, havign experience in a group would be a nice EC and a way to continue singing in college without being a music major.</p>

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<p>Look up Barbershop Harmony Society. They sing 4 part harmony a capella (no accompianment). Lots of societies in lots of towns–very fun!
Joining chorus in MS is great. Fun and will set you up for HS and beyond. Also sets you up for participating in school plays etc.</p>

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<p>In the sixth grade he is just on the cusp of a voice change. He might want to pursue private lessons, but be aware that the change is frequently frustrating—especially since it seems that he has just discovered his talent. He is probably too old to start in a prestigious children’s chorus but choral singing at this age is still probably the healthiest way to pursue his interest. Whether or not this sort of EC will profit him in his college admissions…practically every university has a large choir looking for male voices and its a fantastic way to meet like minded students.</p>

8

<p>Yes, the next 4 years may be a little frustrating for him while his voice finds its home. As several others have said - a choir where there many voices may be the best bet.</p>

<p>Being an officer of a choir in high school is really a good opportunity to learn leadership, communication and organizational skills. I know this was true for my daughter. If he winds up being president - there may also be some public speaking, in front of parent organizations, etc. It’s really good for them.</p>

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<p>At the middle school lessons, our kids could do choir - even two choirs by 8th grade, private voice lessons with three recitals a year, solo contest, all district and all region choir. There were also positions of leadership in choir (officers) and awards that could be earned. </p>

<p>For a middle schooler - especially a boy - I would keep it to all of the above and then see what happens to his voice. I know a man who was in a very prestigious boys’ choir - had a lovely unchanged voice. But once his voice changed, it wasn’t all that pretty and he really didn’t sing after that. I’m not saying that will happen to your son. Just be aware that things may change for him vocally.</p>

10

<p>It all depends upon how good your child is at singing. I’m Chinese so …</p>

<p>My son decided he wanted to be an Opera singer (classical voice). Started getting private lessons in High School. He is a high performing singer (top 10 in national singing contests - look up Classical Singer High School Competition). He was wait listed to Harvard. During the wait list time, we visited Harvard and met with their Choral director. That was enough to differentiate him and get him admitted (is that a selective enough school for you?).</p>

<p>He received some nice scholarships because of his singing. At the University of Wisconsin, Madison, he received a full tuition scholarship through their Summer Music Camp, and all he had to do was sing in their Choir for the 4 years. He did not have to major in music or take any music classes (other than the choir class).</p>

<p>Help your child to find out what he likes and does well. Let that talent open the doors for him. Being one of the thousands of high performing Asian kids with only good grades, will only take him so far. Grades will get him in the door, something special will get him admitted.</p>

<p>Singing can be his EC and ticket into the Ivy’s. Just make sure he does a lot with it. Singing in the school choir and musical is just the start. Thousands of Asian kids have good grades and play the violin in the school Orchestra. Help singing become a passion, and develop the resume - lots of performances and competitions.</p>

11

<p>My S is now a freshman in college. In the 6th grade he auditioned for his first community theater production (a musical). After that, he participated in community theater shows every year through his senior year in HS. Sometimes he did tech for other shows, sometimes he was the star, sometimes he had small roles. He met other people from all over the community through this group, and had leadership roles in their teen group. He also did extensive volunteering in the community through them.</p>

<p>In 8th grade, a group of guys from orchestra (S also plays cello) formed a rock band and auditioned for their middle school talent show. S was the lead singer. This success led to being hired for parties, playing for neighborhood events, and other gigs. When they were in 10th grade, they were invited back to the middle school to play for their graduation party as the “successful alums.” Their rock group eventually disbanded due to crazy schedules, but all of them continued in orchestra together and stayed friends. Some of them formed into different bands off and on.</p>

<p>In HS, S auditioned for the top choir and was also in every musical his school put on. He was elected president of his school choir and served his senior year. The title included a lot of responsibilities – for example, he had to coordinate a choir tour of all the feeder schools, which meant lots of calls/emails and working out a complicated schedule. He directed his school choir at concerts and also at the graduation ceremony. </p>

<p>He also won a community award for outstanding young artist. He won a local scholarship for outstanding involvement in the arts. He was selected to participate in some community choirs (male and female representatives from each area HS). He particpated in several state music competitions.</p>

<p>While singing was a very big part of his ECs, he also was a varsity athlete, and through his involvement in theater, became involved in the HS’s forensics group, and won state awards in that and went to the National level. After his good experience with forensics, he tried debate and won state awards at that as well.</p>

<p>He applied ED to his dream school (a small selective LAC) and was admitted. He’s been there a little over a month. He auditioned for and made the choir. He’s looking forward to upcoming tours the choir will take. </p>

<p>He does NOT have any plans to major in music at this time. But he loves to sing, and finds it grounds him and gives him joy.</p>

12

<p>I guess I made a wrong turn in his 6th grade. He had a choice of choir or string or Spanish. I choose Spanish first. Then his violin teacher told me to sign him up for choir. She said both help with musical development. </p>

<p>When I wanted to make changes, his assistant principles told me that he can earn one HS Spanish Credit (or two?) if he studies Spanish for three years. My son agrees to take Spanish. He can only switch to Choir next year.</p>

<p>I have no ideas how talent is his voice. Maybe just good enough to be above most of kids, but no enough for competition. I will need to ask his 5th grade music teacher who picked him out for the county event.</p>

<p>It is not too late for most of the prestigious choirs. I just checked last night. That’s why he left a choir after 1st grader because I saw many older kids joining choir at late age and still are doing well. So, I think there is no need to stay since first grade.</p>

