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Stick Time: Home-Schooler in the Choir

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Bring up the topic of home-schooling among a group of educators and you can be assured of a vibrant discussion.  A study by the National Home Education Research Institute (NHERI) estimates that in the spring of 2010, there were more than two million home-schooled students, K through 12.  That accounts for about four percent of our school-aged population.
 
As choral music educators, we are eager to provide access to our art for as many students as possible within our respective schools.  How can a home-school student experience the same level of music education available to a child in a traditional educational environment?
 
Among several possible ways to provide a choral music experience to home-school students is through a community youth choir.  There are many such excellent community youth choral programs in cities throughout the U.S.; including this choir – the Concord Vocal Ensemble – featured at a recent ACDA Divisional Conference.
 

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  1. When I lived in California for 20+ years from the 80’s, I homeschooled two children and started an open access secular homeschooling group which eventually grew to many families and approximately 100 children.    We didn’t have to go out and find choirs to join – we started our own. We had children, parents and grandparents in our vocal groups and they lasted for years.   We took them to see groups like Chanticleer, jazz bands and chorales from the local colleges.   We believe that they received a better music education than that which was offered from local schools at the time.  
     
    There is an interesting perception that if children don’t participate in regular traditional school activities then they are missing out on something important.   I’m just writing to say that this is not necessarily true and homeschoolers are some of the most resourceful people in the community.   If they feel a need to join a community youth choir they won’t be shy about approaching such a group.

  2. I have had several home schooled children in my community chorus, whose members range from age 10 to late 70s. They have been some of my most enthusiastic, beautifully singing, and musicianly chorus members, and through the chorus and other local opportunities in this small rural community such as contradance bands and steel band, they’re getting a pretty good beginning on their musical training.

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