South Gloucestershire Council

Published: 03/04/2014

Funding provided by the Youth Music Foundation will be split between South Gloucestershire Council and Bath & North East Somerset Council (B&NES). It will be used to provide singing teachers to work with more than 500 children across a dozen schools running 25 singing sessions during the lifetime of the project.

The project will culminate with the children performing some of the songs they have learnt at an event next summer. As part of the performance, they will premiere five new songs by composer Lin Marsh who specialises in writing vocal works for young people.

Richard Jones, Music and Arts Strategy Manager for South Gloucestershire Council, said: “This is an innovative project for both councils and by bringing our joint expertise together we will ensure that a large number of children will benefit from improved literacy through singing. Singing has long been used as a way to help improve literacy. For example, children are taught to learn a range of songs which have up to four words missing and they choose which words should fill the gaps to complete the songs.”

South Gloucestershire Council and Bath & North East Somerset Council worked on a joint bid to successfully secure the £30,000 funding across both councils.

Rainer Dolz, Music Manager for B&NES, added: “This is a great opportunity to work with schools which in particular we know have high levels of pupils with English as an additional language and we look forward to developing their English skills through singing.”

As part of the project, children and young people will also be encouraged to complete an arts award programme devised for primary school pupils where they are encouraged to log the art they enjoy.

Work will start on the project this summer.