<p>but what about his violin and fencing and boy scout?</p>

<p>Too many choices and too little time.</p>

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<p>cottontree - with all due respect - why not let your boy decide? I know Chinese parents are very involved and very vocal about their children’s lives and educations. But your son sounds like a multi-talented child who is doing well - and will continue to do so. I would, very politely, suggest to you to speak to him about what interests him the most. Don’t sign him up for a zillion activities he may or may not like. He’s old enough to make some decisions by himself. And he will appreciate your faith in his maturity.</p>

14

<p>He is not “multi-talent” but only “likes” many things.</p>

<p>He has no ideas what does it mean to be good but he enjoys many things. That’s the problem. He begins to like violine now because he likes to play in a group and he is in intermediate level so he can play better songs.</p>

<p>He likes fencing only because his dad wants him to do one music and one sport. So he choose fencing.</p>

<p>he wants to do boy scout because it is about survival and he likes outdoor.</p>

<p>boy scout just starts this year but he bridged in in April at cub scout. So, he has a head start here.</p>

<p>we have not signed him up for fencing because he just finished up karate and took a little break from sport.</p>

<p>singing interest only happened at 5th grader because of solo audition.</p>

<p>If I ask him, he said “I don’t know” …it means he likes all.</p>

<p>I felt bad to let him drop violin now because he just becomes good at it.</p>

<p>He choose fencing over singing because boy likes sword. We keep boy scout lower priority since we don’t need to pay for any expensive fee and it is a self-paced program.</p>

<p>I think we may drop the Spanish next year for choir so he can expose to choir. Just waste one year in Spanish even he likes it. He keeps singing all the Spanish songs.</p>

<p>I plan to drop his violin private lessons once he learns enough skills to play in school orchestra.</p>

<p>I think I need to do more talking to people to see what should we do before I ask my son for his decision.</p>

<p>but that’s a good suggestion. Thanks!</p>

15

<p>Even if he drops Spanish in 7th grade, it is not wasted. In high school, plan on him taking 4 years of a foreign language. It could be spanish, or another one. At least he was exposed, and will help him with whatever he takes in High School.</p>

<p>Right now, his interests are a mile wide, and an inch deep. Let him experience as much as he can. However, in high school, start to focus. By the time he is a senior, you want to say he does something substantial as an EC. That EC can be something totally different from other people. In fact, being different is good. Harvard does not want a freshmen class full of violin players. They need viola, cello, french horn, obo, etc. to fill out the orchestra. They want writers, actors, painters, fencers, sailors, nature lovers, dancers, etc.</p>

<p>Harvard wants kids with passion, so they bring that to the school, and expose other kids to something different. Help your child find a passion. At a minimum, help them exploit a talent to differentiate themselves.</p>

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<p>There are vocal festivals and competitions that encourage kids to perform well in reading music, sight reading and performance. Often, there are regional choirs and boys’ choirs in the area. Many colleges have a capella groups that are looking for experienced vocalists.</p>

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<p>I think I am all set for my son to try out fencing. They give me a month trial to see whether we like it or not and they also can see whether he is a material to continue. then we can try for six months membership to see how does it go. The price is reasonable, the quality is good, the driving distance is short, and the schedule is flexible. We will try it out for 6 months to one year to see what happens.</p>

<p>Now, I just need to figure out what to do with the voice/choir. I don’t like those prestige children choir because it is far from home, can’t miss classes much, tight schedule. We did one year at first grade. two times a week. School choir sounds more relax and affordable in term of time and money. Need to dig more to find options.</p>

<p>When he was at 2nd grade, I sent him to a drama class. Only 4 boys and 24 girls. He got the role as beast in the production of “beauty and beast”. He was so embarrassed about this stage show because most of them are girls. He refused to go again.</p>

<p>He also went to summer camps for the musical Broadway shows. He liked it but did not want to do again after two summers. We did one year children choir. He likes it but never said he loved it. I guess he is too young to know what he wants. Who knows he will like singing again at 5th grade.</p>

<p>He likes to make his own dance steps. I brought him to a dance studio. After one session, he did not want to go because he is the only boy.</p>

<p>So, I am very open to let him try singing and dance and drama but he did not show interest because he was the only few boys. What else I can do?</p>

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<p>“He has no ideas what does it mean to be good but he enjoys many things. That’s the problem” - That’s not a problem. It’s a joy! Let him be kid, exploring many options.</p>

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<p>Let him explore other things in the meantime. Meantime to what? When he starts getting interested in girls. Then he will see the benefit of being one of the few boys.</p>

20

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<p>I agree. Thanks for the reminder …:-)</p>

<p>After all those tries, I learn “timing” is important. Also, his ability to observe the real life increases as he grows.</p>

<p>Just few days ago, I ask him if he wants to be “super” good in ONE area, which area he will choose. He said “singing” because he is always the few boys who enjoy singing and sings well. </p>

<p>He had one boy classmate who is in a prestige choir for many years and both his parents are professional classic and opera singers (not as a career though). </p>

<p>My son does not listen to any music at home and had one year choir at first grade and many years of musical instrument training. yet my son was selected on audition. So, he thinks he has talent in singing.</p>

<p>I am still not convinced that his voice talent will necessary bring him anywhere because he might just be good enough in that small little elementary school. </p>

<p>but you can see how he observes his position with others and he can list the reasons why he is good.</p>

<p>Yes, he knows he is not good to compete with most of boys in many mainstream activities. He knows he is not cool/popular in school because of that. But he is OK with it and has the maturity "right now” to stick to what he likes and enjoys and his value because I teaches him not to comprise to peer pressure since he was in 1st grade.</p>

<p>I hope he can continue this maturity through his HS…</p>