Widening Young Male Participation in Chorus

人们对青年歌唱的兴趣重新燃起，这很受欢迎，这一点可以从政府资助的活动中可见一斑。这项活动由歌唱大使霍华德·古德尔带头开展。然而，人们普遍认识到，年轻男性的代表性可能严重不足，这一点破坏了这种热情，而且有充分的理由解决歌唱中的性别失衡问题。将男孩纳入其中的额外努力不仅是为了确保未来有成年男歌手，而且至少同样是为了让更多的男孩参与一项将促进他们福祉的活动所带来的明显的社会和教育好处。有证据表明，社会阶层进一步失衡，需要扩大参与。研究表明，受教育机会与认为年轻、嗓音高亢的人“怪异”或“不自然”的误解之间存在明显的关系。受欢迎的电视节目也会向年轻男孩传递令人困惑的信息。研究表明，特别需要教育初级合唱团领导人，包括小学教师，了解年轻男声的能力，提供更多利用这一能力的机会，最重要的是，为年长男孩和年轻男子的演唱提供适当的榜样。建立支持性的基础设施，让任何男孩，无论社会背景或环境，都能在合唱方面取得进步。为男孩提供明确的榜样，将唱歌作为一种丰富的活动，以对抗负面的刻板印象。教育那些与低龄儿童一起工作的人，了解年轻男声以及喜欢唱歌的男孩所面临的困难。通过专家研究人员和实践者之间的知识交流，进一步加深对唱歌中“失踪男性”综合症的理解。英国国家青年合唱团有可能通过两个致力于儿童劳动力发展的大型大学教员的中介作用来实现上述目标。纽约市为10至14岁的儿童设立了一个南方和北方合唱团，以培养他们的声音，直到他们达到国家青年培训合唱团的适当标准。北方合唱团将与牵头机构埃奇希尔大学联系起来，南方合唱团将与英格兰西部大学联系起来。这些活动可以为青少年合唱团网络提供一个活动场所和重点。约克大学将为该项目提供先进的技术开发。每个区域都将解决如何利用先前的研究成果来创建通过榜样培养男孩唱歌的网络和活动的问题。主要申请者已通过合唱团学校协会制定了一项成功的试验计划，这是可以借鉴的。这表明，纽约市的关键角色是：提供关于兼收并蓄的高质量曲目的建议，以培养符合海选标准的青少年声音。通过互动电子书提供男孩歌手作为榜样，为年轻男性领导人提供在地区活动中改进表演的机会。高等院校的关键角色是：维持致力于该项目的青少年合唱团网络创建两个关键资源供使用，并支持教师使用它们(一本关于年轻男性声音的电子书和支持网页，利用纽约市的男孩)协助和主办地区性活动对项目的每个阶段进行详细评估，将为合唱从业者提供重要的、具有高价值的新研究数据，这将是牵头高等学校的关键职能。该结构规定了项目的两年生命周期。第一年：在NYC课程(每年举行两次)期间确定并记录这些剧目；制作电子书和演示材料。第二年：为培训/分发电子书举行区域领导人会议；在少年合唱团中使用这些材料；举办区域歌唱日和音乐会，以庆祝和展示成功。

There is a welcome resurgence of interest in youth singing, visible in the government funded campaign spearheaded by 'singing ambassador' Howard Goodall. However, this enthusiasm is marred by widespread recognition that young males may be significantly under-represented and a strong case can be made for addressing the gender imbalance in singing. Additional effort at boys' inclusion is justified not only to ensure future availability of adult male singers but at least equally by the demonstrable social and educational benefits of engaging more boys in an activity that will promote their well-being. Evidence indicates a further imbalance in social class and need to widen participation. A clear relationship has been demonstrated between educational opportunity and the misperception that the youthful, high voice is 'weird' or 'unnatural'. Confusing messages are also given to young boys by popular TV shows. The research shows a particular need to educate junior choir leaders, including primary teachers, about the capability of the young male voice, to provide enhanced opportunity to exploit it and above all, to provide younger boys with appropriate role models of singing by older boys and young men.The key aims; Develop a supportive infrastructure through which any boy, regardless of social background or circumstance, can be enabled to progress in choral singingProvide clear role models of singing as an enriching activity for boys that counter negative stereotypesEducate those who work with junior age children about the young male voice and the difficulties faced by boys who enjoy singingFurther enhance understanding of the 'missing males' syndrome in singing by knowledge exchange between expert researchers and practitionersThe National Youth Choir of Great Britain has the potential to realise the aims detailed above through the intermediary role of two large university faculties engaged in children's workforce development. The NYC maintains a Northern and Southern choir for ten to fourteen year olds to nurture voices until they reach an appropriate standard for the National Youth Training Choir. The Northern choir would be linked to the lead institution, Edgehill University, and the Southern choir to the University of the West of England. These can provide a venue and focus of activity for networks of junior choirs. Advanced technical development for the project will be provided the University of York. Each region would address the question of how the previous research results can be used to create networks and events that nurture boys' singing through role models. It is possible to draw on a successful pilot scheme already developed by the principal applicant through the Choir Schools Association. This indicates that key roles for the NYC are:To provide advice on eclectic, high quality repertoire to nurture junior voices to audition standardTo provide boy singers as role models through an interactive e-book To provide young male leaders to refine performance at regional eventsThe key roles for the HEIs are:To maintain networks of junior choirs committed to the projectCreate two key resources to be used and support teachers in their use (an e-book on the young male voice and supporting web pages, using boys from the NYC)Facilitate and host regional eventsA detailed evaluation of every stage of the project that will provide significant new research data of high value to choral practitioners will be a key function of the lead HEI. This structure dictates a two year life cycle for the project. Year one: identification of the repertoire and recording of this during NYC courses (held twice a year); production of the e-book and demonstration material. Year two: regional meetings of leaders for training/distribution of the e-book; use of the materials in junior choirs; regional singing days and concerts to celebrate and showcase success.