Sing Up is an ambitious scheme to get children and teachers singing in the classroom. The aim of the project is to get every school in England to become a "singing school", based on the idea that singing helps children build confidence and helps with health and social development. The hope is that by getting children to sing together as school groups, the scheme will help to build stronger communtities and break down social barriers.
The scheme delivers training and resources for staff and pupils. The main resource for the project is the SIng up website, which allows schools and individuals access to a huge "Songbank", containing hundreds of appropriate songs and backing tracks for use in the classroom and at home.
The Sing Up Song Bank
The Song Bank website is accessible to all. In a classroom setting, teachers can simply log in to the site and then use an interactive whiteboard to display the words of the song for the whole class to sing in time to the backing track.
The songs vary in style from traditional songs and show tunes to songs specific to certain curriculum subjects. For example, there are mathematics songs to help children learn multiplication tables and history songs to help children learn dates of important hisorical events. The idea is to make these subjects enjoyable and to make learning fun.
Another way that the songs can help children is by teaching about inclusion. Many of the songs are about friendship and acceptance. The scheme has also been implemented in many SEN schools.
SIng Up Makes Teaching Music Easier
Teachers do not need any musical expertise or a great singing voice to implement this program. The idea is to make music accessible to all. The website is very easy to use with the class and all of the hard work has already been done for the teaching staff. The scheme helps both teacher and child to learn new skills.
Sing Up also has an awards scheme and schools can aim for a silver, gold or platinum award. Criteria for the awards include things like conducting singing lessons twice a week, the whole school singing together once a week, families and visitors get involved in singing activities and the school building links through singing between school, home and the wider community. Schools are also encouraged to support each other in the program.
There is no doubt that the scheme is having a positive effect in schools and communities by building better relationships between pupils, staff and parents. Children who would not normally get the chance to sing in a group are discovering a love of music and performing. Hopefully, schemes such as Sing Up will help make communities stronger and instill more self confidence in school children.
Louise Jones - I have always enjoyed writing as a hobby, but started writing reviews online in February 2010 for Dooyoo, and later Ciao. In the beginning ...
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