Singing Ambassador Howard Goodall is leading the initiative to put singing back at the heart of school, family and community life.
Howard and r'n'b star Jamelia met children from Arnhem Wharf Primary School in East London to try out some of the new Sing Up repertoire and other songs, along with pupils from St Patrick's School in Ladywood in Birmingham.
Together they danced the 'funny waltz' Tanczymy Labada, which is a popular Polish singing game, and launched into a Sing Up special, Boom Chika Boom.
Howard listed the many benefits to health and lifelong learning that singing brings and told the children why he enjoyed it so much: "With most things where you have to concentrate there's a little bit of pain, but with singing it's all fun!"
Jamelia, who was met with shouts of excitement by the pupils, said she was just as excited to be involved with the Sing Up campaign.
"Singing in class is something I got a great deal from as a child. It really helped to build my confidence. I want all children to have the same opportunities to sing in school, to find their voice and to realise how much fun they can have through singing."
Then it was all aboard the Sing Up bus for the children and their singing leaders. Decked out in colourful sweatshirts and hats, they sang their way around some of London's most famous landmarks, bound for Archbishop Sumner Primary in south London.
There they met yet more VIPs - this time the Education Secretary Ed Balls and Schools Minister Andrew Adonis - who were there to show their support for Sing Up and announce a raft of new funding and support for music education.
This feature was originally published by Music Manifesto, the campaign to improve music education 2004 – 2010.
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