Calling the Tune

Edward Milner introduces Sing Up Vocal Force

Singing was my lifeblood. At first school, I vaguely remember singing Morning Has Broken and, of course, The Lord of the Dance. I remember failing my audition at Durham Cathedral (it was Early One Morning that time). I did sing at the local church, but I really wasn't much of a singer - the choirmaster at the church has since admitted that I was pretty awful. However, singing was perfectly normal, and what's more, it was presented as perfectly normal. It didn't matter how good any of us were; we just sang.

Later, I was lucky enough to keep singing in that same church choir and to meet a fine high school music teacher. In difficult times I would take refuge in music, in good times I indulged in it, and my mentors moulded my interest into actual talent. For me, singing was not only for singing's sake. I played the violin and folk fiddle for many years, and my first study at unviersity was the French horn, but behind the scenes, singing was always present.

Soon, inspired by my leaders, and realising the actual social, emotional and educational worth of singing, I wanted to share with more people, leaders and children, the passion that others had instilled in me. Without their support I would not have struck out into self-employment or, prior to joining Vocal Force, have been appointed as Vocal Co-ordinator at Northumberland County Music Service.

In Vocal Force that is what we are endeavouring to do. As part of The Sage Gateshead's Access to Excellence Music Manifesto Pathfinder Programme, and evolving from Vocal Union, our innovative whole-school singing programme, we have the opportunity to inspire more vocal leaders to help make singing accessible, enjoyable and natural in primary education.

Singing schools

We believe in the strength of singing schools, in their power to unite school communities and to illuminate and liberate children's minds. Thanks to the on-going research, consultations, and existing excellent practice of many individuals and organisations across the country, there is now the chance, working with Sing Up to extend that impact. The Vocal Force programme will provide inclusive, learner-centred training in 20 areas across England, between September 2007 and March 2008. We will create localised networks open to anyone involved in primary education.

We want to involve participants who are working within schools, music services and children's services; with those singing with primary age children in the community as a whole; with community music organisations; with existing networks; higher education and further education providers; with specialist professional singing organisations; with home educators. By assembling these diverse networks of individuals we can share the experience each group possesses, whilst developing a bespoke, individual training package to best suit the network's need.

Each network will decide in what form it exists and what input it requires. Led by a facilitator and co-facilitator, training will be delivered in the shape of in-school/in-house activities; workshops, singing days and shared festivals; training days; repertoire development sessions and residential weekends. We can help form in-school adult singing groups and we can create opportunities to participate in co-mentoring schemes. The training will be inclusive, will promote healthy singing and will encourage singing in the context of the whole curriculum. Importantly, there is no charge for Vocal Force participation.

Greatest impact

We are at present mapping singing across the country, to find the most appropriate and viable areas, be they rural districts, towns, small cities or boroughs. We are liaising with singing and music organisations, with training partners and government officers. We are in conversation with educational institutions and national establishments and we are collating existing documents to best view national primary singing.

We are not designing an accredited, structured scheme; the Trinity Guildhall KS2 CPD Programme is doing that. And we are not working in areas of existing best practice. Instead, we can strategically access areas where Vocal Force can have the greatest impact, where it can push into 'gaps' in provision, where it can act as a steppinig-stone to further activities together. By March 2008, we will not have finished, but rather will have founded networks that can choose how to continue in the future, linking in with continuing provision and further development proposed by the National Singing Campaign.

Vocal Force is a development programme that will aim to give children in 20 areas even more than I had; access to quality singing of diverse material with inspirational leaders that is fulfilling, exciting, normal and natural. For more information go to the Vocal Force website.