The Capital Children’s Choir is a community outreach program for children in Kindergarten through Eighth grade which is sponsored by the College of Music at Florida State University. For more than twenty years, the program has focused on teaching good singing techniques and music to children in a noncompetitive atmosphere. Specifically, children in the choir will learn how to:
- sing using healthy vocal technique and posture
- prepare to sing using age-appropriate vocal and physical warm-ups
- use solfege and Curwen hand signs to understand music
- sing a variety of music styles in English
- sing world music selections in several other languages
There are no auditions and no music reading skills needed to participate. Everyone who comes to sing is welcome!
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The Director of the Capital Children’s Choir program is Dr. Suzanne Rita Byrnes who is a member of the Music Education faculty at FSU. Dr. Byrnes hails from Ottawa, Canada and was the director of the Kansas City Children’s Chorus for 12 years. Graduate and undergraduate music majors at FSU also assist and lead the choirs in various activities.
Dr. Byrnes can be reached by e-mail at sbyrnes@fsu.edu.
There are three choirs within the program. Each is based on the developmental, academic, and musical needs of the children. The grades included in the descriptions below are a guideline.
- Garnet Choir – children in Kindergarten and First Grade.
- Children do not need to have music or language reading skills to participate.
- Children must be enrolled in Kindergarten to qualify for this choir.
- Gold Choir – children in grades 2-3.
- Children will be expected to have language reading skills to participate. However, music reading skills are not required.
- Seminole Singers – children in grades 4-8.
- Children will be expected to have language reading skills to participate. However, music reading skills are not required.
These are treble choirs. Therefore, enrollment is open to girls as well as boys who haven’t started the voice change. The Gold and Seminole Choirs will also work and perform joint repertoire.
WHEN AND WHERE DO THE CHOIRS MEET?
When: | ||
The Garnet Choir | (K-1) | 5:00-5:45 pm |
The Gold Choir | (2-4) | 6:00-7:00 pm |
The Seminole Singers | (5-8) | 6:00-7:00 pm |
LOCATION
The children’s choir meets in the Kuersteiner Music Building, Room 240. Parking is not allowed on campus without a permit. Please click on PARKING & DROPOFF below for more information.
Directions: To get to KMU by car, take Tennessee street to Copeland Street. From Copeland Street, turn right onto W. Call Street and take the first left onto Convocation Way. The second parking lot entrance is where the student drop off/pick up will be. Students will be present to open the gate for drop-offs.
Alternatively, you can park in the metered spots along Call Street and Park Avenue (parking in these spots should be free after 5pm – see posted signs) and walk to the Kuersteiner Music Building (across from UKIRK/Calvin’s Coffee).
Please complete the following form for registration: Enrollment. Payment is due at or before the first rehearsal. The cost is $15/child with a family maximum of $30. Please write checks payable to FSU Capital Children’s Choir. Checks can be sent to:
FSU Capital Children’s Choir
Attn: Dr. Byrnes
College of Music at Florida State University
122 N Copeland St, Tallahassee, FL 32306-1180
Please note: If you plan on paying cash at the first rehearsal, please put the exact amount in an envelope labeled with your and your child’s name. We will not be able to give change.
I hope we get many participants as I have new teachers and volunteers that are excited to work with the children!
Invite a Friend! If you have friends who would like to sing, please invite them to join! We welcome all new singers, so tell your friends about our program and direct them to our website.
CAPITAL CHILDREN’S CHOIR FALL 2024 CALENDAR
**CCC follows the Leon County Schools Calendar for holidays/breaks**
September | 9 | First Rehearsal (1) Grades K-1: 5-5:45 pm | Grades 2-8: 6-7 pm |
16 | Regular rehearsal (2) | |
23 | Regular rehearsal (3) | |
30 | Regular rehearsal (4) | |
October | 7 | Regular rehearsal (5) |
14 | Regular rehearsal (6) | |
21 | Teacher Planning/Inservice – NO REHEARSAL | |
28 | Regular rehearsal (7) | |
November | 4 | Regular Rehearsal (8) |
11 | Veteran’s Day Holiday – NO REHEARSAL | |
18 | Regular Rehearsal (9) | |
25 | Thanksgiving Break (districtwide) – NO REHEARSAL | |
December | 2 | Regular Rehearsal (10) |
9 | Informance 6:30 p.m. OPPERMAN MUSIC HALL (Kuesteiner Music Building) |
CAPITAL CHILDREN’S CHOIR SPRING 2025 CALENDAR
**CCC follows the Leon County Schools Calendar for holidays/breaks**
January | 27 | First Rehearsal (1) Grades K-1: 5-5:45 pm | Grades 2-8: 6-7 pm |
February | 3 | Regular rehearsal (2) |
10 | Regular rehearsal (3) | |
17 | Presidents Day Holiday (district-wide) – NO REHEARSAL | |
24 | Regular rehearsal (4) | |
March | 3 | Regular rehearsal (5) |
10 | Spring Break Holiday (district-wide) – NO REHEARSAL | |
17 | Teacher planning/Inservice – NO REHEARSAL | |
24 | Regular Rehearsal (6) | |
31 | Regular Rehearsal (7) | |
April | 7 | Regular Rehearsal (8) |
14 | Regular Rehearsal (9) | |
21 | Tech Rehearsal (same times as regular rehearsals) | |
28 | Informance 6:30 p.m. OPPERMAN MUSIC HALL (Kuesteiner Music Building) |
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As many of you know, parking at FSU is extremely difficult! While there aren’t many solutions, here are a couple of suggestions:
It is important for students to arrive at rehearsal on time.
You may want to use the convenient drop-off area behind the Kuersteiner Music Building (directly behind Kuersteiner when entering from Convocation Way). Collegiate students who work with the Capital Children’s Choir program will be waiting at this area to open the gate and escort children to and from the rehearsals:
Garnet drop-off | 4:45-5:00 p.m |
Garnet pick-up | 5:45-6:00 p.m. |
Gold/Seminole drop-off | 5:45-6:00 p.m. |
Gold/Seminole pick-up | 7:00-7:15 p.m. |
Alternatively, you can park in the metered spots along Call Street and Park Avenue (parking in these spots should be free after 5pm – see posted signs) and walk to the Kuersteiner building.
- Gated faculty/staff parking lots are no longer available to non-permit holders (to purchase a semester parking permit, visit FSU Permits).
- There are metered spots along Call Street and Park Avenue (parking in these spots should be free after 5pm – see posted signs).
- There are hourly parking spots close to the College of Music: $1.00 per hour from 7:30 AM to 4:30 PM and $.50 per hour from 4:30 PM to 10 PM. Download the ParkMobile App to find and pay for parking.
- The UKIRK LOT across the street from the music buildings does have a few PARK & PAY spaces. Otherwise, DO NOT park in the UKIRK lot. This is a private lot and they WILL tow your car (a tow truck runs through the lot several times per hour).