Preliminary results are in and it's not good news...
Preliminary results of the Singing in Canadian Schools: COVID-19 Impact Survey are now available and it's heartbreaking.
Singing is at the core of music education and serves as an essential building block for students. In schools throughout the country, singing continues to be heavily restricted. 994 music educators from across Canada responded to the survey.
Some key points from preliminary survey results indicate that:
Singing is at the core of music education and serves as an essential building block for students. In schools throughout the country, singing continues to be heavily restricted. 994 music educators from across Canada responded to the survey.
Some key points from preliminary survey results indicate that:
- 71% of Canadian students are unable to engage in music learning through singing in the classroom
- Singing has been eliminated for 91% of students since the pandemic began
- Fewer than 30% of survey respondents are teaching music from their music classrooms, spaces designed for music teaching and learning
What has been done?
Choral Canada and our national partners sent a letter in mid-May 2021 to all Ministers of Education, Ministers of Health, and Chief Medical Officers to let them know about this research and the importance of singing in our schools. We asked that while they plan for the Fall 2021 school term, they consider the preliminary results from the survey, the five supporting documents that came with the letter, and to meet with the provincial/territorial organizations that would be reaching out to them.
1. Example of National Letter (May 2021) sent to each province and territory
2. Five Supporting Documents sent with National Letter:
- Let's All Sing... and Sing Safely!
- 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
Music Education Associations and Provincial Choral Organizations across the country have been armed with an advocacy package to get into the hands of their music educators and their supporters. The advocacy package includes these preliminary results, their provincial specific data, the supporting documents (above) and a letter template to use for decision makers, policy makers and politicians.
1. Example of National Letter (May 2021) sent to each province and territory
2. Five Supporting Documents sent with National Letter:
- Let's All Sing... and Sing Safely!
- 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
Music Education Associations and Provincial Choral Organizations across the country have been armed with an advocacy package to get into the hands of their music educators and their supporters. The advocacy package includes these preliminary results, their provincial specific data, the supporting documents (above) and a letter template to use for decision makers, policy makers and politicians.
What can I do?
Respond to the call from your local Music Education Association or Provincial Choral Organization to use the advocacy toolkit offered. Lets ensure decision makers know that singing is at the core of music education and serves as an essential building block for students. Survey results point to this time (Spring 2021) as particularly crucial for all of us to take action, either as a music educator or a supporter (parents of students, community choral conductors, music associations).
Are you not a music educator and still not sure what to do? Reach out to your local Music Education Association, Provincial Choral Organization, and/or the K-12 music educators in your community and ask what you can do to support them.
There will be more advocacy communications created once the final report is complete.
Are you not a music educator and still not sure what to do? Reach out to your local Music Education Association, Provincial Choral Organization, and/or the K-12 music educators in your community and ask what you can do to support them.
There will be more advocacy communications created once the final report is complete.
What is this survey?
Choral Canada, in partnership with Canadian Music Educators' Association, Coalition for Music Education in Canada, and Kodály Society of Canada are working 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 will have 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 will have 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 is this research project happening?
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 will provide a report 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 provides an opportunity for music educators to share their perspectives and experiences in relation to singing and the current pandemic. The results of the survey will 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 will provide a report 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 provides an opportunity for music educators to share their perspectives and experiences in relation to singing and the current pandemic. The results of the survey will be used to help inform the ongoing growth and development of singing and music education in Canadian schools.
What are 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
Become Involved...*
If you would like your organization/association to be involved as a collaborator or supporter in this research project, please contact Choral Canada for information and details.
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.