SING UP Area Leader

Date: Ongoing

Philippa Toulson is the SING UP Area Leader for Somerset. Working for Folk South West she will leads the Somerset SING UP programme in partnership with Dorset Music Service and the Primary Strategy Team who will take the lead for Dorset. We will be combining for exciting joint activities.

SING UP works with organisations and individuals to build a strong singing workforce enabling daily quality singing opportunities for all primary school-aged children in Somerset.

In case you didn’t know...

· SING UP is the Music Manifesto National Singing Programme, produced by Youth Music with Abbott Mead Vickers (AMV-BBDO), Faber Music and the Sage Gateshead, supported by Government. SING UP aims to raise the status of singing and increase opportunities for primary school-aged children throughout England to enjoy singing as part of their everyday lives

· SING UP aims to put high-quality everyday singing back into all English primary-age schools and the wider community.

· Singing is shown to improve learning, behaviour, health and confidence, and it’s fun!

· Singing unites pupils in schools, connects schools together, showcases school activities and raises standards

What can your Area Leader do for you?

· We can provide you with opportunities to network with people in your area and provide you with CPD and training to develop your singing skills

· If you already use singing with your children that’s great.... we can inform you about new and exciting ways to further your talents.

· Our work includes advocacy and promotion: you may have already been encouraged to sign up to receive the free termly magazine at www.singup.org If you or your school haven’t signed up yet.... get clicking!!

If you have any questions or can signpost us to good practice or models already happening in your area, please do email us:

somerset@singup.org.uk or philippa@folksw.org.uk

Working in Schools

Date: Ongoing

Our projects often take us into Schools. We believe that music and song can help address all aspects of the Curriculum. At Key Stages 1 & 2 we have a commitment to encouraging children to sing and to write their own songs, as well as to dance and create their own dances.

We work with a lot of gifted and talented young musicians and are seeking funding to set up a dedicated mentoring scheme for them. We are also partners in the South West Music School initiative

Live Wires Graduates

Date: 08/Apr/2010 to 11/Apr/2010

Live Wires Graduates was introduced into our programme in 2007.

This 4 day residential weekend from 8th - 11th April is for 14-18 year olds and gives musicians and singers the chance to take their music making, songwriting, arranging and composing to a higher level.

This event also finishes with a concert for parents and friends.

This years tutors will be Will Lang and Alison Rowley.

This course is running along side Folk South West's Easter School.

FOR BOOKING FORM & LEAFLET PLEASE VISIT THE EVENTS PAGE (http://www.folksw.org.uk/brad/folksouthwest/events.cfm)

Live Wires

Date: Ongoing

Live Wires is an annual four-day residential music-making course for 10-14 year olds. It is for singers and instrumentalists and includes a fair amount of work on music composition and songwriting, finishing with a concert for parents and friends.

Bright Sparks

Date: Ongoing

Is for 8-10 year olds and includes days of singing, instrumental work and songwriting. We also have an annual Bright Sparks residential weekend where 8-10 year olds work together on songs, tunes and writing new songs. We always finish with a short performance for parents and friends.

Sparklers

Date: Ongoing

Sparklers is Folk South West's latest Early Years music project and is taking place in Taunton, Yeovil and West Somerset).

The project involves music leaders, Helen Brayley, Jackie Oates and Wendy Atkinson who have been working in children's centres and nurseries with babies, toddlers and preschoolers. The sessions involve lots of practical musical activities including singing, rhymes, playing instruments and movement. The children are engaged with a range of props such as puppets, scarves and a wide variety of instruments. Staff at the settings have been involved in developing their own practice and have received training as part of the project. There have also been several trainees who have 'shadowed' the music leaders and then had the opportunity to 'have a go' for themselves! A lot of fun has been had by all!!