Male Singing in Early Years of School

Abstract

The sociological experience of singing for boys may differ significantly once the boy’s personal history; socio-economic status; his parent’s education and their religious beliefs are taken into account. My work with boys has been in Australia in a non-religious format and in the United Kingdom in the cradle of western musical and religious tradition. The primary difference is that the boys in English choir schools (such as Westminster Abbey or St Paul’s Cathedral) often come from backgrounds where parents: have a university education; have been exposed to Christian practices; have an understanding and appreciation of the history of the English choral tradition and classical music; and enjoy a mid to high level of economic stability. The boys I worked with in Australia came from a much wider range of backgrounds and, as religion was not integral to the programme I was teaching, parents chose this program over others offered in the community that did have a religious foundation. I was also the first girl chorister in my local cathedral choir in Australia. It started out because my father sang in the choir and my parents were active in the parish community. Sociologically speaking, the rise of the girl chorister in churches in both Australia and England is fascinating. Where has this left boys? What impact has the introduction of girls had on the recruitment of boy choristers? Are girls the way of the future as they keep their voices longer?