In January, the BBC launched a new resource on its Bitesize website which it hopes will help more schools get more children singing. On 27th January I was contacted by BBC Norfolk Radio to discuss the importance of singing in schools. You can listen to my interview here:
Why do some schools not have a choir or a singing club?
Unfortunately, many secondary schools do not have a choir and many children are missing out on all the benefits of singing. Schools heavily rely on teachers’ ability and time to set up singing clubs and after school activities. However, the pressure that teachers are under to complete administrative tasks, reach targets, follow policies- which are forever changing means there is less time available and many teachers experience burn-out.
How does the school curriculum affect the Art subjects?
The Arts in general still take second place in most schools when it comes to organising and planning the school curriculum. Our pupils are constantly being told how essential Maths, English and Science are to their future success. The skills that the Arts offer are still regarded by many schools and parents as rather peripheral. It is not uncommon for lesson time to be taken from the Arts and distributed amongst the important subjects.
Why do The Arts get the short straw?
I think we have lost the ability to understand what makes a person successful and happy. Our children are bombarded by the idea that exam results are all that matter and to be successful means to have more that others. There’s a belief that you should only study what will give you a good return: It is well known that most musicians or artists don’t “Make it” i.e aren’t successful.
I can clearly remember the disappointment I felt when after having waited for almost a whole term, I realised that there wasn’t EVER going to be a singing assembly at my secondary school. It had never occurred to me that singing as a school community would suddenly stop just because I had left primary school.
How is being part of a singing club going to help my child?
Right now, tens of thousands of children are suffering from stress, anxiety and are in need of some form of extra support. The numbers of children requiring intervention has rocketed. Whether this is from the fall-out of covid or due to family circumstances, the demands that schools are putting on our children is not helping. Removing time for The Arts will only make matters worse.
What our children need now more than ever is to be strengthened from within and gain a better feeling of themselves again and bond with each other. That’s where singing in a group can help.
How can singing help?
It has long been recognised that singing positively changes the chemicals in your brain.
Singing releases endorphin which is known as the body’s natural painkiller. It stimulates feelings of pleasure and well-being. Singing also helps release oxytocin, which reduces anxiety and stress while promoting feelings of trust and social connection. In addition, singing makes you feel happy and motivated as it releases dopamine.
A study has shown that singing can increase these chemicals by up to a whopping 42%.
What are we waiting for? Let’s get singing! Our children need singing more than ever.
Help your child regain their self-confidence and build strong friendships. See them happy and gain the ability to regulate themselves. Get singing and book your child’s free space with Wymondham Young Voices.
If you have a young person who would be interested in joining Wymondham Young Voices then please contact Julia using the registration form below.
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