by Marjory Schones (Posted on Dec 18., 2025 @ 10:45 a.m.)

After weeks of practice, the students at Alamo Heights Junior School lift their heads high and project their voices together as one unified choir. Signing up for choir not only helps students become better singers, but also teaches valuable skills and ideals that can benefit them throughout their lives.

One major contribution choir provides is building confidence. “Having the courage to use your voice, get on stage, and be confident in front of others helps not just in singing, but also in public speaking,” says Mrs. Holliday, the choir director at Alamo Heights Junior School. Stepping onto a stage and singing in front of an audience is not easy, and many students experience anxiety at first. However, choir students perform in multiple concerts throughout the school year, and each performance becomes easier than the last. By the start of summer, students have performed on stage many times, helping them grow more comfortable and confident in public settings.

Another important life skill choir enhances is a positive attitude toward improvement. Learning vocal techniques and musical notes takes more than one class period, teaching students that progress requires patience, focus, and practice. “It’s important to remember that it’s a process; you need to practice, and it will take time,” Mrs. Holliday explains. She emphasizes that her choir is not expected to be perfect on the first day. “A lot of students at Alamo Heights want to get it right immediately and tend to be perfectionists,” she adds. When students become frustrated after making mistakes, she reminds them that growth takes time, a lesson that applies far beyond the choir room.

Choir also helps students build strong relationships and form meaningful bonds. Singing as a group encourages students to learn about their peers and create new friendships. “It’s cool to see how they start off in their Woodridge cliques or Cambridge cliques, and then they blend together and form new friendships,” Mrs. Holliday notes. Working closely with the same people each day, especially those who sing the same part, allows students to connect, discover common interests, and build friendships that could last a lifetime.

Participating in choir does more than strengthen vocal skills. It teaches lessons that extend into everyday life, including confidence, perseverance, and teamwork. Whether students pursue music in the future or choose a different path, these skills are valuable in any situation.