Music Formation & Educational Benefits
Music and choral singing form the heart of an SPCS education.​ A typical week for a chorister at SPCS includes eight school-day rehearsals, one of which is with the full professional choir of Saint Paul's Parish, four sung Masses (weekday noon), one Thursday Vespers, and one sung Sunday Mass. All students at Saint Paul's Choir School also receive in-school piano lessons, two theory classes a week, and can opt in to individual vocal coaching. In the Boston area Saint Paul's is able to offer the most musical instruction in its school week. In addition to singing at all the major liturgies of Saint Paul’s Church, the Choristers frequently tour around the United States and internationally, performing with such world-class ensembles as the Boston Symphony Orchestra and the Boston Landmarks Orchestra. The poise and confidence that boys develop singing complex pieces in front of large audiences prepares them to excel in high school, college, and life.
Research shows that rigorous music education ​offers benefits extend beyond music, helping students succeed in school, college, and life.​​
-
Foster a strong sense of belonging through shared experiences and community.
-
Support emotional well-being through meaningful relationships and personal growth.
-
Develop effective listening and communication skills through collaboration and performance.
-
Cultivate empathy and cooperation by working closely with peers toward common goals.
-
Build leadership skills through active participation and responsibility within the ensemble.
-
Develop discipline and perseverance through consistent practice, preparation, and commitment.
-
Build self-confidence by performing, presenting, and leading with purpose.
-
Master time-management skills by balancing academics, music, and extracurricular activities.
-
Strengthen resilience by embracing challenges and learning from setbacks.
-
Cultivate collaboration and teamwork through shared goals and mutual support.
-
Strengthen language and reading skills through active engagement with music and academics.
-
Improve verbal memory and listening abilities through focused practice and performance.
-
Enhance attention, concentration, and executive functioning through disciplined study and rehearsal.
-
Promote academic engagement and achievement through rigorous intellectual and artistic experiences.
-
Strengthen focus and memory through active listening, practice, and performance.
-
Improve processing speed by interpreting and responding to complex information in real time.
-
Develop spatial-temporal reasoning through the study and performance of music.
-
Enhance cognitive flexibility by adapting to new challenges and learning across disciplines.
-
Build long-term concentration through sustained attention, rehearsal, and academic study.
