Maret Chorus Program

[Anonymous]

I'm a Maret alum and aunt of a current student. I saw the winter concert that was just released online and was shocked. A few of my classmates who had performed in the chorus when I was there had complained to me, but it hadn't sunk in until I saw it on video. The decline in chorus program and number of students was shocking. When I was there the risers were filled to capacity. The depth of voice was voluminous, the capacity of the program was strong. This video showed barely 15 students, only four boys in the entire upper school sing in the chorus? This is a failure. The band, with one director, consisted of what looked like 180 students. It was amazing, and she did the whole thing. The chorus had a few middle schoolers, then fewer upper schoolers. Why are middle school students not choosing chorus, and why are they not continuing in upper school? What's the deal with the chair of the department? I hear that the band director has after school clubs for band kids in middle school, and there's nothing after school for chorus, that's problem number 6. He's got two chorus teachers for about 30 kids and one band director for 150/75 students? Plus she does after school? Also, why wasn't he playing the piano when the upper school was singing. My niece said that an upper school teacher was playing the piano!?

Ultimately, the program seems worse than it was. Maret should be taking this seriously, they don't see this decline of a program.

[Anonymous]

I have no affiliation with Maret. But your post caught my attention because I do know a thing or two about choirs and professional voice. Your criticism is way out of line. Newsflash: Choral singing is not cool. It’s more geeky than ever. Tik toks are cool. Hip hop is cool. Welcome to 2023. Get ready for 2024. 1974 is long gone.

[Anonymous]

To the OP...I think part of the issue is that the current cohort of upperclassmen were in middle school when COVID hit, and across many schools and probably the entire cohort, there is an overall decline in various school activities - sports, theater, arts, music, etc.

So I don't think this is solely a Maret thing, and hopefully it corrects over time as things "get back to normal"

[Anonymous]

This is an odd complaint to put in the school. Kids interests change, I don't see how the school can do anything unless you want it to become a required activity.

[Anonymous]

I’m also a Maret parent and….who cares? The program is there if your kid wants it and no one is forced into it if they don’t. There is plenty going on at the school and countless clubs and activities.

Just because you had a good experience doesn’t mean that the clocked stopped and interests froze in time.

[Anonymous]

We are a Maret family and I see what the OP is saying. It’s an open secret that the director of the choir program is generally reviled by the students, assigns homework and *tests* so kids have fled to band, where the band director is amazing.

We went to the musical last year and it was, quite frankly, bad.

The sad thing is that Maret used to be known for both visual arts (still string) and performing arts, but right now the only performing art that is any good is band.

[Anonymous]

PP still *strong* sorry

[Anonymous]

Agree with PPs citing the effects of COVID on the perf arts. Kids who would have been joining their MS music program in 6th grade didn’t and some dropped their instrument when lessons went virtual. Most MS and esp HS level programs are still re-building.

Another factor is the increasing focus on sports. Money, time, attention go to sports over the arts. It’s a reflection of popular American culture: athlete worship and the money the coaches/managers/owners/players make starting in kids’ sports all the way through to prof leagues. Private schools are not only not above it, they are in whole hog from sports as an admissions hook even in sixth grade, recruiting, money spent on facilities, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is an odd complaint to put in the school. Kids interests change, I don't see how the school can do anything unless you want it to become a required activity.

For context, Maret having a bad chorus is like Landon being bad at Lax

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Agree with PPs citing the effects of COVID on the perf arts. Kids who would have been joining their MS music program in 6th grade didn’t and some dropped their instrument when lessons went virtual. Most MS and esp HS level programs are still re-building.

Another factor is the increasing focus on sports. Money, time, attention go to sports over the arts. It’s a reflection of popular American culture: athlete worship and the money the coaches/managers/owners/players make starting in kids’ sports all the way through to prof leagues. Private schools are not only not above it, they are in whole hog from sports as an admissions hook even in sixth grade, recruiting, money spent on facilities, etc.

Uhhhh not at Maret

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is an odd complaint to put in the school. Kids interests change, I don't see how the school can do anything unless you want it to become a required activity.

For context, Maret having a bad chorus is like Landon being bad at Lax

The singers were the laxbros of Maret?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Agree with PPs citing the effects of COVID on the perf arts. Kids who would have been joining their MS music program in 6th grade didn’t and some dropped their instrument when lessons went virtual. Most MS and esp HS level programs are still re-building.

Another factor is the increasing focus on sports. Money, time, attention go to sports over the arts. It’s a reflection of popular American culture: athlete worship and the money the coaches/managers/owners/players make starting in kids’ sports all the way through to prof leagues. Private schools are not only not above it, they are in whole hog from sports as an admissions hook even in sixth grade, recruiting, money spent on facilities, etc.

Uhhhh not at Maret

Everywhere. Except SAAS. They are hard-core.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is an odd complaint to put in the school. Kids interests change, I don't see how the school can do anything unless you want it to become a required activity.

For context, Maret having a bad chorus is like Landon being bad at Lax

The singers were the laxbros of Maret?

Are you dumb?

[Anonymous]

My DC is in chorus at Maret and hates it 😭

[Anonymous]

Go to a Cathedral school if your kid is into choir. Honestly, most Episcopal and Catholic high schools have wonderful programs.