Vocal Strategy

Vocal Strategy 2015-17 Surrey Music Surrey Music (SMH) is a strategic alliance between organisations with involvement in music education. By working together, SMH will ensure children and young people receive music education that is high quality, wide ranging, sustainable and accessible to all, with progression routes from 0-25 years. Developing a vocal strategy that aims to give every child and young person in Surrey the opportunity to sing and progress to the next level of excellence is one of the core roles of SMH. Aims of this Document The strategy provides a framework and direction for SMH vocal work for the next two years and is an update from the 2013-15 Vocal Strategy. Readers are advised that as this is a working document it may be subject to change. The strategy categorises singing/vocal work under five areas of focus: county-wide co-ordination; schools; children and young people with special education needs and disabilities and those experiencing challenging circumstances; singing and health; progression and resources. It also links into the following strategies and priorities: Surrey Arts (including Surrey Music ) Business Plan 2014 - The core roles for SMH as identified by the Department for Education and/or Ofsted are first and further access, vocal strategy, progression and engagement. Extension roles for SMH include large scale performance and projects and developing a digital strategy. Confident in Surrey s Future Corporate Strategy 2015 20. This document outlines the Council s vision and objectives for the county over the next five years. It is a high-level document that tells residents, Members, partners and staff about aspirations for the Council for the next five years. The document highlights three strategic goals: Wellbeing; Economic Prosperity and Resident Experience Department for Education The Importance of Music A National Plan for Music Education (2011) Core Role 4: Develop a singing strategy to ensure that every pupil is singing regularly and that choirs and other ensembles are available in the area. Children from all backgrounds and every part of England should have the opportunity to learn to sing and progress to the next level of excellence if they wish to. Arts Council England Great Art and Culture for Everyone (2010-2020) This document sets out a 10-year strategic framework for Arts Council England, with five ambitious goals at its heart. Originally published in 2010, this 2013 update reflects the Arts Council's newly expanded remit for museums and libraries. The document can be distilled into two goals: wanting excellent arts and culture to thrive, and wanting as many people as possible to engage with it. 1

FOCUS AREA 1: COUNTY-WIDE CO-ORDINATION The county of Surrey is full of singing! From singing for babies and very young children in our Children s Centres to the growing number of choral societies, community choirs, rock/pop choirs and workplace choirs there are many opportunities to reap the benefits from participating in singing and vocal work in Surrey. Surrey boasts a strong choral tradition that is embodied in the annual Leith Hill Musical Festival, a choral competition popular amongst local choral societies which was once conducted by renowned English composer Ralph Vaughan Williams. Much of this work however happens in isolation and there is a real need for a co-ordinated approach which enables everyone to know about and access what is on offer. There are also gaps in provision, both in terms of genre and geography which needs further research and programme to test need and develop opportunities which can then be replicated across the county. By creating a vocal strategy, Surrey can build on its existing wealth of opportunity to ensure that the benefits of participating in singing and vocal work can reach everyone in the county. Current Activities Large-Scale Performances and Events The Freedom Game was a new community opera commissioned by Surrey Arts to celebrate the 800 th anniversary of the Magna Carta being sealed in Surrey. It was performed for the first time at the Royal Albert Hall by over 1000 Surrey residents in May 2015. Vocal Strategy A Vocal Strategy was introduced in 2013 that provided a framework and direction for vocal work for two years. This document provides an update for a further two years 2015-17. Performers in The Freedom Game, Surrey Arts new community opera that celebrated the 800 th anniversary of the Magna Carta being sealed in Surrey. Royal Albert Hall, 2015, photography by Andy Newbold Vocal Leader A Vocal Leader was appointed in April 2013 to provide a single lead with responsibility for co-ordinating vocal work, link with other colleagues/programmes where vocal work is a constituent part; manage a central database of skilled singing leaders and provide a lead contact for singing/vocal work and advocate singing across the county. 2

