Sing Up

Sing Up is a United Kingdom–based charity and educational organisation focused on promoting singing and music education for children and young people. Founded in the 2000s with support from public bodies and cultural institutions, the organisation develops curricula, teacher training, song banks, and research partnerships to embed singing across early years, primary, and community settings. Sing Up has collaborated with national arts funders, examination boards, broadcasting services, universities, and specialist ensembles to influence policy, practice, and public engagement in music and performing arts.

History

Sing Up emerged amid policy initiatives and cultural programmes in the 2000s that emphasized creative skills and arts participation. Its establishment followed dialogues involving the Department for Education, Arts Council England, and cultural advocates such as the BBC Radiophonic and choral commissioners. Early projects drew on precedent organisations and campaigns including the National Music Council, the Specialist Schools and Academies Trust, and regional music services such as the London Music Education Partnership. Throughout the 2010s, Sing Up worked alongside tertiary institutions like the Royal Academy of Music, the Royal College of Music, and universities with music education departments including the University of Oxford, the University of Cambridge, and the University of Manchester to develop pedagogic resources and evidence-based assessments. High-profile collaborations and endorsements connected Sing Up to ensembles and presenters from institutions such as the London Symphony Orchestra, the Chineke! Orchestra, and broadcasters associated with the BBC Proms and BBC Radio 3.

Mission and Activities

Sing Up’s mission centers on increasing singing participation and improving vocal pedagogy for children and young people across community, early years, and school contexts. Activities encompass curriculum development, teacher professional development, song commissioning, and advocacy. Sing Up has produced teacher resource packs aligned with statutory frameworks referenced by organizations like Ofsted and examination bodies such as the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM). The organisation has convened conferences and CPD events with partners including the National Foundation for Educational Research, the Youth Music charity, the Musicians’ Union, and the Federation of Music Services to support classroom practice and choir leadership. It has also engaged with cultural festivals such as the Edinburgh International Festival and the Cheltenham Music Festival to promote outreach and performance opportunities.

Programmes and Resources

Sing Up operates a repertoire bank of songs, lesson plans, and assessment tools used by classroom teachers, music specialists, and community leaders. The repertoire includes commissioned works by composers and songwriters who have contributed to projects alongside names from the choral and theatre worlds such as Benjamin Britten’s legacy organisations, opera companies like English National Opera, and contemporary composers associated with the Royal Philharmonic Society. Educational resources reference pedagogical research from institutions including the Institute of Education, the UCL Institute of Education, and conservatoire training models from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. Programmes have included national singing weeks, performance projects in partnership with local authorities, and targeted initiatives for early years settings working with charities such as the National Children’s Bureau and the Early Years Alliance. Digital resources and audio libraries have been produced to support blended and remote learning contexts, aligning with technology partners and broadcasters involved in music education.

Partnerships and Funding

Sing Up’s partnerships span arts councils, cultural institutions, academic partners, and corporate and philanthropic funders. Core partnerships have included Arts Council England, BBC Music, local music education hubs, and arts organisations such as the London Philharmonic Orchestra and Opera North. Academic collaborations with universities and research centres have underpinned program evaluation and evidence generation. Funding streams historically combined public funding, charitable trusts such as the Paul Hamlyn Foundation and the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, corporate sponsorships, and earned income from subscriptions and resource licensing. National and regional local authorities and music services contributed to programme delivery, while donors and philanthropic partners supported targeted projects for underserved communities and special educational needs provision, working alongside charities like Save the Children and the Princes Trust in some outreach contexts.

Impact and Evaluation

Sing Up has commissioned and contributed to research on the cognitive, social, and emotional benefits of singing, with evaluations carried out by research organisations including the National Foundation for Educational Research, the Institute of Education, and university music departments. Reported impacts include increased teacher confidence in delivering vocal work, wider participation in choral activity, and documented links to language development and wellbeing measures referenced in academic literature from institutions such as King’s College London and the University of Sheffield. Longitudinal and large-sample studies linked to music education policy debates have informed submissions to parliamentary committees and cultural reviews, and influenced practice in music education hubs, local authority music services, and voluntary youth ensembles. Independent assessments and case studies have cited collaborations with national ensembles, examination boards, and broadcaster-led campaigns as amplifying reach and sustainability.

Category:Music education in the United Kingdom Category:Charities based in the United Kingdom