Let’s Sing Together

When Julia Donaldson’s grand-daughter reported that she was not allowed to sing at nursery because “singing spreads germs”, she responded in The Guardian saying “I feel it is criminal to stop people singing, particularly children, and I worry that there would be some children who grow not able to sing.  We all know that singing is what keeps us in good health.”

Singing has been of vital social importance for millennia. It is central to our positive sense of collective identity; from the songs we sing as children in the playground, to the songs sung by sports fans in the stands. When we get on or feel aligned with a group or an individual we might remark that we feel ‘in tune’ or ‘in harmony’. We understand the meaning of the phrase because we know how it feels to sing together.

The benefits of Singing                                                     

There is an established body of evidence documenting the lasting mental, physical, educational and social benefits of singing, in particular in groups. Professor Graham Welch, the professor of music education at the Institute of Education, spokesperson for the National singing programme for school children, Sing Up, has commented that, 
 “Singing has psychological benefits because of its normally positive effect in reducing stress levels through the action of the endocrine system which is linked to our sense of emotional well-being. Psychological benefits are also evident when people sing together as well as alone because of the increased sense of community, belonging and shared endeavour.” 

Singing together could act as an antidote to the negative social and psychological impact of lockdown.  This is true for all people but it is most vital for our children.

The Challenge

Some evidence suggests that there may be increased transmission of COVID 19 when large groups sing together indoors, for a sustained period of time.  Although this evidence is not conclusive, it is recommended that group singing should take place with reduced numbers, reduced volume or outdoors to mitigate risk.  The government guidelines for safer singing suggest singing outside.

Many schools and choirs will remain fearful of allowing children to sing indoors. It is therefore possible that children may not be allowed to sing together through the winter months. If this is the case some children will have spent the best part of two years without singing regularly together.  It is concerning to think that anxiety about singing could continue to impact children long after it is safe to do so.

There are safe ways for children to sing together. For example, ExCathedra’s Singing Playgrounds is an established, award-winning whole-school singing programme in which children are trained children to lead others in singing play. This is a programme that can be introduced by staff and encouraged in outdoor spaces. Sing-Up have launched their Summer of Singing programme which aims to “get pupils ready to learn by improving their mental wellbeing, while at the same time rebuilding school communities, values and culture through singing together.”

The past 18 months has largely silenced our collective singing voice. The effect is social, psychological and educational. But negative effects can be safely undone and the benefits of singing are many.

It is vital that we find ways to remind ourselves, each other and our children of what it sounds like and what it feels like when we sing together.