FOCUS AREA 2: SCHOOLS Approximately 140,000 students are educated in Surrey schools (4 nurseries, 298 primary schools, 53 secondary schools, 23 special schools and 11 pupil referral units - SCC School Organisational Plan 2013-14). Given these statistics, working strategically to ensure singing and vocal work can thrive in all its schools and all pupils have the opportunity to sing regularly and progress to the next level of excellence if they wish to is a priority for SMH. Surrey Schools Singing Champions have been appointed and we will work closely with them in order to identify gaps including schools where support for singing and vocal work is needed or schools which might benefit from singing interventions. SMH continues to support and develop existing projects such as the popular Primary Music Festivals and Young Singing Leader Programme. To ensure support for singing and vocal work reaches as many schools and pupils as possible we will focus on continued professional development and training, giving teachers the support they need to confidently use singing in the classroom, set up school choirs and understand the benefits of singing to teaching and learning. Current Activities Surrey Schools Singing Champions Surrey Schools Singing Champions have been appointed to advocate singing in schools in specific locations across the county. They act as ambassadors for SMH and pass on important information and drum up support for singing in their areas. They also identify cold spots where little or no singing is taking place or schools which would benefit from singing or vocal work. Pupils from St Judes C of E Primary School and St Cuthbert s Catholic School rehearse The Freedom Game, St Judes C of E Primary School, Egham, April 2015 Photography by Karl Newman Continued Professional SMH has developed a variety of INSET courses for teachers in singing and vocal work. Many of these are aimed at teachers who have not necessarily trained in music but are tasked with leading singing in their schools. SMH also offers training and advice for specialist music teachers. SMH provides a source of information about current trends in singing and vocal work and what is happening regionally and nationally. Primary Music Festivals The annual Primary Music Festivals are an important event in the SMH calendar and very popular with Primary Schools. We would like to develop the festivals to align them more with our priorities and make them available to schools with SEND. 3

FOCUS AREA 3: CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE WITH SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL NEEDS AND DISABILITIES AND THOSE EXPERIENCING CHALLENGING CIRCUMSTANCES Equality of opportunity is one of the main focus areas for SMH. We understand that some children and young people may have difficulty accessing our services in schools or through our ensembles. We are aware that despite Surrey being an affluent county, not all children and young people enjoy the quality of life shared by others. SMH will work closely with colleagues in the SCC Children, Schools and Families Directorate to ensure its services reach children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities and those who may experience barriers to participation in schools or who are experiencing challenging circumstances. Current Activities Residency with Voces Cantabiles Music SMH is supporting a residency with vocal music education charity Voces Cantabiles Music (VCM). Breaking the Bubble Project 'Breaking the Bubble' is a partnership project between Surrey Music, Sound (Kent) and Sound City (Brighton & Hove ). This project considers the provision of music, including singing and vocal work for young people who have Special Educational Needs and/or who are Disabled (SEND) and how to integrate this into hub activities. Members of SEND choirs Just So Singers and High Notes perform in The Freedom Game, Royal Albert Hall, May 2015. Photography by Andy Newbold 4

FOCUS AREA 4: SINGING AND HEALTH The benefits of singing for our health are well-documented. Research into the health and well-being benefits associated with singing took place in Surrey following Arts Partnership Surrey s Singing Surrey project in 2011. Arts Partnership Surrey commissioned the Singing for Life report which looked at the potential opportunities for enhancing and developing arts and health partnerships and projects. SMH is committed to this report and will action some of the recommendations including development of singing groups, forming partnerships with health care professionals, information sharing and networking and training. Current Activity Carers Choir Project SMH has been working with Arts Partnership Surrey, Dementia Friendly Surrey and the Guildford & Waverley Clinical Commissioning Group to set up choirs for carers across Surrey. To date choirs have been established in Dorking, Egham, Knaphill, Lingfield and Weybridge. Singing for Health Training A new five-day Singing for Health course was offered alongside the Carers Choir project lead by practitioners from the Sidney De Haan Research Centre for Arts & Health. Anthea Prince leads a workshop with the Elmbridge Carers Choir, Weybridge Centre, April 2015 Photography by Surrey & Berkshire Media Ltd 5

