The Chorus

Impact Study
How Children, Adults, and
Communities Benefit from
Choruses
 Project Goals
Track trends since Chorus Americas 2003
research and learn more about the attributes of
choral singers.
Explore the value of choral singing for children and
youth.
 Methodology
Respected research firm
Online surveys of:
More than 2,000 singers in choruses of all kinds
500 members of the general public
500 parents
300 K-12 educators from a variety of disciplines
 Audiences and choral singers alike have long
understood the intrinsic value of choral music.
New data shows that choruses generate additional
benefits, and advance positive qualities that are
associated with success in life both for children and
adults.
 Four primary findings
1. Far more people sing in choruses than participate
in any other performing art.
2. People who sing in choruses demonstrate
characteristics that make them remarkably good
citizens.
3. Children who sing in choruses have academic
success and valuable life skills.
4. There is a troubling decline in choral singing
opportunities for children.
 Finding 1
42.6 million people sing in more than
270,000 choruses today.
Thats far more than participate in any other
performing art.
These numbers are up since Chorus
Americas research in 2003.
More than any other performing art
Choruses perform
music that provides a
means of expressing
something greater
than each individual
participant.
More than any other performing art
A thriving and growing form of artistic
expression, and in addition to providing great
musical performances, advances many of
the positive qualities associated with success
both for children and adults.
 Finding 2
People who sing in choruses demonstrate
characteristics that make them remarkably good
citizens.
 Good citizens
Choral singers are far more likely to:
Volunteer in their communities
Contribute money to philanthropic causes
Take on leadership roles
Be team members
Participate in the political process
Good citizens

61
of adult choral singers read

%
newspapers daily
(compared to 48% of the
general public).
Good citizens

87%
of adult choral singers have
read a book in the last
month (compared to 59% of
the general public).
Good citizens

96
of adult choral singers vote in

%
national and local elections
(compared to 70% of the
general public).
 Good citizens
Chart 2: Civic Engagement, Chorus Members vs. General
Public
Chart 3: Civic Engagement, Chorus Members vs. General
Public
 Finding 3
Children who sing in choruses have
academic success and valuable life skills.
Parents and educators from every
discipline attribute a significant part of
academic success to singing in a choir.
Benefits for children who sing

70%
of parents said their child
is more self-confident
is more self-disciplined
developed better memory
skills
Chart 5: Choir Participation and Childrens Success Skills
Benefits for children who sing

80%
of educators and parents say that
choir participation enhances
numerous aspects of a childs:

academic success (including better

grades)
social development
Chart 4: Choir Participation and Academic
Performance
Benefits for children who sing

90%
of educators believe choir
participation keeps some
students engaged in school
who might otherwise be lost.
Chart 6: Educators on Choir Participation and Student
Success Skills
Chart 7: Educators on Student Choir Participation and
Social Skills
Chart 8: Choir Participation and School, Community
Participation
 Benefits for children who sing
Previous research on
value of instrumental
music education.
Choral singing has
often been overlooked
by researchersthis
data fills that research
gap.
 The chorus effect
Parents date their childs improvements in a
variety of areas to their joining a choral
group.
That, and the breadth of benefits described
by both parents and educators, points to a
unique chorus effect, one that isnt simply
replicated by participation in other activities.
 Finding 4
There is a troubling decline in chorus
opportunities for children.
An alarming trend suggests that these
opportunities are not available, being
reduced, or eliminated from schools across
the country.
 Decline in choral singing
opportunities for children
More than one in four educators
surveyed said there is no choral
program in their schools.
More than one in five parents
said that there were no choral
singing opportunities for their
children in their communities
Nearly 20% of parents whose
children have never sung in a
choir say they would be
extremely or very interested in
signing their child up, illustrating
a chorus gap
Making the case for choral programs
Choral singing is an accessible entry point for arts
exposure, with fewer barrierseconomic, cultural,
or educational.
More choral singing opportunities in schools and
communities could be a good strategy for bolstering
student achievement and engagement in schools.
Leveraging the benefits that choruses bring to
children, adults, and communities is good for
schools and society.
 Wrap Up
Chorus Americas 2009 Chorus Impact Study

Choruses enrich the cultural and civic life of

our communities.
Enhance the lives of choral singers.
For more information about how to use these
resources, visit www.chorusamerica.org.