One participant reported that primary teachers often became more interested in taking music and singing on board once they could see links with other curriculum areas, for instance, common multiples, patterning and sequencing, rhyme and rhythm.
“If you can give them a scaffold, they’ll take that away and develop it.”
The importance of training in singing was strongly underlined, particularly as part of teacher training.
“Trainee teachers need to try some singing when they are on placement,” said one. “If they don’t have that first go, it will never happen.”
“It’s about persuading teachers that you can be a good leader of singing even if you don’t have the most brilliant voice,” said another.
Help from music specialists was considered essential and one participant suggested that if non-specialists’ confidence in singing could be boosted by gaining some sort of accreditation or qualification, they would then find music specialists less of a threat and more of an asset.
The round table was divided as to the merits of the new primary curriculum in terms of music and singing. Some saw the new curriculum as “a fantastic opportunity” for music and singing, with the chance to combine it with dance and drama. But others feared that some schools might pick certain art strands and “sideline music and singing completely.”
The four years of government funding for Sing Up comes to an end in March 2011, and participants stressed the need for singing to be “embedded for the longer term.” Many primary pupils stop singing as soon as they reach secondary school, and Sing Up is anxious to do more work in this area, as well as with early years children.
Participants agreed that the different national music bodies needed to speak with one voice to make the case for singing and to bring all the available evidence together. A “case-study” approach to collecting evidence was a critical part of this, said one.
“There is a pressing need for clear evidence of what works and what doesn’t,” argued another. “Other lobbies, such as dance and drama, will also claim to improve standards, so where does the government prioritize? Policy makers need some robust evidence.”
“The danger is that singing looks easy because Sing Up has been so successful,” one participant summed up. “But it’s vital that the investment in singing continues.”
RSS