"I like Choir, but..."

It’s hard. Students need challenges to stretch their limits. For some students, choir is the only class that will always challenge them. Once you become more advanced, you enjoy it even more. Music theory gets harder, sight reading gets more challenging, and choir stretches your limits. Students will feel more accomplishment when they sing well at a high level.

I don’t like to practice. Music requires discipline, which is good for all students. Anything worth doing is worth doing well, and that includes being involved in a musical ensemble.

Most of my friends aren’t in choir. Choir is not just about learning how to sing well and read music, it’s also about making new friends who share common interests with you. So, make some friends in your choir class; then you will have even more friends. Your non-choir friends will still like you.

My friend is dropping out. If your friend ran out into traffic, would you follow them there, too? Think for yourself! Do you like music? Do you like singing and performing?

I want to take another elective, too. You get to take a rotation of non-core classes in 7th and 8th Grade in addition to choir. Once you drop choir, it’s even more difficult to come back later on, on the same page as the students who stayed, but not impossible!

I want to get a head start on a foreign language. World language is important, but you will have plenty of time to take it, even if you sing in Choir all the way through 12th grade. By the last two years of high school, you will be looking for things to fill your schedule. Plus staying in choir, you get to learn how to sing in different languages anyway!

I’m not very good. Are you kidding? You are probably better than you think you are. Each student learns at their own rate. Whichever your level is, just strive to improve. That is the goal! Plus, Choir is not just about the individual; it’s about teamwork…aka…working together to blend our sound. ONE choir, ONE sound. We all must work together to get the best sound we can as a team! One of Mrs. Larsen's favorite things to say is “You don't take any class in school because you are already good at it. You take a class to improve upon your skills. It's my job to help you succeed and that is what I plan to do! The real question is, how hard are you prepared to work at it because I will help you in any way I can."

I want to be cool and popular. You already are; you’re in choir! If you act like choir, music and performing is cool, and make it fun for yourself, it will be cool. Be confident and proud to be a member of our excellent choir program! You can still be friends with the students who aren’t in Choir. Who knows? Maybe you will get them to join by just being happy and successful in choir.

I want to play sports. You can do both, all the way through 12th Grade. Concerts are always scheduled around sporting events. This is a non-issue.

(Parent/Guardian): I am letting my child decide. Dropping a music class is a life-altering decision that people often regret when they get older. Students in junior high do not have the perspective that adults do. There are many benefits to participating in music classes. Music education does not exist to create professional musicians. It is about experiencing music, creativity, expression, building social relationships, group interdependence, and artistry – most of which are essential employ-ability skills in our global marketplace.