BBC Get Singing launches today on BBC Bitesize, providing teachers and vocal leaders with engaging resources to encourage collective singing among 11–14-year-olds in and out of schools across the UK. 7x Grammy Award-winning artist, composer and producer Jacob Collier is Ambassador and Advocate for BBC Get Singing, and an arrangement of his song Something Heavy will be available later this year as the BBC builds a distinctive and inspiring collection of songs to reflect and represent communities across the UK.
Get Singing is the BBC’s biggest nationwide music education initiative to launch since 2014 with Ten Pieces, which continues to open up the world of classical music to 7-14-year-olds. And for younger audiences, the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra’s Musical Storyland continues to be a huge success, having had over 14 million requests on BBC iPlayer to date.
Get Singing is available on BBC Bitesize now and includes new arrangements of existing songs performed by the BBC Singers: live more & love more by Cat Burns (arranged by Hannah King) and Piping Down the Valleys Wild by Bob Chilcott. More newly arranged songs will be released later this year, including Something Heavy by Jacob Collier, and further songs and resources will be released over the course of three years, with all resources available for free on BBC Bitesize. Video resources available now include physical and vocal warm-up exercises, written guidance notes, scores, backing tracks and additional videos to help teachers and students explore and learn each song.
Music, and singing in particular, is embedded in primary education, with singing often a weekly activity in classrooms and assemblies. Teachers and music leaders have identified, however, that the drop off for collective singing happens when children reach secondary school. BBC Get Singing addresses this decline, with a music education programme specifically targeted at that age group.
Over the next three years, there will be live performances and workshops for young people, and CPD (continuing professional development) for teachers and vocal leaders. The BBC will partner with singing groups and organisations across the UK to foster more opportunities to participate in Get Singing, including Music for Youth, the National Youth Choir and UD Music. A research project to explore the benefits of collective singing will also be launched.
Kate Phillips, BBC Chief Content Officer, says: “I am so proud that we are launching this new initiative, aimed at an age group identified by teachers as a time when children stop singing together. BBC Get Singing isn’t only about music, it’s about having a positive impact on the wellbeing of young people. Growing up as a teenager in such a noisy world is ever more challenging, so providing these opportunities is fundamental to our offering. It’s public service at its core.”
Jacob Collier, 7x Grammy Award-winning artist, composer and producer, and BBC Get Singing Ambassador and Advocate, says: “Music holds the power to transform a life. It transformed mine! Experiencing music from within, by singing in a choir as a child, taught me so much more than just music. I learned listening, teamwork, courage, empathy, control, humour, leadership, confidence…and so much more. Looking back to those formative years, I recognise that it was those musical moments in my early life that ultimately shaped so much of the person I was to become, and forged my attitude towards life. I’m deeply excited for all the young people, teachers and vocal leaders across the nation to have these fabulous BBC Get Singing resources to dive into, and indeed to GET SINGING!”
Over the next three years, BBC Get Singing will expand with interactive workshops and performances with the BBC for young people, and training opportunities for teachers and vocal leaders.
