Just a few short years ago you couldn't pay a "cool" teen to sign up for glee club or choir. Now, with the popularity of the hit show "Glee" everyone wants to be in glee club. Kids are excited and proud to be part of this musical craze that just a few years ago couldn't get anyone to join. There are now about 600 high school choirs nationwide that are supported by their own fund raising, and some are even paid to perform.
We so often think of the negative effect that television has on youngsters today. Well, here's an example of something positive. Being a part of a group such as glee club or choir gives kids a similar experience to being part of a sports team. We always talked about getting kids involved in sports to keep them off the streets and give them positive role models. Glee does the same thing. They learn discipline, teamwork and committment, while forming friendships that may last a lifetime. Not only that, they are being recognized by their community for their hard work and talent. John Burroughs High School in Burbank, California, has a glee club called Powerhouse. The group has appeared in a variety of venues, including The Oprah Show.
The teachers in charge of glee and choir have also changed. They realize that to keep kids engaged in music, they must like the music they are performing. So the glee clubs today are performing much more contemporary music than in the past. This gives kids from all musical backgrounds a chance to shine. Rap, broadway musicals, country, just about every musical genre may be performed.
Glee not only attracts jocks as well as nerds today, but it also gives kids with disabilities a chance to perform. It's a most positive example of how life imitates art. It's not just for kids, either. Many adult groups and senior groups are now getting together for regular sing a longs. A great thing has happened. A TV show has effected pop culture in a very positive way. It's the Glee Effect and it's good.
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