FOCUS AREA 5: PROGRESSION AND RESOURCES A goal of SMH is to provide clear progression routes through music. It is vital that ongoing identification and highlighting of progression routes for young singers including regional groups (for example Rock Choir Teens, Farnham Youth Choir, Surrey Youth Choir, Just So Singers) and national groups (such as the National Children s Choir) continues. Showcasing opportunities such as the Surrey Schools Have Talent event, regional and county-wide concerts and information about how to participate in national opportunities such as Music for Youth and BBC Choir of the Year should be shared. SMH will consider how to use online resources such as www.surreymusichub.com and www.surreyartsinteractive.co.uk as virtual learning environments to share repertoire, lesson plans and warm ups as well as national and international research into singing such as the research work of the Institute of Education. SMH will consider using the virtual learning environment to highlight resources developed by others and ensure the best use of the extensive collection of repertoire and reference material at the Surrey Performing Arts Library. In terms of human resources, SMH will ensure the best use of its vocal staff and maximise opportunities such as the residency with Voces Cantabile Music and visits to the county by professional groups performing at venues such as G Live. Current Activities Information Sharing and Networking SMH will develop its online resources including www.surreymusichub.com and www.surreyartsinteractive.co.uk as virtual learning environments and social media to share information about singing/vocal opportunities and resources. The find a group section on the SMH website allows children and young people to find choirs and singing groups near to them. It will also use these resources to highlight progression routes for children and young people including regional groups. SMH will constantly monitor what is available, identify any gaps in progression opportunities and look at ways to fill these gaps. Rehearsing The Freedom Game with The Dictator, professional opera singer Keel Watson Photography by Karl Newman Supporting Surrey s Singing Ensembles There are over 100 choirs and singing groups in Surrey offering a wide range of music and appealing to a diverse range of people. SMH will offer support in terms of advice and information to these groups as well as assisting with raising their profile through social media. 6

Action Plan FOCUS AREA 1: COUNTY-WIDE CO-ORDINATION Strategic Aim 1: To have a co-ordinated approach to singing and vocal work across the County where everyone knows about and can access what is on offer. Objective Action Lead Officer Partners Timescale Desired Outcomes To support and encourage partnership projects with other SCC Directorates and Surrey District & Borough Councils that utilise singing and vocal work. To develop large-scale singing projects and events in Surrey. To work with other SCC Directorates and Service Areas and Arts Partnership Surrey to identify and advocate opportunities for singing and vocal work. To assist with the development of ideas and plans for the next large-scale Surrey Arts event, expected to be in 2018, ensuring learning from the 2015 Royal Albert Hall event as detailed in the evaluation report is taken into account. SCC Services Areas Arts Partnership Surrey Surrey District & Borough Councils. Surrey Arts Manager, Teaching & Learning Manager, Surrey Arts Community Arts Manager, Surrey Music Working Group, July 2018 Exciting and innovative singing and vocal projects happening across Surrey, for example working with Surrey Heritage, Libraries, Children, Schools and Families and Adult Social Care Directorates. For example Grow Your Own Choir staff singing project that aims to set up new singing groups for SCC and District and Borough Council staff. Singing and vocal work is embedded into the next largescale Surrey Arts event expected to take place in Summer 2018. 7

