Greenwich gets into the sing of things

1:10pm Tuesday 7th October 2008

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Greenwich Theatre and the singing organisation Sense of Sound (whose choir recently took Last Choir Standing by storm) are putting their voices behind a new singing initiative.

Sing Up Greenwich - which aims to put singing centre stage in the borough via a programme of activity for young people in and out of school - got off to a very vocal start last week.

At its launch, the theatre's executive director, James Haddrell, and Sense of Sound introduced the project and presented a choir of Year 4 pupils from Brooklands School, Greenwich .

The young singers demonstrated how the project has worked for their class, firstly warming up with some physical exercises (which Sing Up promotes as essential preparation) then going on give a performance which included a traditional African song and Stevie Wonder's Living for the City.

X Factor runner-up Andy Abraham made a surprise appearance to answer the children's questions about singing.

James Haddrell said Sing Up will engage 2,000 children by the end of 2009, beginning with 100 taster sessions before the aims and focus for the initiative can be developed. As well as sharing the joys and benefits of singing with the children, it also aims to teach them about diverse singing cultures and technical ways of using music and voice.