Sacred Space Conference 2018

‘Teaching the world to sing’ Gill Fourie – Blackburn Cathy Lamb – Cathedral School

Sacred Space Conference 2018 – ‘Teaching the world to sing’ Common Ground: Part of a much bigger network of outreach projects… -Today we will illustrate two highly successful but incredibly different projects based at Blackburn and Lichfield -We are part of a much wider network of projects going on across the country

Tom Daggett at St Paul’s © Ash Mills

Sacred Space Conference 2018 – ‘Teaching the world to sing’ Some other outreach projects across the country…(instr & singing)…

In 2016 85% of Schools Association (CSA) Ampleforth College & schools and their Cathedral members were engaged Cathedral in some form of music outreach project. We are trying to re-establish links between all projects – in Sing Up days we talked together much more regularly. School *Apologies if you are not on the list – this means you Isle of Man Cathedral are not currently listed on the CSA website. Anybody who has not yet got in touch with Jane Capon Leeds RC Cathedral ([email protected]) to give out recent information about their projects should do so Cathedral because this will enable us to engage with each other far more easily via a common network! Southwell St John’s College, Cambridge St Paul’s Cathedral St Peter’s Collegiate, Wolverhampton

Sacred Space Conference 2018 – ‘Teaching the world to sing’ Why is it crucial for us to be at the forefront of singing education? -Cathedrals have so much to offer in terms of expertise of training children to sing to a remarkably high standard -Singing in schools is still not something that is immediately obvious to every headteacher -The arts are getting pushed further from the education priority list -It is an easy and obvious way of engaging young people in the life of the cathedral and the wider church (Essential Blessings Conference)

Sacred Space Conference 2018 – ‘Teaching the world to sing’ Where Lichfield Music Share started….. Chorister outreach model -Based on the Truro model / Sing Up funding -3 schools per term joining together to perform a concert in the cathedral - Young Voices – Saturday morning choir -Multiple visits to schools

Sacred Space Conference 2018 – ‘Teaching the world to sing’ Where we are now…

Significant funding from our local Music Education Hub (the North- Education Hub)

-Enables us to engage with many more schools -Enables us to be more inventive with our projects -Grown into work with secondary schools – in many ways it is easy to engage primary schools with singing, but not secondaries in the same way

Sacred Space Conference 2018 – ‘Teaching the world to sing’ Thinking outside the box…

-Engaging with the diocese – Inspire project / education days -Noye’s Fludde – Lichfield Festival/Amahl and the Night Visitors -Summer school – Diocese/local schools/Cathedral School -Road shows -SEN projects/Emotional Behavioural Unit -Young Voices/Youth Voices/Ladies who Lark (Thursday shift/singing ) -Schools buying in (currently outside the Diocese only) -Friday Afternoons Project

Sacred Space Conference 2018 – ‘Teaching the world to sing’ Repertoire…

-Becoming increasingly brave with what repertoire we use -New commission was a real challenge but feedback was excellent -Variety -Children that come to the cathedral attend evensong and we almost always have feedback about that

© Ash Mills

Sacred Space Conference 2018 – ‘Teaching the world to sing’ Feedback…

Evaluation from a Headteacher has been involved with the project several times…. • “The greatest impact for my school was on the engagement of the most reluctant pupils. Following the invitation to take part in the project I decided to make it compulsory for Year 5 and Year 6 both of which have a high level of boys in particular that would not have taken part by choice. The performance proved to me that this was the right decision. The boys totally engaged and actually threw themselves into this experience. The next day in school I spoke to some of these children who told me the pleasure they got from the experience and that it was something they will remember for the rest of their lives. To give these children such as an experience was so valuable. It will hopefully encourage them to take risks regarding opportunities that come their way. • Participation in evensong was a special part of the experience. The staff and the children found this a fascinating and spiritually moving experience. • This project is so important in both the musical and spiritual development of the children. I cannot express this enough”.

Sacred Space Conference 2018 – ‘Teaching the world to sing’