KS2 Big Sings
Big Sing is our FREE KS2 singing offer for 7-11yr olds. It brings together multiple locality schools at a host school for a half-day singing workshop, led by one of our specialist singing leaders.
We provide resources for two songs for participants to learn prior to the event, which schools rehearse and perform together in a massed choir on the day. Participating schools will also be asked to perform a song of their choice with backing track or live piano/guitar accompaniment, which gives students the experience of performing to a large audience.
CPD
At the heart of a Little Big Sing event is our FREE CPD for primary school teachers of all levels of music experience and confidence, led by Schools Singing Leader, Rachel Maby. Teachers will explore singing warm-ups, musical games and model session plans in preparation for the Big Sing event.
Sign up here to the in-person CPD on Thursday 24 April, 4-5:15pm at Thomas A Beckett Junior School, Worthing BN14 7PR.
Schools can pick one Big Sing event to take part in from the following dates:
- Angmering – Wednesday 25 June, 13:00-15:00 – The Angmering School BN16 4HH
- Burgess Hill – Thursday 3 July, 9:30-11:30 – London Meed Community Primary School RH15 9YQ
- Chichester – Monday 19 May, 9:30-11:15 – Parklands Community Primary School PO19 3AG
- Crawley East – Wednesday 9 July, 9:30-11:30 – The Oaks Primary School RH10 5DP
- Crawley West – Wednesday 21 May, 13:00-15:00 – St Francis of Assisi Catholic Primary School RH10 6HD (FULLY BOOKED)
- Durrington – Monday 7 July, 13:00-15:00 – West Park C E Primary School BN12 4HD
- Handcross – Thursday 22 May, 9:30-11:30 – Handcross Primary School RH17 6HB
- Haywards Heath – Wednesday 7 May, 9:30-11:30 – Warden Park Primary Academy RH16 3JR
- Horsham – Wednesday 18 June, 9:30-11:30 – Greenway Junior School RH12 2JS
- Lindfield – Thursday 12 June, 13:00-15:00 – Lindfield Primary Academy RH16 2DX
- Southbourne – Tuesday 17 June, 13:00-15:00 – Southbourne Junior School PO10 8JX
- Storrington – Thursday 8 May, 13:00-15:00 – Storrington Primary School RH20 4PG
- The Weald – Thursday 26 June, 9:30-11:30 – The Weald School RH14 9RY
- The Witterings – Monday 23 June, 13:00-15:00 – East Wittering Community Primary School PO20 8NH
- Worthing – Tuesday 6 May, 13:00-15:00 – Thomas A Becket Junior School BN14 7PR
Is it free to take part?
Yes. In order to secure their place, schools should sign up by Friday 4 April and pay a refundable £50 deposit, which will be returned after the applicable Big Sing has taken place. Please note that schools who sign up and then pull-out last minute or fail to attend will not be refunded their £50 deposit.
How many students can I bring?
Big Sings bring together at least 3 schools and range from 100 to 300 students. Schools can bring as many children as they like, but it’s recommended to not bring more than 100.
Our school can’t afford a minibus – can parents collect/drop off children instead?
All host school are able to accommodate pick up/drop-off of students to the Big Sing to ensure that there are no financial barriers to schools in taking part.
Is there anything that I should bring?
We encourage schools to ask children to bring a water bottle and a snack for the short break we plan in the middle of the Big Sing workshop.
Do we have to learn the music off by heart?
Whilst it is encouraged to learn the Big Sing songs and school performance pieces off by heart so that children can focus on their performance and communicating with the audience, it is not compulsory because there will be a screen with provided at every Big Sing.
My piece uses a backing track – will speakers be provided?
Yes – the host schools will have a piano, computer, screen and speakers for schools to use.
This year’s Big Sing theme is birds and flight! We have chosen two mass songs for schools to learn prior to the event, which includes two-part harmony, with additional harmonies for schools who are feeling ambitious!
Big Sing Songs:
- Beautiful Creatures from Disney’s Rio 2 by Hosoi and Epstein, arr. by Roger Emerson
This is a fun and uplifting musical song, which is sung by a colony of blue macaws living in the Amazon rainforest to celebrate the return of Jewel, who is accompanied by her family and mate, Blu. It is a fast paced melody, which features off-beat rhythms and an octave range, perfect for developing children’s vocal projection in their speaking register.
- Follow the Heron Home – Karine Polwart, arr. Baz Chapman
This folk song was written by award winning Scottish folk singer, Karine Polwart, and released on her 2016 album, Scribble in Chalk. Sing Up co-founder and choral arranger, Baz Chapman, arranged this piece for the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra’s Children’s Chorus. It features legato melodies with diatonic vocal harmonies and optional descant.
Schools are requested to perform one song by themselves, which compliments this year’s theme, birds and flight. The piece can be a cappella or accompanied by backing track or live instrument (e.g. piano or guitar). Teachers can choose whatever piece of music they like. Here is a list of some school performance song suggestions:
- The Bird’s Lament – Richard Rodney Bennett (published by Universal Edition)
- Three Birds – Jonathan Dove (charanga and Friday afternoons)
- She’s like the swallow – trad. arr. by Carl Strommen and learning tracks
- Sansa Kroma –trad Ghanaian arr. Michael Scott and learning tracks
- Rattlesnake Skipping Song from Creatures Great and Small by Derek Holman
- Three Little Birds – Bob Marley
- The click song (Nconcothwane) – trad. Xhosa song from South Africa, arr. Rebecca Berkley for Sing for Pleasure
- Feeling Good – Nina Simone (in D minor) and backing track
- Hear the sweet birds sing by Pete Linnett, published in This Room Sings by The Natural Voice Network