Making the Case
Chorus America (an organization to strengthen choruses and provide resources for choral leaders) commissioned a study a couple of years ago of choruses in American life with the goal to remedy the absence of information about choral singers, choruses, and their impact.
Below are some of their findings...
Finding 1
Choral singing continues to be the most popular form of participation in the performing arts.
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Chorus participation remains strong in America. An estimated 42.6 million people in the U.S. sing in more than 270,000 choruses today - that's far more than participation in any other performing art.
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These choruses perform music that provides a means of expressing something greater than each individual participant - whether in concert halls, churches, or pavilions and town squares.
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The data indicates that choral singing is a thriving and growing form of artistic expression in America, and, in addition to providing great musical performances, it can be acknowledged for advancing many of the positive qualities associated with success in life for both children and adults.
Finding 2
Adults who sing in choruses are remarkably good citizens.
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Chorus members are avid patrons of art, attending theater, opera, choral events, orchestra concerts, museums, and art galleries significantly more frequently than members of the general public.
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Chorus members also volunteer significantly more frequently than the general public. They're significantly more likely to say they volunteer frequently, fairly often and/or at least sometimes, significantly less likely to say they almost never do so. They're also significantly more likely to attend a church or synagogue than general public members.
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Choral singers contribute much more financially to philanthropic organizations than the average American, and do so a rates that appear slightly higher than previous years.
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Chorus participation appears to make members better team players in other activities in their lives (outside of chorus). Choristers are significantly more likely than others to self-report being reliable, willing to accept criciticm, and regularly accept assignments outside their area of expertise. They are significantly less likely to say they don't get enough credit for what they do, or get viewed by others as resources instead of allies. A large majority of choral singers credit choral experience as key to their team participation or team leadership abilities. They believe that singing in a chorus helps them to socialize better in other areas of their lives.
Finding 3
Children who sing in choruses have academic success and valuable life skills.
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If chorus participation can have as profound an effect on adult singers as the singers themselves say it does, it's natural to ask what impact choruses can have on a developing child?
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Reports from recent study show that both parents and educators attribute a significant part of a child's academic success to singing in a choir.
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For example, 70% of parents said their child has become more self-confident, more self-disciplined, and has developed better memory skills since joining a choir.
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Another 80% surveyed agree with parent assessments that choir participation can enhance numerous aspects of a child's social development and academic success, including better grades.
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A full 90% of educators surveyed believe choir participation can keep students engaged in school who might otherwise be lost.
