Sing Up Specials

Sing Up raises the roof at the Royal Opera House... plus the latest Award winners, and a training update.

The Sing Up Training Programme

In September 2009, we will launch a new Sing Up Training Programme, replacing the Raising Voices menu of training and CPD courses for singing leaders.

The Sing Up Training Programme will have a new structure and a charge for participants. Ten set training days will be available in the nine regions of England across the academic year, delivered by our best trainers, including our three Sing Up Advocates - Lin Marsh, Sue Hollingworth and Jason Singh. We hope to involve as many participants as possible, and promise to present valuable, top-quality training covering particular subjects (eg. changing voices, vocal health, choirs and singing in the primary curriculum) suiting all levels of experience.

We're not withdrawing non-charging activities altogether - the Sing Up Training Programme is just part of our continued support for the singing workforce. Your Area Leader will continue to guide, support and inform in your region, organising events and fully subsidised training, and signposting you to courses to suit your needs so that you can develop your skills further.

So why are we charging for this training programme? Well firstly, we found that a structured programme of courses is easier for people to understand and plan for; and secondly, Sing Up won't be here forever. If we're to transform singing in England by 2011 we must encourage financial investment in our training, to ensure that singing is a valued activity, allow us to work in partnership with existing training providers and create a sustainable marketplace for our emerging workforce. The income from the training fees enables us to invest more into the programme, ensuring that Sing Up reaches even further. The cost will be £170 + VAT, with some discounts available. Bookings will open before the end of summer term.

Courses are be listed on the Training Area Area of our website. You can also contact us at skillsandtraining@singup.org - we'll email you when the online booking service goes live.

Sing Up in the House

On Saturday 14 March, some 2000 members of the public visited the Royal Opera House (ROH) in Covent Garden for a very special event organised by Sing Up and the ROH Education Team. Ten singing groups came from Lichfield, Saffron Waldon, Ely, Newcastle, Bolton, Burton, London, Birmingham and Derbyshire to take part.

There was a mixture of playground classics, rap, original compositions and choral favourites - and when Howard Goodall arrived in the Paul Hamlyn Hall, one group changed their programme to include his The Lord is my Shepherd, to his delight!

The performances ran alongside workshops run by Vocal Force's Em Whitfield-Brooks, aimed at adults who want to lead singing with children. The sessions attracted full houses of parents, teachers and members of the public who were making an amazing choral sound after 45 minutes!

The groups that had taken the free backstage tours of the Opera House were telling stories of seeing the Royal Box (and even the Royal loo!). Sing Up Burton went home pleased they'd sung at the Royal Opera House, returning to a red carpet in their foyer!

Awards Roll of Honour

Congratulations to Spaldwick Community Primary School who achieved the Sing Up Platinum Award in the Spring term. They were the first school in England to achieve the Gold Award and, following the continued work and dedication of Music Coordinator Kirsty Body and her team, the school was then nominated for the Platinum Award.