How do we make school choirs ‘cool’ again

 How music teachers can make singing
in the School Choir ‘cool’ again

As a music teacher, you are no doubt aware of the benefits that singing brings to a school group. The benefits of singing in a choir are many and various, but undeniably singing is good for respiration and both physical and mental alertness and also helps build pupil’s self-assurance. Because singing involves many different areas of the brain acting in concert, there are often associated cognitive benefits, such as improvements in children’s reading ability and memory.

As a mum of two adopted children who are, I have to say, well balanced, happy and healthy there is no denying that they both have additional needs or areas that require extra consideration. My daughter has working memory problems but not where singing is concerned; this is an area where she excels and obviously gives her great confidence as she doesn’t have a problem remembering song lyrics at all, but she does struggle to read. It is fantastic to see her so happy when singing and really excel when so many times she is aware that she isn’t the same standard as her peers in other areas.

But for today’s modern pupil, being able to sing in the choir is not always deemed to be a really ‘cool’ attribute to have. So how do we as music teachers overcome that hurdle? how do we inspire our pupils to want to join the choir? How do we inspire pupils that being in the choir is a great attribute to have?

As a music teacher and founder of Voice in a Million, I visit many schools presenting two hour workshops for the choir and often entire year groups. At the start we always have a number of pupils that don’t really want to be there, expecting the sessions to be traditional hymns or full of songs for girls! Perhaps the word CHOIR should be changed for today’s students? By the end of the session we generally have a fully engaged set of students be it primary or senior, generally mixed gender and always having fun! As a teacher our main aim is to ensure children thrive and grow as individuals, understand the way society expects them to behave, and develop great morals, ethics and life skills. Everything else is a bonus! Singing allows children of all ages to really express themselves, and to be able to do that is a talent!

We have been running our annual school singing event (Voice in a Million) since 2009. And nearly 100,000 pupils have taken part. We founded VIAM to give a voice to the thousands of children in the care system; and what better voice than the sound of 5,000 children of all ages, singing in harmony.

VIAM focus very heavily on the choice of songs. Despite the need for us to convey our message, the key is to engage the children, and song choice is crucial! We can keep every child focused as long as our choice of songs is varied, and we incorporate current songs. Children are happy to learn songs they don’t know that fit with the theme of a show as long as they know that they are going to be performing songs they really love at some stage of evening. Our choreography is current, dynamic and tailored for the children who take part….. If “A DAB” is the move of the moment then VIAM will incorporate that… if it’s Whip Nay Nay then so be it ….. Entertainment and fun intertwined with a great script make for success and engage not only the students but the teachers. It has worked for the last seven years and I am sure it will continue to do so !

If you would like to hear more about Voice in a Million and how you can join us with your choir at the SSE Arena, Wembley, on one of our next events on the 8th or 9th March, email team@voiceinamillion.com or visit our website at www.voiceinamillion.com.

Jo Garofalo

Music Teacher & Founder of Voice in a Million

Voice in a Million Ltd
The Old Fire Station | Corrie Rd | Addlestone | Surrey | KT15 2HS
Tel 01932 859667 |  team@voiceinamillion.com | www.voiceinamillion.com