As part of the Music Manifesto’s National Singing Campaign, The Sage Gateshead will extend their project to train singing leaders.
‘Vocal Force’ will draw on the success of other initiatives from the Music Manifesto Pathfinder such as Vocal Union and Vocal Remedies, which have broken new ground in whole class and whole school singing.
The aim is to provide inclusive, learner centred training for teachers and community musicians. There’ll be an emphasis on encouraging and exemplifying healthy, musical singing. Leaders will develop a broad repertoire base using singing in the context of the whole curriculum.
The extended programme will move out of the North East and will work with vocal leaders and potential vocal leaders in selected areas of the country between September 2007 and March 2008. More details of the roll-out will be available soon.
Vocal Force is the third strand of work to be set up following the government’s announcement in January of £10m to fund a National Singing Programme. The other two strands are: expanding the choir schools outreach programme with the Choir School’s Association and ‘Music Start’, the national roll out by Youth Music of an Early Years music resource created by Isle of Wight based Healing Arts.
When agreement was given to The Sage Gateshead’s national Vocal Force initiative Katherine Zeserson, Director of Learning and Participation, The Sage Gateshead said:
“This is a tremendous opportunity to work in partnership with teachers and musicians right across the country. We’re proud and delighted to be able to share the insights we’ve gained through the Music Manifesto Pathfinder programme, and to promote and disseminate the excellent practice we know we’ll be encountering in schools and organisations in the target areas as this initiative rolls out.”
Read Singing Ambassador Howard Goodall's comments on the progress of the National Singing Programme here
Read more about the Music Manifesto Pathfinder work here
If you would like more information about Vocal Force, as and when it is available, please email info@musicmanifesto.co.uk