It's time to #SpeakUpForSinging
Singing has been banned or heavily restricted in Canadian schools during the COVID-19 pandemic, leaving students without vital music programs in their school that not only benefit musical learning, but also student mental health and wellbeing.
Research shows us we can sing safely. As decision makers execute the 2021-2022 school year and plan for the future, it is crucial to focus now on providing music and singing experiences for students.
RESTORING, REVIVING and REBUILDING vital music programs will take time and support from government and school administrations.
Start the conversation in your community and help music educators do what they do best!
IT’S TIME TO #SpeakUpForSinging!
Research shows us we can sing safely. As decision makers execute the 2021-2022 school year and plan for the future, it is crucial to focus now on providing music and singing experiences for students.
RESTORING, REVIVING and REBUILDING vital music programs will take time and support from government and school administrations.
Start the conversation in your community and help music educators do what they do best!
IT’S TIME TO #SpeakUpForSinging!
STEP 1: Boost Your Knowledge!
Learn about the survey results, the many benefits of singing and how we can sing safely in Canadian schools:
- Final Report (December 9, 2021)
- Final Report's Executive Summary (December 9, 2021)
Background Supporting Information
- Let's All Sing... and Sing Safely! (Updated August 2021)
- Let's Return Music to Designated Music Spaces!
- In-Person Group Singing... an Irreplaceable Experience!
- Music and Singing In Our Schools... Music and Singing In Our Lives!
- Music and Singing... A Pandemic Lifeline
- Final Report (December 9, 2021)
- Final Report's Executive Summary (December 9, 2021)
Background Supporting Information
- Let's All Sing... and Sing Safely! (Updated August 2021)
- Let's Return Music to Designated Music Spaces!
- In-Person Group Singing... an Irreplaceable Experience!
- Music and Singing In Our Schools... Music and Singing In Our Lives!
- Music and Singing... A Pandemic Lifeline
STEP 2: Raise Your Voice!
- SHARE Choral Canada's first infographic about the pandemic's impact on singing in our schools by email (PDF version) and share it on Facebook (PNG version). Be sure to include the #SpeakUpForSinging hashtag!
- SHARE Choral Canada's second infographic about how people can help this advocacy campaign by email (PDF version) and share it on Facebook (PNG version). Be sure to include the #SpeakUpForSinging hashtag!
- FORWARD this Letter and Recommendations for Action to decision makers in your school communities. We know that parent, student and community voices make a difference!
- TALK ABOUT IT - Engage your friends, local musicians, politicians, parent groups, and students in conversations about how we can sing safely and how important music-making experiences are for students in Canadian schools.
- CONNECT with your local music teachers, Music Educators Associations and Provincial Choral Associations to ask how YOU can help with efforts happening in your region!
Holy Heart Chamber Choir - Photo Credit Robert Colbourne
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BC Girls Choir My Shot Concert - Credit Greg Bartels GaB Films
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What is this survey?
Choral Canada, in partnership with Canadian Music Educators' Association, Coalition for Music Education in Canada, and Kodály Society of Canada worked with Dr. Francine Morin, Associate Dean at the University of Manitoba and a leading authority in Canadian arts education, on the Singing in Canadian Schools: COVID-19 Impact Survey.
This survey was created to increase our understanding of the impacts of the pandemic on singing in K-12 school music education in Canada. Music educators had the opportunity to anonymously share their perspectives on the:
- Overall support for singing and music education in their schools
- Impact on educators' delivery of their music programs
- Impact on singing in school music programs
- Impact on educators' time, resources, and finances
- Impact on implementing school music curricula
This survey was created to increase our understanding of the impacts of the pandemic on singing in K-12 school music education in Canada. Music educators had the opportunity to anonymously share their perspectives on the:
- Overall support for singing and music education in their schools
- Impact on educators' delivery of their music programs
- Impact on singing in school music programs
- Impact on educators' time, resources, and finances
- Impact on implementing school music curricula
Why did this research project happen?
Singing, as a foundation of music education, has been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Restrictions on singing have varied greatly in each province and territory, even from region to region. This research project provides a report (soon to be published) on how singing in schools has been impacted throughout the pandemic, comparing data on singing in schools before the pandemic and during the pandemic.
This research project provided an opportunity for music educators to share their perspectives and experiences in relation to singing and the current pandemic. The results of the survey have been used and will continue to be used to help inform the ongoing growth and development of singing and music education in Canadian schools.
Restrictions on singing have varied greatly in each province and territory, even from region to region. This research project provides a report (soon to be published) on how singing in schools has been impacted throughout the pandemic, comparing data on singing in schools before the pandemic and during the pandemic.
This research project provided an opportunity for music educators to share their perspectives and experiences in relation to singing and the current pandemic. The results of the survey have been used and will continue to be used to help inform the ongoing growth and development of singing and music education in Canadian schools.
What were the goals of this research project?
1) To collect data on any changes that have impacted singing in schools and to demonstrate the impact the pandemic has had on singing and, by extension, on music programs in general;
2) To ensure music educators/singing leaders in schools across Canada are being heard and to support advocacy efforts in relation to singing and music education;
3) To raise awareness on the fundamental and indispensable role that singing plays in music curricula;
4) To share data about the current impacts on singing in Canadian schools, and to develop resources for advocacy purposes (e.g., letters, infographics, published articles) to support educators' efforts to sustain and grow music programs.
2) To ensure music educators/singing leaders in schools across Canada are being heard and to support advocacy efforts in relation to singing and music education;
3) To raise awareness on the fundamental and indispensable role that singing plays in music curricula;
4) To share data about the current impacts on singing in Canadian schools, and to develop resources for advocacy purposes (e.g., letters, infographics, published articles) to support educators' efforts to sustain and grow music programs.
Thank you!
994 music educators from across Canada filled out the survey. Thank you to everyone who responded to the survey, to everyone who shared it, and to everyone supporting the advocacy campaign for singing in our schools!
National Research Project Partners
Research Project Collaborators
Research Project Supporters
Manitoba Choral Association
Manitoba Music Educators Association
Ontario Music Educators Association
British Columbia Music Educators Association
Newfoundland & Labrador Music Educators Association
Manitoba Music Educators Association
Ontario Music Educators Association
British Columbia Music Educators Association
Newfoundland & Labrador Music Educators Association
How to stay connected
We encourage you to subscribe to Choral Canada's e-newsletter Choral e-Bytes to stay on top of current Canadian choral arts sector and community news and initiatives.
You can also access the benefits of becoming a member of Choral Canada by purchasing a membership HERE.
If you would like to further support Choral Canada's advocacy efforts and initiatives, please consider making a donation today.
You can also access the benefits of becoming a member of Choral Canada by purchasing a membership HERE.
If you would like to further support Choral Canada's advocacy efforts and initiatives, please consider making a donation today.