Our Junior Choir started in April 2023, and has grown into a fun and energetic group with students gathering together from various international schools and Japanese elementary schools. This fun group helps to build good vocal technique while exploring a range of repertoire. The choir performs with a small band or stage orchestra, providing an unforgettable experience for its members.
Rehearsals
Tuesdays 17:15-18:30 in Azabudai
Performances
A performance takes place at the end of each term.
Term Dates 2024 - 2025
Term 1
Sunday 15th September 2024 - Sunday 24th November 2024
Mid-term Break: 20-26th October
Term 2
Sunday 12th January 2025 - Sunday 16th March 2025
Term 3
Sunday 6th April 2025 - Sunday 8th June 2025
Entry Requirements
None
Fees
¥35,000 + consumption tax per term
Click Here to register for the Junior Choir
Why Join?
There are so many reasons to join a choir. Singing in a group with others can be a joyous experience, which is enough of a reason in itself to take part. However, there are many other reasons to sing in a choir. For any instrumentalist, the act of singing helps to develop their musicianship, by making participants highly aware of all aspects of the music they perform, from intonation, to phrasing and tone quality. This awareness will manifest itself in a student’s instrumental performance too. There is a rich repertoire of choral music spanning thousands of years, and participation in a choir can help us to connect with different histories and cultures throughout the world.
The Junior choir is a great way to get to know a range of musical styles, and to develop good vocal technique at an early stage. Our members also learn good stagecraft and concert etiquette as part of their preparation for performances.
Aside from the musical benefits (which are the most important), there are many other reasons to join us. We are a friendly community of students from international and Japanese schools, and it is a great way to meet others who share the same interests. We have many students who have commented that their English language skills have improved by taking part in the choir too.
Am I eligible to join the Junior Choir?
We welcome children from age 7-10 to sing in the choir. There is no audition, and all children who are keen to sing are welcome to join. We will only close registration once the maximum capacity of the rehearsal room is reached.
What kind of repertoire will we sing?
Our aim is to introduce students to a wide variety of musical styles, choosing songs which can be challenging, but help to develop different aspects of vocal technique. We sometimes collaborate with some of the other groups from the music school, including the Chamber Orchestra and Jazz Band. The choir has also became familiar with a variety of vocal exercises and warm-ups.
Here are some of the songs the Junior Choir has performed in the past:
Hey Jude (Lennon & McCartney)
Naughty from ‘Matilda’ (Tim Minchin)
Smile (Charlie Chaplin)
Here Comes the Sun (The Beatles)
Feliz Navidad (José Feliciano)
We are the Champions (Queen)
Starman (David Bowie)
A Typical Rehearsal
After a group warm-up, we will introduce new material, and sometimes split into section rehearsals if the piece is in more than one part. During rehearsals we develop tone production, diction, breathing and phrasing depending on the demands of the piece.After a short break, we come back together to sing through the items we have been learning that day, and go back over pieces we have learnt in previous sessions.
Where do rehearsals take place?
Rehearsals take place at the British School in Tokyo’s new campus in Azabudai. Detailed instructions about entering the campus will be provided to students when they are accepted to the group. The address of the campus is Azabudai Hills, 1-3-3 Azabudai, Minato-ku, Tokyo
When and where does the choir perform?
Each term concludes with a performance. Last year, we held all our concerts at The British School in Tokyo Azabudai Campus. Some of our other previous concerts have taken place at the National Olympic Memorial Youth Center in Yoyogi, and at the Showa Women’s University in Sangenjaya. We will finalise our performance calendar for the 2024-25 year before the end of the summer.
Who will conduct & train the choir?
Since April 2024, the choir has been trained and conducted by Ema Horn. She is currently the choral director and music teacher at the International School at Sacred Heart, where she conducted choirs of all ages. Ms. Ema is passionate about teaching and leading children to become great and confident singers.
What kind of commitment is required?
We expect the children to be present at all rehearsals and performances throughout the term, as this helps the choir achieve high quality performances. If you already have plans in place that will make it impossible to attend some rehearsals, please contact us in advance, and we will do our best to accommodate prior arrangements.
Choir members are expected to spend time looking over and learning the pieces we are working on in the choir. We will make all of the sheet music available from a shared online folder, so students will always have access to this. We will sometimes produce vocal guide tracks to assist in students’ preparation for specific pieces.
Will there be any fees to join the choir?
The tuition fee for each term is ¥35,000 (+ consumption tax).
Once you have been offered a place in the choir, we will provide you with the bank details to make a transfer. Please let us know if you would prefer to pay in another currency (for example from a US or UK account, as this is sometimes possible). Once payment has been received, we will issue you with a membership card.
Can I sign up for one term, or only for the full year?
Students can register for a single term, two terms, or for the full year. Just make sure you select the appropriate box on the registration form.
