Singing Strategy
“Singing can improve pupils’ learning, confidence, health and social development. It has the power to change lives and build stronger communities….”
About Singing Strategy
Each Music Hub across the country has written a Singing strategy to enable the guidance published in the National Plan for Music to be implemented. Somerset Music are delighted to be the Lead Partner for the Singing Strategy for Somerset, on behalf of Sound Foundation Somerset, the Music Hub for the county. We will be working in partnership with Jackdaws to organise and coordinate the implementation of the Singing Strategy as decided by Sound Foundation Somerset.
The Singing Strategy aim for the academic year 2024-25 is to build on the singing experiences of previous years of leading on the Strategy and to enable both teachers and pupils to progress in their use of singing within schools and abilities/opportunities respectively.
We are working in partnership with Sing Up to offer a subsidised annual membership to this well-established and comprehensive online vocal resource which has 600+ songs in its song bank as well as many useful teaching aides.
A CPD session/workshop, the focus dependent on Key Stage, is available for all primary schools and there is an opportunity to buy additional hours of tuition for both Key Stages 1 & 2. For secondary schools we are offering the opportunity to participate in one of our Gifted and Talented days and we also have an offer for special schools which includes a FREE CPD session – please contact Somerset Music on 0300 123 7364 for further information.
Contact usSomerset Music Bridgwater Singing Festival July 2023
“Singing can improve pupils’ learning, confidence, health and social development. It has the power to change lives and build stronger communities. This is why we are asking hubs to develop singing strategies, in and beyond schools, to ensure that every child sings regularly and that choirs are available. Such strategies will widen singing opportunities for all pupils, drive up quality and give routes for progression such as access to chorister programmes, area/county choirs and the National Youth Choir.”
National Plan for Music, DFE
Sing Together! July 2024
Mark De-Lisser renowned choral director, vocal coach and arranger returns to Somerset for Sing Together! Three days of singing and performing with Mark as guest conductor on the final day.
Mark’s work includes conducting the ‘Children in Need’ choir, ‘Our Dementia’ choir, The Voice and The Masked Singer. Those of you who have worked with him before will remember his energy and inspiration he brings whilst offering the pupils the chance to work with one of the countries leading vocal coaches.
The course is taking place at Westlands Entertainment Venue in Yeovil on Weds 24th – Fri 26th July and is for pupils aged 8-18. This is a cross-border event and is open to anyone from Somerset, Dorset or Devon.
| DATE | TIMES | VENUE |
|---|---|---|
| REHEARSAL Wednesday 24th July | 10.00am – 4.00pm | Westlands Entertainment Venue, Westbourne Cl, Yeovil BA20 2DD |
| REHEARSAL Thursday 25th July | 10.00am – 4.00pm | Westlands Entertainment Venue, Westbourne Cl, Yeovil BA20 2DD |
| REHEARSAL & PERFORMANCE Friday 26th July | 10.00am – 7.30pm Performance 6:30pm-7:30pm | Westlands Entertainment Venue, Westbourne Cl, Yeovil BA20 2DD |
To sign up for this term please complete the Sing Together booking form
To take part in Sing Together: £80 (participants from out of county £100)
* 50% reduced fees for pupil premium
* 50% reduced fees for additional siblings
Somerset Schools Choir Competition
Somerset Music and Jackdaws Music Education Trust, on behalf of Sound Foundation Somerset, are pleased to announce the very first Somerset Schools Choir Competition
Do you have a choir in your school?
Here’s your chance to make some brilliant music AND win some money for your school to put towards your music budget so you can make even more music together!
Closing date for entries is 5pm on 17th June 2024
Judges: Marta Fontanals-Simmons, highly acclaimed Mezzo-Soprano and Saffron van Zwanenberg, Jackdaws Artistist Director.
For more info: https://somersetmusic.co.uk/somerset-schools-choir-competition/
Singing strategy festivals and workshops Future and past events
Singing Festivals - Summer 2024
Once again we will be running a series of Singing Festivals across the county during the second half of the Summer Term 2024. The number of venues is set to increase with events planned for Bridgwater, Frome, Minehead, Wellington and Yeovil. The event is free for any school to take part in. If you have not already expressed an interest to be involved then please do so.
West Somerset Singing Festival – Thursday 27th June
Wellington Singing Festival – Thursday 4th July, Court Fields Community School, Wellington
South Somerset Singing Festival – Tuesday 9th July, Westlands Entertainment Venue
Bridgwater Singing Festivals – Monday 15th & Tuesday 16th July, McMillan Theatre, Bridgwater
Frome Singing Festival – Monday 15th July, Cheese & Grain Theatre, Frome
Singing Festivals - Summer 2019
In June/July across Somerset the fourth year of Singing Festivals took place giving schools the chance to showcase their singing talent. The Singing Festivals are an exciting opportunity for pupils to perform to a wider audience in a venue that is different to their normal school setting. Each school group performs two songs with the evening culminating in a massed performance by all the pupils taking part. With over 150 pupils at each event this creates a wonderful sound.
The Singing Festivals are part of the Singing Strategy offer available to schools within the county. This offer is delivered by a team of vocal specialists who work with Somerset Schools on a regular basis. Each Singing Festival is led by a Singing Leader who helps to encourage and create a professional atmosphere for all taking part.
The performances are to open to the public and take place in Bridgwater, Frome, Minehead and Wellington.
Gifted and Talented Singing Workshops March 2019
In March we were delighted to work with Apollo 5 the highly talented and internationally known a cappella group. Apollo 5 is part of an innovative education programme designed to inspire creativity through music. The Castle School in Taunton hosted an event attended by other local schools which provided the opportunity for pupils to take part in a workshop and performance. The event was a great success and was described as an “amazing opportunity”.
Other workshops took place in schools across the county hosted by Somerset Music’s Singing Leaders providing expert tuition to talented young singers in Somerset. These workshops are designed to encourage pupils to develop their range of singing styles and to enhance their performance by increasing confidence in their singing ability.
Singing Project - March 2019
Two schools have been working together on a joint singing project with Kirsten Wordley, Deputy Director of Somerset Music. At the end of the project they put on a concert.
Phone us on 0300 1237364 or send us a message