South Bay Children's Choir

The South Bay Children’s Choir is a comprehensive choral training program with six sequential levels of learning facilitated by an experienced and highly-qualified staff of choir directors. The singers (ages 6-18) meet every Saturday morning at El Camino College in Torrance from late August until early June coinciding with the school year.  Each member is expected to stay actively committed to the program for the entire season.

Singers will study vocal technique, music theory and sight-reading as they learn to sing a varied repertoire from classical to folk song literature.  Included in rehearsal times are musicianship classes and one-on-one vocal coaching.  Emphasis is on excellence while learning to work as a team in a nurturing environment.

Classes are relatively small, allowing for much individual instruction as well as a close-knit family atmosphere among the singers. There is much importance given to behaving with mutual respect, poise and dignity.  In addition to becoming better musicians, we hope to help our members become better people.  The skills they learn of self-discipline, communication, attention to detail and teamwork will become the building blocks for the rest of their lives.

Tuition is divided into six payments (three for fall and three for spring). A 15% discount is available if payment is paid in full at the beginning of the fall semester. A 10% discount is available if the semester is paid in full at the beginning of each semester. A $40 sibling discount is available.

For more information about classes and tuition, see below. See our choir manager if these payment plans are a hardship.

Songbirds
Saturdays 9:00-9:45 AM
$179 per 10-week session

Minnesingers is the apprentice group to the South Bay Children’s Choir where children ages 6-7 (as of October 31) are introduced to music fundamentals through song and movement. Following John Feierabend’s researched-based curriculum, students are led through activities that focus on being “tuneful, beatful and artful.” Being tuneful does not just mean being able to sing, but to also hear tunes in one’s head (audiation) and to manipulate sound to create new ideas. Being beatful not only means being able to keep a steady beat, but to feel how beats fit into patterns and how sounds move across the steady beat. Being artful is being able to make choices that express artistic ideas, both through the voice and through movement. All three areas are taught through singing games and movement activities with a focus on individual growth as well as the age-appropriate community building.

Music Makers
Saturdays 9:00-11:00 AM
Six payments of $125 (Three payments if starting in January)

Meistersingers is for singers ages 8-9 (as of October 31). They receive instruction in the fundamentals of singing, solfège training, score reading, and ensemble performing in a highly nurturing setting.

Lyric Choir
Saturdays 9:00-11:15 AM
Six payments of $140 (Three payments if starting in January)

Choristers is for children ages 10-12 (as of October 31). They receive instruction in voice, solfège training and ensemble training with the introduction of harmony singing found in more advanced literature.

Encore Chorale
Saturdays 9:00 -11:30 AM
Six payments of $155 (Three payments if starting in January)

Concert Choir is an advanced level choir for ages 13-18 (as of October 31). Singers work on more difficult repertoire including classical, folk, and sophisticated world music. They continue with skill-building in solfège and sight-reading, and they usually give more performances than the younger choirs.

Troubadours
No additional fees required

Troubadours is a specialized class for boys ages 12-18 who are also in Concert Choir or Bel Canto. Repertoire may include tenor and baritone parts as well as soprano and alto. They are taught vocal technique needed by those who have changing voices.  All are taught to maintain the higher notes as they learn to sing tenor or baritone as well, with attention given to parts of their ranges they may be temporarily unable to use.

Bel Canto
Saturdays 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM; must also be enrolled in Encore
Six payments of $190 (Three payments if starting in January)

Bel Canto is made up of singers ages 13-18 who have proven their commitment to perform at a higher level through consistently excellent attendance, active involvement and attention during rehearsals, a willingness to practice their music in between rehearsals, and an attitude that puts teamwork first. Their repertoire includes classical music, folk music in many languages, and jazz.

Tuition
The annual tuition is divided into four payments (cash, check or credit card). New members do not need to pay until after they have attended their first class.

Financial Aid
Tuition support is available. Please speak with Susan Benson.