Vocal
Surrey Arts offers a range of singing programmes, events and ensembles combined with vocal training courses that offer support to all singing leaders, whether classroom or community-based.
Singing and Covid19
Singing Picnics
Singing Picnics are a fun-filled and informal way for KS2 children to enjoy singing in an inspirational outdoor setting with other schools from your area.
Children from your school will enjoy singing games led by professional vocal leaders and be taught a group song which they will sing together as a large group before enjoying a picnic lunch. Schools are also invited to prepare one simple, unaccompanied song in advance which they can sing for other schools on the day. It’s an ideal way to allow your children participate in group music-making without the pressures of a high-profile performance.
Singing Playgrounds
In 2021, Surrey Arts is bringing the award-winning project “Singing Playgrounds” to Surrey primary schools through a new Covid-19 friendly online resource created by Ex Cathedra Education.
Schools will have access to an online resource including a series interactive teaching films, demonstrations, 30 KS1 and KS2 lesson plans, and instrumental backing tracks. At the press of a button teachers will have the Singing Playgrounds team within the classroom, on the whiteboard, leading and teaching the children.
Primary Music Festivals
Running for over 25 years, this annual event is a series of concerts for Primary Schools across the county with close to 100 schools taking part.
Each school choir learns and rehearses a collection of songs to perform with other schools at their own regional concert.
Find out more how your school can be part of the Primary Music Festivals.
The Primary Singing Toolkit
The Primary Singing Toolkit is a free digital resource for primary music teachers, by the ISM Trust, in partnership with the Voices Foundation and supported by the Schools Music Association (SMA). Discover inspirational and practical singing strategies to enhance your music curriculum, and feel empowered to share the joy of singing with your students.
Surrey Arts Young Singers (SAYS)
Surrey Arts Young Singers (formerly Surrey Youth Training Choir) is the county training choir for 9 to 13 year olds who enjoy singing and is a new singing experience where young people learn to sing from Bach to Beyonce. Combined with movement and song students will sing all the music they love but bigger.
Regular performances develop the confidence of the choir and give exciting experiences throughout each year – these include guest choir at the Surrey Arts Primary School Festivals, engagements with local adult community choirs, and informal concerts for friends and family.
There are currently Surrey Arts Young Singers ensembles in Woking on Wednesday evenings and Oxted on Saturday mornings.
How to join
There is no audition necessary and no previous musical or singing experienced needed.
The first session is free, then £77 per a term.
Find out more about Surrey Arts Young Singers and how to join, start dates and further information.
Surrey Youth Choir
Surrey Youth Choir (SYC) was founded in 1987 and since then has established itself as one of the leading youth choirs in the country.
It is a full SATB choir, comprising singers between the ages of 12 and 21 from all parts of Surrey, and performs an eclectic repertoire, both sacred and secular, ranging from early to contemporary, from baroque to romantic, including the major ‘standard’ choral works of Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert etc. We also commission pieces for specific performances.
The choir rehearses on Wednesday evenings at the Marist School, Woking. For information on how to audition for SYC, contact alison.harding@surreycc.gov.uk. Visit the SYC gallery for past tours and concerts.
Just So Singers
The county’s special needs choir. The choir rehearses on Wednesday afternoons 3.45pm – 4.45pm and is open to anyone between the ages of 9 and 19 years who attend Surrey schools, referral units and 6th form units.
Students can come on their own, with parental support/school support or as a school group in a minibus with teaching support. The choir requires commitment in terms of attending every week and learning words at home. Other than that an enthusiasm for music and being part of team are the only requirements.
At present the choir has about 75 members – 15 of which are adult helpers. In 2011 the choir was awarded a mayor award for easing the way for people with disabilities.
The choir has performed in a wide variety of venues including: the Houses of Parliament, Camberley Theatre, Guildford Cathedral, the O2 and Farnham Maltings. Interested in joining Just So Singers?
Singing and Choirs for Wellbeing
Singing is a wonderful way to increase your happiness and wellbeing! Singing in a choir gives people a chance to get together with others, to take a break from other pressures in their life and most importantly the chance to sing their hearts out! For more information on how beneficial singing is, see this BBC news piece on how singing in a choir can boost health.
Surrey Arts has adult singing lessons and adult choirs and learn-to-sing groups for people of different levels of musical experience or ability and we welcome new singers. Enquiries can be made by emailing surreymusichub@surreycc.gov.uk or calling 01483 519307.
Community Choirs in Surrey
Check out our list of local choirs across Surrey. If you like singing why not join your local singing group?
Vocal Strategy
One of the core roles of Surrey Music Hub is to develop a Vocal Strategy to ensure that every pupil sings regularly and that choirs and other singing ensembles are available across the County.
Our strategy provides a framework and direction for our singing and vocal work for two years and identifies singing and vocal work under five areas of focus:
- County-Wide Co-ordination
- Schools
- Widening Access
- Lifelong Singing and Health
- Progression and Resources
Underpinning our strategy is a range of singing and vocal training courses that offer support to all singing leaders, whether classroom or community-based.
Resources
Check out our list of useful singing resources recommended by our Vocal Development Leader and tutors from our popular singing and vocal training courses.