Have a simple audition for a special event in your children's choir by following this simple outline.
First let me say, that there are a lot of PRACTICAL reasons to have an audition for a special event you plan to do with your children’s choir. I’ll get to those. But first, let’s take a step back and think about some of the less practical reasons to have a choir…
Maybe it is because I grew up doing lots of theater, but there is something about an audition that teaches such valuable life skills that I want all kids to learn.
I have very early memories of working (struggling?) with my mother as she helped me prepare for different auditions that I had in elementary school and church choir. The struggle to get the lines memorized, the practicing different deliveries, etc. And I remember and am thankful for overcoming those struggles to have a successful audition.
I also remember my audition for the competition play at my high school during my senior year and NOT getting a part after I had been cast in leading roles the previous years. The heartbreak. The gentle conversation that my director (who I still adore) had with me to explain her reasoning. The life lesson of still accepting the crew job that I was offered for that play, even though it was miles away from what I wanted.
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So, if you want to have a very MICRO taste of all the highs and low and stresses and butterflies and exhilaration within your children’s choir, I have put together a very simple audition plan for a small children’s choir. Note, auditions are just for a special, larger musical event that has special parts. Otherwise, I think all children should be encouraged to be in the choir.
Here is what is included in this blog post about utilizing this simple choir audition model. Much of this information is also contained in my Christmas Musical “What The Bible Says About Christmas” which is available for purchase.
- Rationale for Having Auditions
- Description of Audition
- Selecting Your Audition Panel
- PDF of Audition Scoring Sheet
- Letter Home to Parents
- Link to tiny American Flag on Amazon
Rationale For Having Children's Choir Auditions
Here is my rationale (practical and philosophical) for holding an audition:
- It allows you to generally assess a minimum level of ability. Can the child speak mostly intelligibly, hold his head up, overcome some nervousness. Likely no church musical activity requires future Tony-Award talent, but an audition ensures that you will have people who can actually execute their assignment.
- It allows you to select any stronger performers you might need for your upcoming special event. Is there dialogue? Long passages of scripture reading? A special solo/duet/trio? At some point, if you do anything beyond just having your kids present a song as an entire choir, you are going to need to identify some children who have higher level performance skills.
- It toughens kids up. This is my own personal opinion, but as your choir will be equipping all the children to overcome their stage fright, this will turn up the pressure a little bit more. We want these children to be confident in proclaiming the Gospel, and learning basic public speaking skills can only help.
Description Of Audition
For my audition, I wanted it to be as simple as possible for the children, the parents, and myself. My goal was almost no preparation prior to the audition. The children only needed a willing and confident attitude.
Also note that this audition did not assess singing ability at all. When I used this audition, I did have roles I needed to fill for small groups to sing the middle verses of some Christmas carols, but I was not actually concerned with their singing ability. Our choir is not at that high of a musical level. If you have the ability to teach kids to sing well (I don’t) and you have the kids with actual singing talent, you could add a singing component to the audition for the children who want a special singing part. Toward the goal of keeping it simple, I would suggest having them just sing a verse from a song you are already learning. No extra work required.
For the audition, each child was provided a tiny American flag before their audition began (we had one to share with everyone). This was what they had to do:
- Enter the audition room in whatever manner they wanted (I encouraged some parade-style pomp, but only one child did that, FYI).
- Approach a small table in the middle of the room with a tiny flag stand.
- Mount the flag in the tiny flag stand.
- Recite the Pledge of Allegiance.
- Remove the flag.
- Exit the room.
Selecting Your Children's Choir Audition Panel
I had 3 total people on my audition panel. Not too many to be too scary, but also not just me who they are too familiar with.
I asked one of the women in the church who was a regular Sunday School teacher. I chose her specifically because I was confident that the kids would be familiar with her.
The other person on the panel was a member of the church choir who has had some amateur performance experience. It was an audition for a musical after all, so I wanted someone with some experience. I also deliberately chose him because I knew that the kids DID NOT know him well. I hoped that would add a little bit of performance jitters to the children that they would prove they could overcome.
I was the third person on the panel.
Audition Scoring Sheet
After each child auditioned, the panel quickly (I’m talking less than a minute each) completed the audition score sheet. You can download a printable copy.
This sheet assessed the child’s Concentration, Physical Expression, Vocal Expression, and Overall Impact.
There was also a free form section to record Strengths, Weaknesses, Recommendations, and Other Notes.
Admittedly, this sheet might be a little overkill (I’m known for taking things too far), but your panelists are probably going to want some sort of guidance. And you will to at least use the “notes” section to just jot a few things down or you and your panelists are not going to be able to keep all the kids straight.
Letter Home To Parents About The Children's Choir Audition
This is the text of the letter that I sent home to the parents to describe the audition requirements. You can copy and past it modify it to fit your needs.
Be sure to change the parts in italics.
Christmas Program Audition
This information is for anyone who wants to audition for a speaking part in the upcoming Christmas program. In the program, there will be a few “roles” and a few small groups of children reciting parts of Luke 2.
Instructions for the audition:
Each performer will audition one at a time to a panel of 3 adults on Sunday, November 5th during the church fellowship brunch.
- The child will be handed a small, table-display-sized American flag outside of the audition room.
- When the child is ready, he/she will open the door independently and proceed into the room where there will be a small 3-inch round black stand for the flag.
- The child must enter the room and mount the flag in the stand.
- The child will recite the Pledge of Allegiance.
- Lastly, the child will retrieve the flag and exit the room with the flag.
Beyond these basic rules, the child can insert any creativity he/she chooses. For example, the child can march in. The child can salute or can bow. The child can play music from a cd player/mp3 player, etc.
We hope that your family will find joy and entertainment in practicing for this audition and also for working up the parts are assigned.
Please let Kate Johnson know by October 29th if your child plans on auditioning
Purchase Your Flag
If you need to purchase a tiny flag, you can find them on Amazon and probably any Walmart. Here is an Amazon link to show you what I used.