Red Deer Children's Choir (Supplied)

By Alessia Proietti and Sheldon Spackman

For kids aged five - 12

Red Deer Children’s Choir returns for free this year

Sep 21, 2022 | 2:28 PM

The Red Deer Children’s Choir is back and this time it’s free for all who wish to join.

Although the Choir has been in Red Deer for nearly 20 years, the pandemic caused a complete shutdown of the recreational activity in 2020.

“We really want to give kids the opportunity to participate in choir. Singing is a really good thing for children. We want this to be open to all children from all backgrounds whether they can afford to pay for music lessons or not,” said instructor and retired music teacher Denise Gagne.

Through the sponsoring of Parkland Mall and Musicplay, Gagne’s online publishing of resources for teaching music in elementary schools with over 10,000 international subscribers, the Choir is at no cost for registrants this year.

Parents can register their children for two different categories.

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The first, Prep Choir, is for children aged five to six who are in Kindergarten or Grade 1. Limited to 25 children, practices will be held on Thursdays from 4 – 4:30 p.m. The idea, she says, is for the children to prepare themselves for the Children’s Choir.

The Children’s Choir is for those aged seven to 12 in Grades 2-6. With no limit on the amount of students, Gagne hopes to see 50 students sign up as, in the past, the Choir has seen upwards of 85 children registered. Practices will also be on Thursdays, from 4:40 – 5:45 p.m.

All practices will be held at the Parkland Mall (6359 50 Ave. entrance of the Winners/Staples).

Officials say rehearsals will start with warmups, action songs, and rhythm and melody echo games to teach the children how to read music. With the goal of having fun, they say children have group singing lessons and learn new songs that will also be enjoyable for parents, grandparents and the public to listen to.

“What we intend to do with this is teach them a little bit about music, do a lot of singing of fun songs that kids like and give them a really good musical experience,” she said.

The program runs from September 29, 2022 – May 18, 2023 and while most performances will be separate for Prep and Children’s Choirs, some will be together.

Three instructors are listed to help the students. Gagne, a consultant for school districts, having given workshops for music teachers in every Canadian province and territory, in all 50 U.S. states, and in many countries, says she still loves teaching kids and choir.

Lisa Ward is a choral conductor, having experience teaching Lindsay Thurber and St. Elizabeth Seton School choirs for various years. She was also the director for Brioso, Ihana, and other adult choirs in Red Deer.

Morgan McKee, instructor and accompanist to the Choir’s rehearsals and concerts, has assisted in many high school musicals over the past 25 years and is considered one of Alberta’s finest jazz pianists.

Officials say organized performances may take place at the Parkland Mall, the Festival of Trees, Symphony Kids and the Kiwanis Music Festival.

Apart from learning music, Gagne says the Choir is a great place for kids to make new friends.

“I think there are many many benefits to studying music for children and it’s been proven that children who participate in an organized music activity become better readers, they’re better at math and it’s a really good social activity,” she said.

Parents can register their children online, by visiting Musicplay (#3-4664 Riverside Dr.) or by emailing Gagne at denise@musicplay.ca and support@musicplay.ca.