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Jacob Collier, the renowned Grammy Award-winning musician, composer, and producer, has highlighted the power of group singing in addressing social isolation among young people. Speaking to the BBC ahead of the launch of a new initiative, he emphasized how singing together can “bypass the artificial digital boundaries created around us.” This message underpins the BBC’s latest music education program, BBC Get Singing, which aims to encourage more teenagers across the UK to engage in communal singing.
Research indicates that as children grow into their teenage years, opportunities for singing in groups significantly decline. A survey involving around 10,000 teachers in England revealed that a third of state secondary schools lack a choir, while 57% of teachers reported that their students never participate in singing during assemblies. To counter this trend, BBC Get Singing has been introduced as the organization’s most significant music education effort in ten years. The initiative is free to access via BBC Bitesize and offers carefully arranged songs along with instructional videos to support both teachers and students in learning the music and vocal techniques.
Two songs, “Live More & Love More” by Cat Burns and “Piping Down the Valleys Wild” by Bob Chilcott, have been made available as part of the project’s initial release. Additional arrangements, including one of Collier’s own compositions titled “Something Heavy,” are planned for later in the year. Collier, who serves as the scheme’s ambassador, described taking on this role as a “total no-brainer” and expressed excitement about contributing to the mission. He reflected on the loneliness faced by many young people today and the unifying experience of choir singing, which offers a connection “much bigger than yourself” and transcends digital walls.
At Parrs Wood High School in Manchester, head of music Bekki Kosher attests to the positive impact singing has on students’ mental health, although she acknowledges the challenge in helping young people see that music involves more than just what happens on their phones. One student, 14-year-old Alesha, shared how being part of the choir helps her express a range of emotions, saying, “Whenever I’m sad, angry, happy, I play music all the time and sing.” Over the next three years, BBC Get Singing aims to expand with workshops, performances, and teacher training, as well as commissioning research to study the benefits of collective singing on youth wellbeing
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