Finding an Edmonton after-school program is one thing. Finding one your kid will look forward to after a full day at school, and that you can get them to consistently?
There’s a little more to that search.
Sports clubs are one option, and Edmonton has plenty to choose from. But if your child would rather draw a picture or put on a performance than kick a ball, a creative after-school program might get a much more enthusiastic “yes!”
Choosing An Edmonton After-School Activity for Your Creative Kid
If your child could plan a whole afternoon around something they love, what would they choose?
For some kids, a few art supplies keep them happily occupied until dinner. Others would rather make up a few songs and put on an entire living-room performance. A creative after-school activity can give them a chance to take those interests a little further by trying a material they haven’t used before or learning a song that becomes a new favourite.
For some kids, a few art supplies keep them happily occupied until dinner. Others would rather make up a few songs and put on an entire living-room performance. A creative after-school activity can give them a chance to take those interests a little further by trying a material they haven’t used before or learning a song that becomes a new favourite.
If your child likes…
Drawing or experimenting with materials: Art classes show them new ways to make things, with someone to help when an idea doesn’t quite work.
Moving to music or making up dances: Dance classes give them new steps to try and a chance to learn a routine.
Pretend play and storytelling: Drama programs let them explore characters and act out stories with other kids joining in.
Singing and exploring sounds: Choir gives them songs to learn and other children to sing with, with musical games along the way.
What Makes Choir a Creative After-School Activity?
You might hear choir and picture a row of very serious children holding sheet music. But in reality, choir is full of creativity, play, and socializing.
Especially for younger children.
At Edmonton Youth & Children’s Choirs, children in Kindergarten–Grade 4 learn musical basics through play. Conductors use Kodály-based singing games alongside instruments and movement to introduce rhythm, note names, and other musical foundations.
They get to be creative with their voices, exploring how different sounds can tell a story or express a feeling. Singing a line gently gives it a different feeling from singing it with lots of energy. Children can hear what changes as they try different ways of singing it.
As they learn a song, they also learn how to express what’s happening in it. Because remembering the words is part of choir, but making those words sound joyful or thoughtful is another.
After-School Choir for Tired Kids and Those Ready to Move
A child who loves singing can still feel tired when school ends. Another might arrive at rehearsal with boundless energy, ready to dance through every song. EYCC conductors structure children’s choir rehearsals with this in mind.
Every rehearsal mixes short stretches of sitting and learning with singing games and movement. There’s time for breaks, too.
For a child who needs to move after school, physical warm-ups get them on their feet and give them a chance to get some of their wiggles out. Children who need a little more downtime have opportunities to pause and take part in quieter activities.
Changing activities keeps younger children engaged throughout the rehearsal, no matter their energy level when they arrive. And if your child needs a break or wants to watch before joining a game, they can take that time. They don’t have to jump into everything straight away
Angeli: An Edmonton Choir For Creative Kids In Kindergarten and Grade 1
For children in Kindergarten and Grade 1, Angeli is a place to start singing with other kids and learning music through creative exploration and play.
Your child doesn’t need previous choir experience, and there’s no audition to join Angeli. They’re coming to learn, after all! Conductor Sarah Schaub helps them get started, drawing on more than a decade of teaching children as a singer and elementary music specialist.
Then there’s finding a time that works for your family.
Angeli rehearsals last 40 minutes, with two Tuesday options: 4:45–5:25 p.m. or 5:30–6:10 p.m. Both groups rehearse at Southminster-Steinhauer United Church, along with the rest of EYCC’s choirs.
You can choose the one that fits around school pick-up, dinner, and everything else already on the calendar.
Luminaria & Spiritus: Weekly After-School Choirs in Edmonton for Grades 2–4
For children in Grades 2–4, Luminaria and Spiritus build age-appropriate music skills by learning to read music and sing in harmony. At this age, there are two options for choirs:
Having two groups helps EYCC conductors give this popular age group more focused teaching and individual attention than one larger group would allow.
There is still no audition process for these choirs, and your child doesn’t need previous choir experience. Some children move up from Angeli while others are trying choir for the first time. Luminaria and Spiritus also regularly work together, so children get opportunities to learn from both conductors rather than only their own.
For planning your Tuesdays, both choirs rehearse from 5:15–6:10 p.m. at Southminster-Steinhauer United Church, with Amy Voyer leading Luminaria and Christian Maxfield leading Spiritus.
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Edmonton Youth & Children’s Choirs has options for older children, too! Harmonia welcomes singers in Grades 5–7, while the Edmonton Youth Choir is for Grades 8–12. Both rehearse on Tuesday evenings at Southminster-Steinhauer United Church.
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All of EYCC’s children’s and youth choirs rehearse on Tuesdays at Southminster-Steinhauer United Church, so everyone heads to the same place! Rehearsal times vary, but children are welcome to stay and play quietly while their siblings sing. The lobby is a place for parents to stay and chat, too, though you’re welcome to come and go.