Strategic Aim 2: To identify gaps in singing and vocal provision across the County. To identify and ensure there is an individual responsible for singing in every SCC school. To manage a database of Surrey-based singing groups and choirs to include both Surrey Arts and community-led groups. To work with the Surrey Schools Singing Champions and the Primary Music Curriculum Support Team Leader to identify an individual responsible for singing in every SCC School. Manage and update the singing groups and choir database. Surrey School Singing Champions, Primary Music Curriculum Support Team Leader, Schools, SCC Teaching and Learning Managers District and Borough Arts Officer. A list of every individual responsible for singing in every SCC school and awareness of gaps in provision. To have a current database of Surrey-based singing groups and choirs and encourage and advocate use of the online Touch Bass database. 8

FOCUS AREA 2: SCHOOLS Strategic Aim 3: To work in partnership to develop and advocate opportunities for singing and vocal work in SCC schools. Objective Action Lead Officer Partners Timescale Desired Outcomes To recruit a Surrey Schools Singing Champion for each Local School Music Network. Update Surrey Schools Singing Champions role profile and advertise to schools. Primary Curriculum Support Team Leader, SEN Advisory Teacher, Schools, Teaching and Learning Managers; Local School Music Networks; Schools Advisory Group; Schools A Surrey School Singing Champion is appointed for all Local School Music Networks by. To offer a wide range of vocal/singing CPD/INSET (in service training day) for teachers to support and encourage singing in their schools. Organise a wide range of vocal and singing CPD across Surrey exploiting partnerships with Teaching Schools. Bulletin SCC Teaching Schools, Artswork, Rhythmix, Babcock 4S To offer a single CPD programme that includes 12 vocal/singing courses per annum aimed at teachers and community singing leaders. To develop the Primary Music Festivals (PMF) to align them SMH priorities. Develop the PMF to make them more financially viable so that more schools can be included, including SEND schools by. Teaching and Learning Manager PMF Musical Director, SCC Teaching and Learning Managers, Senior Operations Assistant, Schools March To find a sponsor for the Primary Music Festivals so that it is financially possible for more Surrey Primary Schools to take part. To increase advertising in the concert programme. To increase the number of participating schools to 150 including SEND schools by 9

. To promote and advocate school involvement in high profile events and projects (locally, regionally and nationally). To support the development of the VCM Young Singing Leaders programme and work towards making it a County-wide project. To identify and ensure there is an individual responsible for singing in every SCC school. Promotion and advocacy of events and project using a variety of communications methods for example one to one meetings, emails, social media and through networks such as Artswork and the Local School Networks. Consult with all partners involved to ensure that the Young Singing Leaders programme meets its aims and objectives. To work with the Surrey Schools Singing Champions and the Primary Music Curriculum Support Team Leader to identify an individual responsible for singing in every SCC School. Surrey School Singing Champions, Primary Music Curriculum Support Team Leader, Schools, SCC Teaching and Learning Managers; Local School Music Networks VCM, SMH Teaching and Learning Manager Surrey School Singing Champions, Primary Music Curriculum Support Team Leader, Schools, SCC Teaching and Learning Managers.. To ensure Surrey schools are aware of local, regional and national high profile events and projects. To work towards making this programme County-wide. A list of every individual responsible for singing in every SCC school and awareness of gaps in provision. 10

FOCUS AREA 3: CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE WITH SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL NEEDS AND DISABILITIES AND THOSE EXPERIENCING CHALLENGING CIRCUMSTANCES Strategic Aim 4: To work in partnership to support and develop projects that use singing or vocal work as a tool to improve the lives of children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and those living in challenging circumstances across the County. To offer INSET for SEN school staff to support singing in their schools. To use existing resources to train more Surrey Music staff to support singing in SEN schools, particularly in areas where there is currently little support. To support the SEN Team Leader with the VCM Residency with SEN Schools. Organise training for SEN staff based on recommendations from the Breaking the Bubble report. Find Surrey Music staff who are willing and keen to develop skills in supporting SEN music and encourage them to attend training in this area. Include details of SEND training and support in the Surrey Arts teaching staff induction packs. To find out what support the SEN Team Leader needs. Surrey Music SEN Team Leader, Drake Music, Singing Leaders, Schools, Surrey Schools Singing Champions, Surrey Arts Programme Manager: Inclusion & Music Surrey Music SEN Team Leader; Senior Instrumental Team Leader To have three INSET sessions aimed at SEN schools (one per term). To have another two Surrey Music staff supporting SEN schools with singing. SMH SEN Team Leader July 2016 A successful two-day VCM Residency in SEN schools. To support the vocal and singing strands of the Breaking the Bubble project. To meet the Breaking the Bubble Project Co-ordinator to ensure vocal and singing work is embedded into the project. Surrey Arts Programme Manager: Inclusion & Music, SEN Team Leader. To ensure singing and vocal work is embedded into the Breaking the Bubble programme of work. 11

