The Importance of Singing

At The Blue Coat School, music isn’t just a subject—it’s the heartbeat of our School. From our harmonious Chapel services to vibrant music lessons, our pupils are continually immersing themselves in a variety of musical genres. 

Singing in particular is a significant part of life at BCS, not only in music lessons, but across the curriculum due its multitude of benefits on a child’s physical and mental development. The Music Department have compiled this list of the key benefits of singing below.

Melodic Discovery

Through singing, pupils gain exposure to a diverse array of musical styles and traditions. Music is an incredibly broad subject, and there are so many genres of music to explore; from the soulful melodies of jazz to the upbeat anthems of pop, there is much to discover. 

Music lessons offer the chance to explore genres of music that pupils may have not heard before. For example, in our Lent term, pupils in Year 4 were learning about The Beatles while in Year 3 pupils learnt about the music of Beethoven. At BCS, there are weekly Chapel services featuring traditional hymns, which fall within a range that is well suited for children’s voices. 

We motivate our pupils to develop an understanding of the history of music and to build their individual interests through a wide range of musical styles.

Physical and Mental Wellbeing

Singing is a whole body exercise; it strengthens the diaphragm and respiratory muscles, improves posture and enhances lung capacity. It also allows singers to relax their minds, which in turn lowers the body’s stress levels. 

Research suggests that when a person sings, the brain releases endorphins, lifting their mood and creating a sense of wellbeing. At BCS, we aim to instil a love and appreciation of singing which pupils will remember for many years to come. 

Cognitive Harmonising

Did you know that singing can also improve memory retention and concentration skills? 

Singing engages multiple areas of the brain, including those responsible for language processing, memory and auditory perception. Memorising lyrics, understanding melodic patterns and coordinating breathing all help to sharpen a young person’s cognitive abilities, paving the way for improved academic performance and the development of critical thinking skills. 

Singing from a young age is particularly important for language skills and developing musicality. One of the first things we learn at school is the alphabet which is presented to us as a fun but simplistic song. Learning the alphabet song helps with vowel and consonant sounds which helps with pronunciation. However, scientists encourage parents to sing their favourite songs to their children as the mixture of melody and new words develops a child’s ability to understand the beginning, middle and end of new words.

Confidence Crescendo

Singing is a universal hobby as all one needs to sing is a set of vocal cords and the confidence to give it a go. Singing encourages pupils to step out of their comfort zones, take risks and embrace their unique voices. Our pupils are encouraged, during their music lessons, to sing freely and confidently. Their efforts are rewarded with a sense of accomplishment, laying the foundation for healthy self-esteem that will serve them well throughout their lives. 

Emotional Expression

As said above, music has something for everyone due to its extremely wide range of genres. Our pupils’ mental health is very important to us; and sometimes we find that our pupils struggle to put exactly how they are feeling into words. Singing is a powerful tool for emotional expression, allowing our pupils to convey their feelings through melody and lyrics. It provides a safe and constructive outlet for self expression, helping our pupils to process complex emotions and build resilience.

Music Mastery

Singing serves as a gateway to broader musical proficiency, laying a strong foundation for future musical endeavours. As pupils engage in vocal exercises, learn to match pitch and explore vocal techniques they develop essential musical skills. 

For example, the process of learning to sing in tune develops the ear and trains auditory perception, which is essential for instrumentalists. 

Singing encourages our pupils to internalise rhythms and develop dynamics and phrasing, fostering a deeper understanding of musical concepts that can be applied when performing on instruments and in a range of genres. 

Whilst singing, pupils are encouraged to listen to others, blend their voices and sing harmonies, greatly improving their ensemble skills. We recommend that all instrumental musicians join one of our choirs, as singing is such a fundamental part of a child’s musical development.

Joyful Harmony

Let’s be honest, singing is a fun activity to do! Whether it’s singing along to the radio during road trips or singing lullaby songs before bedtime, it feels great to sing. 

Sometimes, musical instruments can seem difficult to learn or feel out of reach for pupils but, as mentioned earlier, anyone can sing. 

Singing in a group, as our pupils often do, creates bonds between peers and increases the overall mood of the group while also learning about the fundamental aspects of musical composition and structure. It may be a challenging task but we challenge all of our community, as well as our members of staff, to start singing and reap the benefits that follow.