Schools like the LaGuardia HS for Music & Art and Performing Arts apparently want to sound more like McKinley High. City educators are crediting new music recruits and enthusiasm for choir to the success of the Fox hit "Glee." High School show choir director Carl Johnson told the Post that the show made it "a little cooler for the kids to talk about what they're doing with their [nonchoir] friends, because they can make the comparison to the show." Of course, LaGuardia is already a performing arts school, so the social stigma of joining a choir is exponentially lower.
Apparently, "show choir" is more of a Midwestern thing and has often been looked down upon by city kids. But this year Johnson says, "I'm already being bombarded by people who want to try out, more than usual." Students have also been more enthusiastic about the music. Many have suggested adding more group numbers in musical theater productions, rather than favoring solos or duets, and one former student even brought Johnson the sheet music to "Don't Stop Believin'," telling him he had to get the kids to perform it. As an added bonus, now all the kids will know those lyrics by heart when they're wasted and it comes on the jukebox in college.
