Pop is key in new school music drive

The BBC programme ‘The Choir’ follows young pupils at a Northolt comprehensive from singing novices to the World Choir Games

Children should be encouraged to sing pop hits at school to improve their self-confidence and language skills, the Government said yesterday.

Pupils could also benefit by setting up their own bands to promote "team working skills", said Alan Johnson, the Education Secretary.

Mr Johnson, a keen music fan who lists Super Furry Animals, the Welsh group, among his favourite artists, made the comments as he unveiled a £10 million package of measures designed to promote singing in the classroom.
It includes the publication of a "21st century songbook" for schools, which will list 30 songs suitable for children and their teachers to sing together.

Musicians last night welcomed the move, which will be focused on primary schools, but said that it should not divert young people away from learning an instrument or appreciating classical music.

The initiative comes amid concerns that many children are missing out on music. Although compulsory in the national curriculum up to the age of 14, only eight per cent of children take the subject at GCSE level. The measures include extra money to allow 20 performing choir schools to put on master classes for other local schools, as well as to improve music training for primary schoolteachers.

Currently, only five per cent of primaries have a specialist music teacher even though the subject must be taught to all young children.

Mr Johnson also announced that Howard Goodall, the composer and television presenter, who has written themes for a number of television shows such as Blackadder and The Vicar of Dibley, is to be the country's new "singing ambassador".

Mr Goodall will co-ordinate the publication of the national schools' songbook.

Children and teachers will be encouraged to nominate songs from different genres, such as pop, folk and jazz, to be included.

The move follows the success of the BBC series The Choir, in which choirmaster Gareth Malone uncovered raw singing talent at a Northolt comprehensive.

Source:Hindustanis.org