Vocal Strategy 2013 – 2015
Surrey Music Hub
Surrey Music Hub (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. Readers are advised that as this is a working
document it may be subject to change if SMH deem necessary. The strategy categorises singing/vocal work under five areas of focus: countywide 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 and Surrey Music Hub Business Plan 2012 - 2015
The main areas of focus for SMH are needs analysis, equality of opportunity and governance. SMH goals are first access, progression,
vocal strategy, ensembles, groups and performance opportunities including large scale performance opportunities, continued professional
development (CPD) and networking, fundraising and development, instrument loan service, communications and monitoring and
evaluation.
Surrey County Council Corporate Strategy 2012 - 2017 ‘One County...One Team’
To ensure good quality public services for the residents of Surrey so they remain healthy, safe and confident about the future. To achieve
the aim of being the most effective Council in England by 2017 Surrey County Council (SCC) has the following six areas of focus: residents,
value, partnerships, quality, people and stewardship.
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 – ‘Achieving Great Art for Everyone – A Strategic Framework for the Arts’ (2011 – 2021)
Arts Council England (ACE) identifies five goals to help achieve great art for everyone. At the heart of the framework are five goals which
are as follows: Goal 1: Talent and artistic excellence are thriving and celebrated, Goal 2: More people experience and are inspired by the
arts, Goal 3: The arts are sustainable, resilient and innovative, Goal 4: The arts leadership and workforce are diverse and highly-skilled,
Goal 5: Every child and young person has the opportunity to experience the richness of the arts.
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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
Vocal Development Leader
A Vocal Development 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.
Vocal Strategy
A Vocal Strategy was introduced which provides a framework and
direction for SMH vocal work over the next two years.
Young singers from a massed school choir perform at a special Surrey Arts
Celebratory concert at the Royal Albert Hall, 2012, photography by Bill Hiskett
Surrey Schools Singing Champions
SMH will appoint four volunteer Surrey Schools Singing Champions who
will advocate singing in schools in specific locations across the county.
They will act as ambassadors for the work of SMH and pass on important
information and drum up support for singing in their areas. They will also
identify ‘cold spots’ where little or no singing is taking place or schools
which would benefit from singing or vocal work.
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FOCUS AREA 2: SCHOOLS
There are 389 schools including academies in Surrey and 115,427 (January 2013) pupils. The challenge is working strategically to ensure
singing and vocal work is thriving 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. SMH will appoint volunteer Surrey Schools Singing Champions and 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 will
continue supporting and developing existing projects such as the popular Primary Music Festivals, the Show Choir Competition 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
INSET 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
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 increase
the number of schools participating to 120 by March 2015.
Show Choir Competition
The show choir competition for secondary schools offers an annual
showcasing and competitive opportunity for secondary school show
choirs at Dorking Halls.
A Massed Primary School Choir perform at a Surrey Arts Celebratory Concert at the
Royal Albert Hall, 2012, photography by Bill Hiskett
Advice and Training Opportunities
We will offer a variety of INSET courses for teachers in singing and vocal
work. Many of these will be aimed at teachers who have not necessarily
trained in music but are tasked with leading singing in their schools. We
will also offer training and advice for specialist music teachers.
Information Sharing and Signposting
We would like schools to use SMH as a source of information about
current trends in singing and vocal work and what is happening
regionally and nationally. We will share information via the Surrey
Schools Singing Champions, online resources such as
www.surreymusichub.com and www.surreyartsinteractive.co.uk and
social media.
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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
Surrey Live
Surrey Live is a two year project offering song-writing, rehearsal and gigs
for young people in challenging circumstances. SMH is working with SCC
Services for Young People to deliver this work. Singing and vocal work
will be offered to young people as part of this project.
Looked After Children
SMH will work with the SCC Looked After Children Area Managers to
help social care professionals develop an understanding of the benefits of
singing as a tool to support placement stability and to help children settle
in their new environment.
The Beacon School Show Choir perform at a Surrey Arts Celebratory Concert at the
Royal Albert Hall, 2012, photography by Bill Hiskett
Residency with Voces Cantabiles Music
SMH is supporting a three-year residency with vocal music education
charity Voces Cantabiles Music.
‘Breaking the Bubble’ Project
'Breaking the Bubble' is a partnership project between Surrey Music Hub,
Sound Hub (Kent) and Sound City (Brighton & Hove Hub). 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.
