The Choirs for Children and Youth at Lafayette-Orinda Presbyterian Church strive to nurture confident worship leaders through music education and spiritual formation. During weekly rehearsals, choristers are not only learning to use their vocal instruments and preparing pieces for worship. They are learning teamwork to create a meaningful musical experience for themselves and the congregation.
Just like every player on a sports team is crucial for the strength of the entire team, every member of a choir is vital to the success of the group as a whole. The children learn to trust in, and rely upon, one another to make music. The power of the choral experiences comes from the sum of each unique voice being lifted together in song. This goes beyond simply learning the music at home. It is the magic of the music-making process that can only happen in rehearsal together.
When a child is absent from rehearsal, it resonates throughout the choir team. Although some absences are unavoidable, children who frequently miss rehearsal affect not only their own choir experience, but the potential of the team. Directors have the discretion to decide the best manner in which a child who is frequently absent can support the choir. A child may be asked to sit out a performance if they have missed a substantial number of rehearsals on a particular piece of music. In this case, the best support that child can give the choir team is to sit in the congregation with an encouraging smile and enthusiastically rejoin the group at the next rehearsal.
Thank you for helping to support a positive and enriching environment for everyone involved in the Children’s and Youth Music Program at LOPC.