Got Questions?
We have answers!
We have assembled an entire page of commonly asked questions so that you will know a little more about what to expect if your child becomes a part of the Colorado Springs Children’s Chorale. Keep reading for some answers to the most often asked questions. If you have other questions, or need more information, call us at 633-3562, and we will be glad to talk with you!
How much does this cost?
Each choir has a specific tuition fee. The fees range from $275 per semester up to $899 a year. These fees includes all of the costs for rehearsals each week, Super Saturdays & intensives, camps, and other extras such as camp and spring concert t-shirts! In addition, our singers get acting and choreography coaching with our professional acting coach. When you brake this all down, the cost of being in Children’s Chorale works out to about $3.00 per hour! What a great deal!
Are there any scholarships?
Although we do not offer “scholarships”, per se, through the generous sponsorship of various foundations and businesses, we are able to offer tuition assistance for singers who need financial assistance. If your singer is accepted into the Children’s Chorale and needs some help to meet the financial obligations, please contact the office as early in the year as possible to request a tuition assistance packet.
What if my child has conflicts with the schedule?
The Colorado Springs Children’s Chorale does have an attendance policy that strongly discourages absences and late arrivals/early departures from rehearsals. That being said, we do try to work with our singers as best as we can as long as the issue will not have an ongoing impact on the whole ensemble. Parents should discuss ongoing conflicts with the director of thier child’s group before commiting to the Chorale to determine whether the conflicts are workable or not.
Does my child have to have experience?
No. In the training choirs we are looking for children who like to sing and can “carry a tune”. They need to be able to sing back the same note that is sung to them, and use their treble (high) voices. From there, we’ll start teaching them good singing technique and some theory too.
Is there a uniform?
Each group has their own uniform. Some have many variations, others have just a few pieces. Generally speaking, the cost of uniforms is in addition to your tuition. We have kids moving into and out of groups all the time, so many families choose to offer their gently used uniform pieces for consignment sale. These pieces are sold to new singers (or singers who find they need bigger sizes) for about half of the cost of new uniform pieces.
Are there other fund-raising expectations?
The tuition fees for singers cover only about half of the cost of having a singer in the Chorale, therefore we must have additional fund-raising activities. The Chorale’s largest fund raising effort is Bingo. Families are asked to participate on a bingo team that works a bingo shift once every month.
Do we have to do Bingo?
For families who cannot do bingo, we do have other options for fulfilling the fund-raising commitment including advertising sales, raising new donations, and a tuition adjustment.
Do the singers get individual voice lessons?
We cannot offer singers continuous voice lessons, but we try to offer singers in the upper treble choirs and the high school ensemble “coaching’s” to address any specific vocal issues as time and schedules allow. The vocal warm-ups and excercises that are used in our choral rehearsals are chosen to give our singers individual benefits as well as helping the group as a whole. We believe there is value in giving our singers some one-on-one attention to pinpoint any bad singing habits that can be easily solved by early identification and intervention. Additionally, we can supply the names of quality voice teachers in the area for singers who wish to take their singing to the next level.
When will my child move up to the next level?
Every child progresses to the “next” group at their own pace. Some children move quickly, while others may need more time to grow and mature into the expanded musical and social expectations of the next group. Many factors are taken into consideration when your child is evaluated, including musical aspects and maturity level. Children who struggle with focus (wiggly and/or unable to control their talking) are typically given more time in the training choirs, so that when they do move up to the next level, they will be prepared to succeed there from the first day, instead of struggling with expectations that are frustrating for them, their director and the rest of the ensemble. Rehearsals and performances are the heart of the Chorale’s success, so commitment to the rehearsal and performance schedule is also a major factor in deciding when a child is ready for the next group.
Is Chorale really worth all that time and money?
There is no short-cut to quality. Singing is a physical activity, and just as athletes must train and stay in shape if they want to earn Olympic medals, so also singers must train their voices if they want to maintain a healthy and pleasant singing quality.
The Colorado Springs Children’s Chorale endeavors to take our singers far beyond music, cultivating discipline, respect, commitment and character as they learn music and performance skills, and as they interact with young singers and audience members of all ages around the world and close to home.
We believe that the cost and time commitment required of our singers is an investment in their future, giving them confidence, skills and values that will make them great leaders for their generation!