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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
Development of Singing Groups
SMH will keep in regular contact with the singing groups that were set up during the
‘Singing Surrey’ project to pass on information, advice and guidance.
Forming Partnerships with Health Care Professionals
SMH will develop 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. Strong links already exist
between SMH and SCC Adult Social Care teams and this strategy recommends
continuing to build on these links.
Young performers celebrate a successful performance at the Royal Alb ert
Hall, 2012, photography by Bill Hiskett
Information Sharing and Networking
SMH will support Arts Partnership Surrey with its projects that incorporate
singing/vocal work with a health and well-being theme. It will also harness the
media and social media to draw attention to existing projects.
Training
Training will be offered as part of any new singing and health projects. SMH will
investigate the possibility of funding training for existing practitioners to develop
their practice. SMH will also signpost to existing singing and health training
courses.
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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, Surrey Songsters, Just
So Singers) and national groups (such as the National Children’s Choir) continues. Showcasing opportunities such as the Show Choir and
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 3-year 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. This will include the
addition of a ‘find a group’ section on the SMH website so that children
and young people can 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.
Stunning A capella quintet Apollo5 add a touch of glamour to the Surrey Arts celebratory
performance at the Royal Albert Hall, 2012 photography by Bill Hiskett
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.
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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 recruit four volunteer
Surrey Schools Singing
Champions.
Create Surrey Schools Singing
Champions role profile and
advertise to schools.
Vocal
Development
Leader
To support and encourage
partnership projects with
other S CC Service A reas
that use singing and vocal
work for example with
Adult Social Care, the
Legacy Team and Library
Services.
Support the Legacy team with
celebratory plans for the Magna
Cart a anniversary in 2015
including the commissioning of
a new piece of vocal music that
involves mass participation
from schools and community
singing groups.
Vocal
Development
Leader
Primary Curriculum
Support Team Leader,
SEN Advisory Teacher,
Schools, Local School
Networks; Schools
Advisory Group
SCC Legacy Team
October 2013
Four Surrey School Singing
Champions are appointed by
October 2013.
May 2015
A new piece of vocal music is
commissioned and performed
by a mass choir involving up
to 1500 people from SCC
schools and singing
communities.
March 2015
A list of every individual
responsible for singing in
every SCC school and
awareness of gaps in
provision.
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 work with the Surrey
Schools Singing Champions
and the Primary Music
Curriculum S upport Team
Leader to identify an individual
responsible for singing in every
SCC School.
Vocal
Development
Leader
Surrey School Singing
Champions, Primary
Music Curric ulum Support
Team Leader, Schools,
SCC Teaching and
Learning Managers
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To advocate and promote
singing and vocal work to
schools where there are
currently gaps in
singing/ vocal provision or
those that would benefit
from singing/ voc al work.
To target schools where there
is currently little or no
singing/ vocal provision using a
variety of communications
methods for example one to
one meetings, emails, social
media and through networks
such as Artswork.
Vocal
Development
Leader
Surrey School Singing
Champions, Primary
Music Curric ulum Support
Team Leader, Schools,
SCC Teaching and
Learning Managers, SCC
Comms, Artswork
March 2015
To have representatives from
fift een Surrey Schools that
haven’t previously engaged
with SMH attend a vocal
INSE T session during the
13/14 academic year.
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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 offer a wide range of
vocal/singing CP D/INSE T
(in services 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.
Vocal
Development
Leader
SCC Teaching Schools,
Artswork, Rhythmix,
Babcock 4S
March 2015
To offer a single CP D
programme that includes 15
vocal/singing courses per
annum aimed at teachers and
community singing leaders.
To investigate the
possibility of taking the
‘Cobweb’s Spring Sing’
infant music festival model
from Shalford Infant
School and recreating this
across the County.
To develop the Primary
Music Festivals (PMF) to
align them SMH priorities.
Explore possibilities of scaling
up this model with ‘Cobweb’s
music festival co-ordinat or
Vocal
Development
Leader
Cobwebs Music Festival
Co-ordinator; Primary
Curriculum S upport Team
Leader, Surrey Schools
Singing Champions.
March 2015
To have a further three infant
music festivals across Surrey
by March 2015.
Develop the PMF to make them
more financially viable so that
more schools can be included.
Teaching and
Learning
Manager
PMF Musical Director,
SCC Teaching and
Learning Managers, SCC
Senior Operations
Assistant, Schools
March 2015
To increase the number of
SCC Primary Schools
involved in the PMF to 120
schools by March 2015.
