Why Choir Might Be the Best Extracurricular You Haven’t Considered

If your kid has ever belted a song in the backseat, there’s a good chance they’re choir material. Most parents assume choir is for kids who are already singers. It’s not!

Stan DeWitt, founding Executive Director of the Long Beach Youth Chorus, breaks down why choral singing is one of the best things you can sign your child up for — and answers the questions every parent asks before taking the leap.

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Long Beach Youth Chorus

The mission of LBYC is to develop the appreciation of choral music and musical talent among young people from diverse backgrounds in a mutually supportive environment. LBYC is poised to have its best season yet, under the direction of Artistic Director, Harlee Balajadia. The 2026-27 season is now open for registration. LBYC is open to all singers, grades 1-12. Tuition is $200 for the entire season. Visit www.longbeachyouthchorus.org to learn more and register.

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Top 10 Reasons Your Child Should Try Singing & Choir

1. They get to be loud

Most kids spend their day being told to quiet down and lower their voice. Or some kids are still learning to find their voice. Choir is the exception. When the music calls for it, they’re taught how to fill a room with projection, resonance, and power.

2. They’ll actually breathe better

Good singing technique starts with the breath. Kids learn diaphragmatic breathing — which builds lung capacity and a physical awareness of their own body that most extracurriculars never touch.

3. Build long-lasting friendships

More than 42 million Americans sing in choruses, so they’re bound to find some new buddies. Those rehearsals and practices combined the excitement of performing together forges friendships and provides a unique support system.

4. It sharpens their brain in ways school doesn’t

Reading music trains both eyes and ears at the same time, which builds auditory processing and reading fluency. Memorizing lyrics is memorization practice that transfers to every subject. It’s not a shortcut to better grades, but it absolutely doesn’t hurt.

5. Boost self-confidence

It takes guts to get up and sing in front of an audience. What’s great about choral singing is that your child won’t have to be up there alone. They’ll stand alongside their peers and know that participating creates a sense of pride and spirit. Kids will take that confidence with them wherever they go—to participate in sports, answer questions in class, stand up for beliefs, or try new things.

6. It’s a screen-free social outlet

A couple hours in a rehearsal room, doing something with other kids, with no devices involved. For parents trying to find activities that pull kids into the real world, choir is one of the better answers out there.

7. Make college applications shine

Admissions teams want to see sustained commitment, teamwork, and self-discipline — choir demonstrates all three.

8. Appreciate cultural diversity

Music is one of the most direct ways into another culture’s history and values. Songs are passed down through generations as symbols of a culture’s beliefs and values. By exposing kids to music and languages from around the world, they begin to develop a deep appreciation of other culture’s traditions.

The Long Beach Youth Chorus commissioned “A Rab Pi Ya”, a Cambodian folk song arranged for children’s chorus in Khmer. The commission has been meaningful to the fantastic Cambodian-American community in Long Beach. LBYC is committed to adding quality works to the literature written for children/youth choruses.

9. It’s inclusive by design

Choir has a place for every kid — the natural performer and the one who’s never sung outside the shower. A good director works with a variety of skill levels.

10. It’s good for their mental health

Group singing has been shown to reduce anxiety. For kids juggling homework, friendships, and a lot of pressure to have it all figured out, an hour of singing with peers is a great stress reliever.

*Excerpted from The Chorus Impact Study: How Children, Adults, and Communities Benefit from Choruses by Chorus America

Frequently Asked Questions

Does my child need musical experience to participate?

Not at all. That’s what we’re here for, to give your child the musical experience they need.

What if my child’s not the greatest singer?

Most people, including children, have the innate ability to sing. But often it may seem that someone just can’t sing. In reality, singing is a fairly complex process involving the chest, throat, vocal cords, mouth, lips, tongue, teeth, nasal passages, etc. For some people, there are problems that may make it seem as if they can’t sing, but in reality they just need some training in overcoming some vocal issue or another. Others just need training in learning what to listen for and how to match pitches.

In either case, a trained vocal or choral educator has learned how to teach to those issues. So even if you think your child may not be a good singer, the education from a good choir director can help them become a good singer!

The Long Beach Youth Chorus is fortunate to have Harlee Balajadiaas our Artistic Director. Harlee has a Bachelor’s degree from CSULB and a Master’s degree from Berklee School of Music, and is a successful choral director in the Long Beach Unified School District and a highly sought-after performer. Harlee can definitely help your child learn how to sing!

What’s the time commitment to be in a choir? How often are rehearsals and performances?

Most choirs rehearse a minimum of 1-2 hours per week. Some choirs will practice up to 5-6 hours per week! Beyond the time rehearsing, choir singers are expected to practice some on their own. Like any musical endeavor, the more practice time, the quicker and deeper the musical progress.

Likewise, performances can vary from choir to choir. Church choirs sing every Sunday morning; school choirs and local choirs may only sing concerts 2-3 times per year. Other choirs sing 15+ concerts and even go on tours, so the time commitment can vary greatly.

The LBYC rehearses on Sunday afternoons, and part of that time is devoted to musical theory training. We perform 2-4 concerts per year, plus other special performances (like with the Long Beach Symphony or Jelly of the Month Club).

How do I know if my child is ready to join? What’s a good age?

Truthfully, every child is ready to join! Singing is a beneficial endeavor that helps everyone, from breathing to socialization. If your child enjoys singing, then a choir is right for them at any age.

About the Long Beach Youth Chorus
The mission of LBYC is to develop the appreciation of choral music and musical talent among young people from diverse backgrounds in a mutually supportive environment. LBYC is poised to have its best season yet, under the direction of Artistic Director, Harlee Balajadia. The 2026-27 season is now open for registration. LBYC is open to all singers, grades 1-12. Tuition is $200 for the entire season. Visit www.longbeachyouthchorus.org to learn more and register.

About Stan DeWitt
Stan DeWitt is an acclaimed conductor, singer, guitarist and composer whose work crosses into all realms of music. He was on the faculty at Coastline College for 26 years, and has taught or directed at Cal State Long Beach, Long Beach City College and Cypress College. He was the Artistic Director for Zephyr: Voices Unbound and has sung with numerous professional small ensembles. He is currently the Minister of Music at St. Peter’s by the Sea Presbyterian Church in Huntington Beach, a producer for the Sound Ministry Gurus production team, and founding Executive Director for the Long Beach Youth Chorus.

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This post was written by Kidsguide