So far there has been little research in brain functions relating to singing. However, it is clear that behind the neural machinery of billions of cells there is great simplicity of purpose in how the brain orientates itself to singing.
Increasing insights into prenatal development of the foetus show that in the twentieth week of pregnancy the auditory organs and parts of the brain are complete. The result is that unborn babies can even remember pieces of music.
Whereas in pre-school situations singing is strongly related to the parent-child relationship and the first steps in exploring the world, singing at primary school implies training the children as an audience and as a community.
The newly revised Ward Method starts at age 6 when school children begin with their first writing lessons. In the Netherlands a group of 10 primary schools is involved in a special Ward Project.
Most schools are free to organise a certain proportion of the singing programmes in accordance with their own views. The result is that lots of schools work with unqualified teachers of singing.
Professional teachers of singing usually have no special knowledge of children’s voices and consequently do not work in primary and secondary education.
Setting up an International MA Course in Singing Pedagogy might be a positive step forward.
Adriana van der Wel
Brigadier Aad de Jonghof 4
3069 RR Rotterdam
The Netherlands
ajbras@tiscali.nl