Dear Sing Up...

Write to us at magazine@singup.org.

Connecting to the Sing Up site

Our school internet connection is quite slow. Is there anything I can do to speed up my computer when I use Sing Up in the classroom?

Neil

Hi Neil, We’re sorry to hear you are having problems. The best thing you can do to speed up your internet connection is to make sure that all your software is updated to the latest version (especially your internet browser) and that your school system isn’t blocking the Sing Up website.

We’ve written a short and easy-to-follow online guide for troubleshooting this problem. At the bottom of every page on our website, look for the link that says ‘FAQs’. Scroll down all the way to ‘General’, and check out the quick guide.

Copyright matters

We’re really enjoying using the Song Bank at my school. We want to use the songs to make a CD to sell for charity. Is this allowed?

Gemma 

Hi Gemma, We’re really glad you’re enjoying our resources! Copyright and licensing of songs can be quite a tricky issue. As a basic rule, you can use CDs with copied songs from our Song Bank on them to help you prepare for leading singing and performing songs with your pupils. Unfortunately, you cannot give copies away or sell CDs without an appropriate licence from PRS for Music.

We have created an online guide to help you out. Head over to Teaching Tools in the Song Bank and select the article Copyright and licensing.

You can also find out more information on the PRS for Music website.

Save Our Sing Up

Our Sing Up Area Leader visited our school today to teach us some action songs for the classroom. Wow! What a day we had: teachers sang who’ve never sung in years. It was an inspirational moment, which will stay with me forever! We are very sad to hear that your funding is only until March 2011 – it is just too good a resource to disappear off the radar. Who do we need to plead with?

Julie 

Hi Julie, It’s great to hear the session with your Area Leader was so successful! While we cannot predict what will happen after March next year, we are currently working to ensure our singing legacy lives on. Please keep visiting our site for regular updates on Sing Up events, projects and resources over the coming months. If you feel strongly that Sing Up should remain in your lives, please write to your local MP and let them know too!

Register online today

I’ve been registered at my school for over a year now and I love the resources. My Head has laid down the challenge of getting my colleagues involved. Can more than one teacher register with my school? Or do we have to share one log-in?

Sarah

Hi Sarah, The Sing Up resource is designed to be a school-wide programme, with each teacher using their own log-in account within their classroom. We’ve made sure that as many teachers as necessary can sign up with one school, each using their own log-in details. To register, they should visit www.singup.org and select ‘Register’.

We‘ll now send two copies of the magazine to your school‘s Sing Up Champion, who is the first registrant. Make sure you share the copies of the magazine around, and best of luck getting all your colleagues involved!