 Local children are invited to join the United Christian Parish Kid’s Choir program. Courtesy photo. LAKEPORT – Three times a year United Christian Parish (UCP) in Lakeport creates a children’s choir. This choir is open to all Lake County children in Kindergarten through seventh grades and is offered free of charge.
The next session of Kid’s Choir begins at 4 p.m. Wednesday, April 22. However children who arrive on the bus from school are welcome to come as early as 3 p.m. for homework hall and snacks. The rehearsal itself is from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. and parents are welcome, though not required, to attend.
The church is often asked why UCP offers this program for kids in the community, since they neither require them to pay, nor to be affiliated with the church. The answer is as simple as the bumper stickers we sometimes see around town: “It’s good for the kids.” Consider this data compiled by Instructor Magazine:
Numerous studies have revealed that children who participate in music programs show improved temporal skills, enhanced academic performance and better social skills; A 2001 college entrance exam study showed that students who had experience in music performance scored 57 points higher on the verbal section of the SAT and 41 points higher on the math; A 1999 UCLA study showed that gains from music education were just as great, or greater for students of low socio-economic status as for privileged students.
By participating in a community children’s choir these kids are literally becoming smarter! This is important because as Jan Wagner of Yellow Dyno pointed out, “The world’s top academic countries place a high value on music education. Hungary, Netherlands and Japan stand atop worldwide science achievement and have a strong commitment to music education.” Lakeport Elementary School does have a music appreciation program but it is funded entirely by the Parent Teacher Organization – not because the state gives them the money needed to provide for it in the budget.
The United Christian Parish Kid’s Choir program is a wonderful opportunity to open up another venue of music education to our children; one that shows how motivated music can make our kids. Last year when the choir director told these children that one piece had proved too difficult for their age and experience, all of them took the music home along with a practice CD and memorized a musical fugue that would have been difficult for an experienced adult choir! They rocked!
As former President Bill Clinton said, “Music is about communication, creativity and cooperation, and, by studying music… students have the opportunity to build on these skills, enrich their lives, and experience the world from a new perspective.”
The UCP Kid’s Choir is free to any Kindergarten through seventh grade student, but preregistration is appreciated. For more information on the next session of Kid’s Choir, please contact Pastor Shannon before April 22 at 263-4788 or email
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(be sure to put kid’s choir on the subject line).
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