We look at the contexts and opportunities that support children and young people to learn to sing, make progress and develop their love of music into adulthood.
Ages 0 - 5
Home/School opportunities
- Parents/carers and children sing together
- Baby/toddler groups, pre-school/nursery offer singing activity
- Primary schools provide daily singing opportunities and encourage parents into school for assemblies and performances
- Local community, arts organisations, concert halls and conservatoires run music-making groups and stage children’s shows
Regional opportunities
- Youth Music invest in Early Years music projects across England delivered by community music organisations. Find music-making near you on their interactive map
- Stagecoach runs performing arts classes from 2+
- Jo Jingles has a network of music classes for early years
- Some Conservatoires offer early years provision e.g. Trinity Laban’s Trinity Teenies (ages 3-5), Royal Conservatoire of Scotland Centre for Lifelong Learning (ages 0-12), Royal College of Music Sparks, National Youth Choirs of Scotland offer Mini Music Makers (ages 0-7)
National opportunities
- NYCGB National Youth Boys’ Choir (auditions: Year 5 until end Year 10)
- NYCGB National Youth Girls’ Choir (auditions: Year 6, until end Year 10)
- NYCGB National Children’s Choir (auditions: Year 6, remain until end Year 10)
- Music colleges and conservatoires with junior departments offer weekend vocal tuition to children aged 5-11, including singing in choirs: Royal Academy of Music, Royal College of Music, Guildhall School of Music and Drama, Royal Scottish Conservatoire, Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. Age ranges, provision and audition criteria vary, so check the colleges’ websites for more information.
- Only Kids Aloud (for boys and girls in Wales aged 8-13)
- Rodolfus Foundation Junior Courses (ages 8-15) zz RSCM Junior Millennium Youth Choir (ages 9-16)
- National Youth Choir of Scotland (NYCOS) National Boys’ Choir (ages 10-16)
- National Youth Music Theatre (ages 10-23)
- Only Boys Aloud (for boys in Wales ages 11-19)
- Ulster Youth Junior Choir and Ulster Youth Training Choir (age 11+)
- British Youth Music Theatre (ages 11-21)
- National Youth Choir of Scotland Girls’ Choir (ages 12-16)
- Children aged 5-18 can take music examinations in Classical Singing, Music Theatre, or Rock & Pop through ABRSM, Trinity, Rockschool and other providers. Check the boards’ websites for more information.
Ages 5 - 11
Home/School opportunities
- Children access music through a range of media
- They take part in a range of performances e.g. concerts, nativities and musicals
- They are inspired by hearing outstanding players, singers, composers/artists, recorded and live
- Children sing in assembly, class music lessons and choirs
- Children learn to sing and play an instrument through First Access and Whole Class Ensemble Teaching delivered by Music Education Hubs (MEHs)
- Children take part in inspirational workshops organised by MEHs e.g. the NYCGB, Snappy Operas, Royal Opera House and attend Big Sing events. Children can progress to regional instrumental and vocal ensembles or groups
- Children participate in performing arts groups and take private instrumental lessons
- Talented individuals audition and are accepted into a specialist music school
Regional opportunities
- Stagecoach run performing arts classes for children 2 to 15+ weekly, and there are holiday workshops too. You can search by area on their website
- Church choirs often accept children from age 8, and welcome teenage singers, including young tenors and basses. Many are affiliated with the Royal School of Church Music, which provides training through its badge and ribbon scheme, and opportunities to sing as part of its Area Choirs. For information about RSCM affiliated church choirs in your area, and RSCM Area Choirs, contact RSCM
- Cathedral choirs can accept choristers from age 8, and some offer wider participation opportunities through their own youth or community choirs. At some cathedrals, joining the choir may also mean joining a chorister school. For more information and guidance, contact the Choir Schools Association
National opportunities
- NYCGB National Youth Boys’ Choir (auditions: Year 5 until end Year 10)
- NYCGB National Youth Girls’ Choir (auditions: Year 6, until end Year 10)
- NYCGB National Children’s Choir (auditions: Year 6, remain until end Year 10)
- Music colleges and conservatoires with junior departments offer weekend vocal tuition to children aged 5-11, including singing in choirs: Royal Academy of Music, Royal College of Music, Guildhall School of Music and Drama, Royal Scottish Conservatoire, Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. Age ranges, provision and audition criteria vary, so check the colleges’ websites for more information.
- Only Kids Aloud (for boys and girls in Wales aged 8-13)
- Rodolfus Foundation Junior Courses (ages 8-15) zz RSCM Junior Millennium Youth Choir (ages 9-16)
- National Youth Choir of Scotland (NYCOS) National Boys’ Choir (ages 10-16)
- National Youth Music Theatre (ages 10-23)
- Only Boys Aloud (for boys in Wales ages 11-19)
- Ulster Youth Junior Choir and Ulster Youth Training Choir (age 11+)
- British Youth Music Theatre (ages 11-21)
- National Youth Choir of Scotland Girls’ Choir (ages 12-16)
- Children aged 5-18 can take music examinations in Classical Singing, Music Theatre, or Rock & Pop through ABRSM, Trinity, Rockschool and other providers. Check the boards’ websites for more information.
Ages 11 - 18
Home/School opportunities
- Young people progress technically on their instrument/ voice (or even start to learn an instrument for the first time) and experience a range of listening, playing/ performing and composing opportunities at home, in their community and as they progress through secondary school
- One-to-one singing teaching: The Association of Teachers of Singing (AOTOS) has a searchable national directory
Regional opportunities
- MEHs run junior and senior choirs, e.g. Cornwall Boys’ and Girls’ Choirs, Tees Valley Youth Choir, Yorkshire Youth Choir and Cornwall County Youth Choir. Schedules and auditions vary.
- Independent youth choir organisations include Kinder Choirs of the High Peak (Derbyshire), Rosehill Children’s Choir and Amabile (Cumbria), London Youth Choir, Berkshire County Youth Choirs, Barnsley Youth Choir, Cantamus Girls Choir (Notts), Milton Keynes Youth Choir, Gloucestershire Youth Choir and the NYCOS Regional Choirs in Scotland. Check for ages on their websites
- Choirs run by local arts/cultural venues, orchestras and opera companies include the Hallé Youth Choir (Manchester), CBSO Youth Chorus (Birmingham), Liverpool Philharmonic Youth Choir, Opera North Youth Chorus (Leeds) and Quay Voices (Gateshead)
National opportunities
- NYCGB’s National Youth Training Choir (auditions: Year 9, until end Year 13)
- The National Children’s Choir of Great Britain’s Senior Choir (auditions from Year 10)
- National Youth Choir of Wales (ages 16-22)
- National Youth Choir of Scotland (ages 16-25)
- Rodolfus Foundation Courses (ages 16-21)
- RSCM Millennium Youth Choir (ages 15-23)
- Music colleges and conservatoires offering tuition for 11-18-year-olds: Royal Academy of Music, Royal College of Music, Guildhall School of Music & Drama, Trinity Laban Conservatoire, Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, Royal Northern College of Music, Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, Royal Scottish Conservatoire. Age ranges, provision and audition criteria vary, so check the colleges’ websites for more information.
Did you know?
The Music Commission have recently produced a report – Retuning our ambition for music learning – based on 18 months’ research exploring what it takes to make progress in music www.musiccommission.org.uk.
There is a searchable map of Music Education Hubs (MEHs) on the Music Mark website https://www.musicmark.org.uk/members/ filter by Music Services.
