Last week, I walked into a karaoke bar with 10 of my workmates. There was a center table arranged with an assortment of Japanese food, sake, wine and beer. Set around that table was u-shaped bench seating and mounted in the front for all to gaze upon was a large, flat screen TV. Almost immediately, I was transported back to my basement in 1983 when Sears corduroy or Levi’s were the option, jean jackets were in and we all had big hair. Most importantly, MTV was rockin‘. Sensing imminent performance, instead of striking up pleasant conversation, I thumbed anxiously through the book of song options searching for bands from my 13 year old memory bank – The Police, The Cars, Madness, AC/DC, The Clash….hmmm- what could I sing? Really nothing and I’ll save you the gory details when I stepped to the mic not once, not twice, but 4 times.
Fortunately, my son won’t face my fate that evening. Over 10 years ago, he was showing interest in singing. Just like many of your children, he was singing with Barney – Driving in My Car comes to mind. We sensed a passion then fed it. Working with my wife, our steps are below:
Step 1: Sign your child up for private piano and singing lessons.
- Start as young as kindergarten. It’s all about a fun way to learn the basics.
Step 2: Enroll your child in a city or church children’s choir
- Most cities have youth or children’s choirs. Find one that offers both artistic excellence and exposure to diversity such as Voices Boston.
Step 3: Look for additional opportunities to sing solo
- Solos give your child confidence which grows over time and excels with maturity.
Step 4: Find additional opportunities that can offer fun variations on performance
- Summer arts camp – these can be most impactful when residential as there is the added memorability of independent cabin living and making lifelong friends.
- Theater workshops – these occur throughout the year and if you can fit them in between sports or set aside a 2 to 6 week period in the summer, they offer intensive training and a culmination of performance.
- Professional opera or theater productions – at this level, there are the highest standards and the most learning, but incredibly high levels of commitment. Our son was cast in Midsummer Night’s Dream, performed over 6 evenings with a professional opera troupe.
Step 5: Have your child sing to guests whenever you have them
- Each becomes a solo performance opportunity which reduces anxiety when singing in front of a larger audience.
Step 6: Apply to High School Summer Voice Intensive Programs
- Top level training for high school students is delivered in these 2-6 week programs which are often feeders into the university level programs. Our son participated in the Boston Conservatory Vocal Choral Intensive Program last summer. We hope that you too can help your child learn to sing. One of his recitals last summer is below.
Step 7: Chorus in High School
- Meeting regularly in school saves all kinds of time that used to be devoted to travel outside of school hours.
- Entering competitions leads to fun opportunities to meet other students and see relative accomplishment.
- Travel to other parts of the country and world. This spring, our son’s choir is touring Cuba.