Vocal
Development
Leader
To identify SCC Primary
Schools that don’t have a
school choir and support
Organise setting up a school
choir INSE T sessions.
Vocal
Development
Leader
To find a sponsor for the
Primary Music Festivals so
that it is financially possible
for more Surrey Primary
Schools to take part.
SCC Teaching Schools,
Singing Leaders, Surrey
Schools Singing
March 2015
To have a choir in every SCC
Primary School.
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their staff with setting up a
choir.
To promote and advocate
school involvement in the
British Council ‘World
Voice’ project.
To promote and advocate
school involvement in
Aldeburgh Music’s ‘Friday
Afternoon’ project to
celebrate Benjamin
Britten’s Centenary.
To support the
development of the V CM
Young Singing Leaders
Programmes at St Bedes
School and Kings
International School.
To support the
development of the annual
Surrey Show Choir
competition.
Champions.
To have all SCC Primary
Music Co-ordinators and
those who are leading
Primary School choirs state
they feel confident in using
singing in the classroom.
Promotion and advocacy of
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.
Work with SMH Associate
Partner Voces Cantabile Music
(VCM) to offer INSE T to
support school staff in teaching
the ‘Friday Afternoon’ songs.
Vocal
Development
Leader
British Council, SCC
Communications, Surrey
Schools Singing
Champions, Local School
Networks, Artswork,
Charanga.
March 2015
To have five SCC Primary
and Secondary Schools
involved in the British Council
World Voice project.
Vocal
Development
Leader
Aldeburgh Music, VCM,
Surrey Schools Singing
Champions, Local School
Networks, Artswork,
Charanga.
March 2015
To have five SCC Secondary
Schools involved in the
Aldeburgh Music’s ‘Friday
Afternoon’ project.
Cons ult with all partners
involved to ensure that the
Young Singing Leaders
programme meets its aims and
objectives.
Vocal
Development
Leader
VCM, St Bedes School,
Kings International
School, SMH Teaching
and Learning Manager
March 2014
To identify and train up to 20
young singing leaders in
Surrey by July 2014.
Cons ult with all partners
involved regarding ideas of how
to develop the Surrey Show
Choir competition, for example
through CPD on setting up a
show choir and highlighting
progression routes.
Vocal
Development
Leader
Surrey Arts staff, SCC
Schools
March 2015
To hold t wo successful show
choir competitions and
identify areas for support and
development by March 2015.
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To consult with SCC
schools regarding the
need for a secondary
school vocal music score
library at Surrey
Performing Arts Library.
Cons ult with schools that take
part in CP D courses.
Vocal
Development
Leader
SCC Performing Arts
Library, Surrey School
Singing Champions.
March 2014
To decide whether to
introduce a library of school
vocal scores at Surrey
Performing Arts Library for
schools.
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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 INSE T for SEN
school staff to support
singing in their schools.
Organise training for SEN staff
based on rec ommendations
from the ‘Breaking the B ubble’
report.
Vocal
Development
Leader
Surrey Music Hub SEN
Team Leader, Drake
Music, Singing Leaders,
Schools, Surrey Schools
Singing Champions.
Surrey Music Hub SEN
Team Leader
July 2014
To have three INSE T
sessions aimed at SEN
schools (one per term).
To use existing resources
to train more Surrey Music
Hub 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,
To support the vocal and
singing strands of the
‘Breaking the Bubble’
project.
Find Surrey Music Hub staff
who are willing and keen to
develop skills in supporting
SEN music and enc ourage
them to attend training in this
area.
Vocal
Development
Leader
March 2015
To have another two Surrey
Music Hub staff supporting
SEN schools with singing.
To find out what support the
SEN Team Leader needs.
Vocal
Development
Leader
SMH SEN Team Leader
July 2014
A successful VCM Residency
in SEN schools.
To meet the ‘Breaking the
Bubble’ Project Co-ordinator to
ensure vocal and singing work
is embedded int o the project.
Vocal
Development
Leader
SMH Contemporary
Music Development
Officer, SEN Team
Leader.
March 2015
To have every SCC SE N
Schools using music and
singing to support teaching
and learning in their schools
by March 2015.
To work with Rhythmix and
SCC Looked After Team
Area Managers to offer
training for social care
professionals that
Organise training for SCC
Looked After Team Area
Managers.
