Posted by Brian Steen, a resident of the Greater Miranda neighborhood, on Apr 2, 2009 at 10:33 am

Finding tenors is is an eternal quest for most choral groups. There's several reasons:

1. The tenor voice range is simply less common.

2. A decreasing number of adults can read music. California's musical education has been terrible since Prop 13 passed in 1978.

3. The sports bias of primary education doesn't encourage students to learn music.

I sing with the 40 voice Bay Choral Guild, a Palo Alto based classical/modern group(www.baychoralguild.org) that is always looking for good tenors.

Maybe we should "tux up" with "Tenor Wanted" signs on Camino Real?

Posted by Ron, a resident of another community, on Apr 3, 2009 at 1:59 pm

It's sad that everybody loves to sing in kindergarden -- you can't keep them from singing. Then around 4th grade or so, most people seem to stop singing, and when you get up to being an adult, most people are mortified at the thought of busting out a tune on their own. Unless they've been drinking. What happens in 4th grade?

Posted by Rebecca Wallace, arts & entertainment editor of the Palo Alto Weekly, on Apr 3, 2009 at 2:18 pm
Rebecca Wallace is a member (registered user) of Palo Alto Online

Very interesting comments. I wonder why the tenor range is less common. Also, what do singers think about having females who have the appropriate range fill in on the tenor line from time to time? I've heard it done well, but sometimes it just doesn't sound right.