How to Persuade Students to Join Our School Choir

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If you're looking to build or enhance your school choir, persuading students to join can be a rewarding but challenging endeavor. This guide will explore various strategies and techniques you can use to effectively recruit new choir members.

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Introduction

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Unfortunately, simply asking a student to join a school choir doesn't always lead to success. As the proverb goes, ‘cross the bridge when you get there,’ meaning you should focus on nurturing their interest rather than forcing them to make a decision they might not be ready for.

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Effective Methods to Recruit Students

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1. Simple and Non-Pressuring Approaches

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One effective strategy is to use indirect approaches:

r r r Simply Asking: Start with a polite and friendly question: “Would you like to join our choir?”r Public Auditions: Hold a public audition where interested students can demonstrate their talents. Promote this event by highlighting the benefits of being part of the choir.r Peer Persuasion: Encourage peer singers to persuade others who they believe might be great choir members.r r r

2. Use Real-Life Examples

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Personal stories or role models can inspire students. For example, you could tell them about Dee Snider, the lead singer of Twisted Sister, as a child, who sang in a church choir, school choruses, and a high school chorus in Baldwin, NY. This example can make students understand that everyone has a starting point and can improve.

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3. Positive and Flattering Approach

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Use a positive and gentle approach to nurture their interest:

r r r Tell them: “I heard you have a really nice voice. Would you mind singing a little for me?”r Let them choose any song in any style they want and be appreciative but not too enthusiastic.r r r

Conduct a simple and informal vocal test:

r r r Practice pitch matching and short melody repetition.r Consider singing a familiar song like “My Country 'Tis of Thee”r r r

After the test, if you think they would be an asset to the choir, gently remind them about the potential benefits:

r r r Tell them: “You are really ok as a singer you have a lot of potential, and if you join the choir, you would learn to be a MUCH BETTER singer.”r Be careful not to overinflate their abilities; being realistic is crucial.r r r

Closing Thoughts

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Recruiting for a school choir is a collective effort. Encourage other choir members to approach potential members and let them feel that they would be a valuable asset to the choir. Be bold and ask them to join!