Vocal
Development
Leader
SMH Contemporary
Music Development
Officer, Rhythmix, SCC
Adult Social Care
March 2015
To have 50% of S CC social
care professionals completed
CPD training with Rhythmix
and stating they understand
the importance of singing and
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promotes and advocates
the importance of singing
and music as a tool for
placement stability for
children and young people
in care.
To work with Rhythmix to
support the vocal element
of the young leader
training sessions for the
‘Surrey Live’ project.
music to support placement
stability for children and
young people in care.
To include a tangible legacy
as part of the training, for
example passing on creative
skills and/or setting up a
social care professional
singing group (possibly
linking with the workplace
choirs project).
To meet the ‘Surrey Live’
Project Co-ordinator to ensure
vocal and singing work is
embedded into the project.
Vocal
Development
Leader
SMH Contemporary
Music Development
Officer, Rhythmix, SCC
Youth Support Services.
March 2015
To have singing and vocal
work embedded into the eight
‘Surrey Live’ CPD sessions.
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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 health and
well being theme
(Vitamin G, Seated
Danc e, Keepsakes, and
Referrals ) and advocate
for singing to form part of
these projects.
To develop links with the
Sidney De Haan
Research Centre
(University of
Cant erbury) to support
its research into the
health and well being
benefits of singing and
encourage research
projects in Surrey.
To support the Surrey
Arts Dementia project
with commissioning of
singing groups for carers
for people with
dementia.
To advocate for
work place choirs at SCC
Continue to meet the APS Coordinator regularly for updates.
Vocal
Development
Leader
APS
March 2015
At least one APS project to
use singing and vocal work to
meet its aims and objectives.
Meet lead professor at Sidney De
Haan Centre to take forward.
Vocal
Development
Leader
Sidney De Haan Centre.
March 2015
To have one Sidney De Haan
Research project taking place
in Surrey.
Commission singing groups in all
eleven Surrey district and
boroughs for carers for people
with dementia.
Danc e
Development
Officer
Surrey Arts, SCC Adult
Social Care
March 2015
To commission one singing
and health project during the
2013/14 academic year.
Seek funding and support for
work place choirs in some of the
Vocal
Development
SCC Chief Executive’s
Office
December
2013
To commission four S CC staff
singing groups that can come
14
to support staff health
and well being.
larger SCC office locations, for
example Quadrant Court, Consort
Hous e, Fairmount House and
County Hall.
Leader
together for a mass
performance.
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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 introduce a ‘Find A
Group’ section on the
SMH website that lists
Surrey-based singing
and music group.
Meet IMT colleagues to progress
this work.
Encourage public art projects that
contribut e to the Council’s priority
areas.
Vocal
Development
Leader
SMH Teaching and
Learning Manager, SCC
IMT Team
December
2013.
To introduce a webpage
or App that highlights
singing/ vocal
progression routes with
case studies.
To use the SMH website
as a tool to promote
online singing resources
such as those offered by
Charanga Music, The
Aldeburgh Festival
‘Friday Afternoon’
Project and the British
Council ‘World Voice’
project.
Meet IMT Colleagues to progress
this work.
Vocal
Development
Leader.
SMH Teaching and
Learning Manager, SCC
IMT Team
March 2015
To have an interactive SMH
website that includes a ‘Find
a Group’ section, progression
case studies, links to online
singing resources and CPD
programme by December
2013.
Create a resources or link area
from the SMH website.
Vocal
Development
Leader
SMH Teaching and
Learning Manager
Ongoing
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To create a database of
singing/ vocal leaders
addressing gaps in
provision, for ex ample
the lack of workshop
leaders in Surrey
specialising in urban
music. Encourage
workshop leaders to sign
up for the SPEAR online
resource.
To create a database of
singing groups and
choirs to include both
SMH and community-led
groups.
To collaborat e with
Charanga Music to
develop online singing
resources on the Surrey
Arts Interactive website.
Create database, identify gaps
and offer training.
Vocal
Development
Leader
SMH Contemporary
Music Officer
March 2015
To create a database of
Surrey Singing Leaders and
singing groups by March
2013.
To offer training in urban
music singing delivery.
Create database.
Vocal
Development
Leader
District and Borough Arts
Development Officer.
Summer
2013
Liaise with Charanga music
regarding developing their
resources.
Vocal
Development
Leader
Charanga Music
March 2015
To have more singing
resources available on the
Surrey Arts Interactive
website.
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