Anonymous wrote:For my kids I would favor band over chorus or orchestra. In elementary school it doesn't really matter, but in high school if your kid is still into it band offers a lot more opportunities. Marching band is really fun, you play at football games, compete in tournaments, march in parades. Chorus and orchestra don't offer all of those same opportunities.

Oh and one other thing, if you play a wind instrument you can still be in orchestra as well, but string players would have to learn another instrument to be in band.

For my kids I would favor band over chorus or orchestra. In elementary school it doesn't really matter, but in high school if your kid is still into it band offers a lot more opportunities. Marching band is really fun, you play at football games, compete in tournaments, march in parades. Chorus and orchestra don't offer all of those same opportunities.

I played the flute growing up so I played in both the band at school and (because my school did not have an orchestra), orchestra outside of school. Personally, I loved band because it provided me with a built in group of friends and marching band was hard but an absolute blast. However, I 100% preferred playing in orchestras.

From a high school perspective, chorus can lead to the drama/theater club (lots of fun). A band instrument can lead to marching band (lots of fun). Basically, consider the extra curricular clubs going forward.

Just my 2 cents

Do you know the rep of the director/conductor? Having done variations of all three, the amount I learned about music and the experience was entirely dependent on the conductor.

Anonymous wrote:NP. DC has been in strings for 2 years and is now taking band in 6th grade, while continuing private violin lessons. In middle school next year, will it be possible for her to take both orchestra and band?

Many middle schools offer two elective periods and some kids definitely choose a music elective for both. The main obstacle would be a foreign language, which might get pushed off the schedule in order to do that.

OP they are all good options. Think of the elementary music programs as a sampler for what they could do in middle and high school. It's not much more than that.

None of the programs offer coaching in techniques. At middle schools where families have means, students are strongly encouraged to start private lessons for their instrument, if they haven't already. This is important to build correct techniques.

Over the years, many kids go back and forth between chorus and instrumental music. When high school starts, wind and brass players might switch into the orchestra, since HS programs use full orchestra. They do build friendships, be it during rehearsals, playing in the school musical's pit orchestra, smaller groups like jazz band and chamber choir, travel to competitions, marching band, etc. The most important thing in 4th grade is to find an instrument that is fun to play, and have the experience of playing in a concert with some buddies from school.

NP. DC has been in strings for 2 years and is now taking band in 6th grade, while continuing private violin lessons. In middle school next year, will it be possible for her to take both orchestra and band?

In 4th grade they’ll learn practically nothing anyway, OP. So whatever he wants. He’ll be able to switch next year and in middle school.

The real music learning happens outside of a general school group experience.

Whatever he wants.

The relative strength of the programs varies so much school to school. If band program is known as being fun and strong, you can't go wrong with band. In my experience, it's much more social than chorus or orchestra, but I'm sure there are schools where it's different. There is something magical about singing together in a group, so if both are options and your kid is interested, do both.

Agree with everyone - let him pick. I took piano from a young age, and I also went to a magnet school for another instrument in high school, and there, I played in an orchestra and in a college band. Any that you mention - band, orchestra, chorus - are fun, supportive, and cohesive groups for kids to belong to. So much depends on your kid, the instructor, and the other kids - just let him choose and then be flexible and supportive if he moves from the clarinet to chorus in future years or decides to pick up the tuba.

It's only 4th grade. You're overthinking this. Basically, the tone of the group depends on the teacher. Let him try whichever one he wants for whatever reason he has, and if it doesn't work out he can switch at some point in the future. It doesn't matter.

Oh, p.s., chorus won't provide voice training, but you don't need it for these purposes. You can always add it later if he is really into it.

I think you should let him do whatever HE wants. Since he plays an instrument seriously outside of school, I would guess his in-school instrument could play second fiddle. (Ha!) Something just for fun. He'll probably pick it up very quickly. Around here, a small number of instruments are available to elementary school students, but they let kids try a lot more in middle school. Some kids supplement with private lessons, but again, since he is already in pretty deep with piano, you definitely don't have to do that for every instrument.

As for chorus, I think he should do it. Same thing, let it be for fun. By junior high, most choruses need more boys. In elementary, it should be more of an even split.

DS is musically inclined and has been playing piano pretty seriously for 3.5 years now. He is entering 4th grade can pick an instrument for one of the above. He also has to option of doing chorus along with one of band or orchestra. I'm leaving the individual instrument selection upto him but wanted to understand environment of each of these better. Neither DH nor I went to school in the US. I've read that band can provide more of an inbuilt social support as they grow up. DS doesn't play sports and would certainly benefit from that. He also has a great voice, did a theatre camp in the summer. Does chorus provide the voice training needed for that. Does doing band and chorus make their school schedule crazy or is this pretty routine? He plans to continue his piano lessons. I'm not crazy about adding another instrument. Does taking just chorus provide a similar social group or is that very girl heavy?
Appreciate the inputs.