Performing Arts for Kids: A Parent’s Guide to Starting with Chorale + Live Music
Because yes, your child can love something besides Minecraft and Taylor Swift.
(This article is presented in partnership with the Indianapolis Symphonic Choir — one of Indy’s most treasured arts organizations — whose family-accessible performances make chorale music an easy win for parents looking to dip their toes into the arts.)
If you’ve ever sat through a school concert clutching your phone like a proud stage mom or wondered how to get your kid genuinely excited about chorus, musicals, or anything with a stage and a spotlight… welcome. Cultivating a love for the performing arts isn’t about grooming a future soloist - it’s about giving kids a front-row seat to creativity, confidence, and connection.
And the best part? You don’t need a musical background, perfect pitch, or a Broadway-level budget. Just a few simple habits that help kids fall in love with performance in all its forms.
Why the Performing Arts (and Chorus!) Matter for Kids
Think of performing arts as a multi-vitamin for growing brains — wrapped in glitter and applause. Here’s what kids get from it:
Confidence: Performing teaches kids to project their voice and trust it.
Teamwork: Chorus is literally collaboration in harmony.
Focus + Discipline: Memorizing music? Following a conductor? It’s magic disguised as structure.
Emotional Intelligence: Singing helps kids express feelings they can’t always say out loud.
Cultural Appreciation: They experience stories, styles, and sounds beyond their everyday world.
Screen-free storytelling: And honestly? That alone deserves a standing ovation.
Here’s How to Introduce Kids to Chorale + Performing Arts (Without Overwhelm)…
1. Start with What They Already Love
If your kid belts out Frozen in the backseat, guess what? They’re already primed.
Turn familiar songs into mini “performances” at home, like karaoke, sing-along videos, or quick living-room concerts. Your job? Be an enthusiastic audience of one for all of it.
2. Make Live Performances Feel Approachable
Live arts don’t need to be formal or intimidating. Start small:
School chorus concerts
Youth choirs
Free outdoor performances
Holiday shows
High school musicals
Community recitals
And if you’re ready for the next step? A family-friendly Indianapolis Symphonic Choir performance is a perfect entry point. Their holiday Festival of Carols concert, choral collaborations, and other special programs offer a warm, welcoming atmosphere for young listeners. No rigid etiquette, no pressure - just incredible music and a chance for kids to see (and hear!) what a full chorus can do.
Seeing peers and grown-ups performing together helps kids think, “Hey… I could do that.”
3. Set Up “Audience Expectations” — Lightly
Choral performances have their own rhythm, but helping kids learn the basics doesn’t need to feel formal. Keep it simple: phones away, quiet during songs, clap when the music ends, and stay for the final bow. If you want to go a little deeper, explain that performers need quiet to hear the conductor and each other. The Indianapolis Symphonic Choir models this really well too — their focus and professionalism make the “why” behind the rules easy for kids to understand.
4. Pull Back the Curtain (Even at Home)
Kids love seeing the process behind the performance. Try explaining or showing them:
What warm-ups sound like
How harmonies blend
How a conductor communicates without speaking
How performers rehearse
How staging + lighting change the mood
If you ever get the chance to attend an open rehearsal or behind-the-scenes experience, take it. Kids love seeing how much teamwork goes into making something beautiful.
ISO SOME HOLIDAY GIFTS FOR THE KIDS?
If They Want to Join a Chorus or Performing Group…
Love this idea! Here are some light, parent-friendly guidelines to consider:
Start with beginner or “no audition” groups
Choose teachers who prioritize fun over perfection
Let your child help choose the ensemble
Keep schedules manageable
Celebrate growth, not flawless pitch
Chorale groups have this warm “team sport” energy — kids feel supported, connected, and part of something bigger.
MORE INFO: The Indianapolis Symphonic Choir’s full season lineup — including family-friendly performances — is available at indychoir.org/events. Visit indychoir.org to learn more about the organization, upcoming concerts, and community programs.