To work with Rhythmix to support the vocal element of the Surrey Music Children in Challenging Circumstances (CCC) programme of work. To meet Surrey Arts Programme Manager: Inclusion & Music to ensure vocal and singing work is embedded into the CCC project and make recommendations if necessary. Surrey Arts Programme Manager: Inclusion & Music, Rhythmix, SCC Youth Support Services. To have singing and vocal work embedded into the CCC programme of work. 12

FOCUS AREA 4: SINGING AND HEALTH Strategic Aim 5: To work in partnership to support and develop projects that use singing and/or vocal work as a tool for improving the health and wellbeing of Surrey s communities. Objective Action Lead Officer Partners Timescale Desired Outcomes To support Arts Partnership Surrey (APS) with its projects that have a singing/vocal and health and well being theme (e.g. Carers Choir project) and make recommendations for new projects. Continue to meet the APS Coordinator regularly for updates. APS At least one APS project to use singing and vocal work to meet its aims and objectives. To strengthen links with the Sidney De Haan Research Centre (University of Canterbury) to support its research into the health and well being benefits of singing and encourage research projects in Surrey. To advocate for workplace choirs at SCC to support staff health and well being. Meet lead professor at Sidney De Haan Centre to take forward. Seek funding and support for workplace choirs in some of the larger SCC office locations, for example Quadrant Court, Consort House, Fairmount House and County Hall. Sidney De Haan Centre. SCC Chief Executive s Office To have one Sidney De Haan Research project taking place in Surrey. To commission four SCC staff singing groups and support the sustainability of existing groups. 13

FOCUS AREA 5: PROGRESSION AND RESOURCES Strategic Aim 6: To highlight and promote singing and vocal progression routes. Objective Action Lead Officer Partners Timescale Desired Outcomes To showcase singing/vocal progression routes using case studies from Surrey Arts students. Meet IMT Colleagues to progress this work. SMH Teaching and Learning Manager, SCC IMT Team To have examples of progression routes in singing/vocal work on the Surrey Music website. To use the SMH website as a tool to promote online singing resources such as those offered by the Surrey Arts Interactive website. To manage a database of singing/vocal leaders addressing gaps in provision, for example the lack of workshop leaders in Surrey specialising in urban music. Encourage workshop leaders to sign up for the SPEAR online resource. Manage and update the singing resources page on the SMH website. Manage and update the singing/vocal leader database, identify gaps and offer training. SMH Teaching and Learning Manager; Surrey Arts Business Manager Surrey Arts Programme Manager: Inclusion & Music To have a current singing resources list on the Surrey Music website. To have a current database of singing/vocal leaders. 14

To manage a database of Surrey-based singing groups and choirs to include both Surrey Arts and community-led groups and ensure these are on the Touch Bass online database. To collaborate with Charanga Music to develop online singing resources on the Surrey Arts Interactive website. Manage and update the singing groups and choir database. Liaise with Charanga music regarding developing their resources. District and Borough Arts Officer. Charanga Music To have a current database of Surrey-based singing groups and choirs and encourage and advocate use of the online Touch Bass database. To have more singing resources available on the Surrey Arts Interactive website. 15