The National Youth Choir of Scotland (NYCOS) is marking its 30th anniversary by launching an ambitious initiative designed to help bring singing back into classrooms across the country.

Launching in schools from September, NYCOS Singing Time is a free online resource that will be gifted to every primary school in Scotland, providing teachers with accessible, engaging singing materials developed by one of the country’s leading music education organisations.

Created as the centrepiece of NYCOS’s 30th anniversary celebrations, the initiative brings together three decades of expertise in youth singing, musicianship and music education. Featuring 15 songs and accompanying singing games, the resource is designed to help children experience the joy of singing while developing musical understanding through play.

The launch comes at a time when many teachers report feeling less confident about teaching singing and music in the classroom, while opportunities for young people to sing together have declined. NYCOS Singing Time aims to remove those barriers by providing a free, easy to use resource that can be accessed by any primary school, regardless of musical experience or budget.

the resource uses games, movement and age appropriate repertoire to help children absorb musical concepts naturally and joyfully

Based on the Kodály principles that have shaped NYCOS’s educational approach for three decades, the resource uses games, movement and age appropriate repertoire to help children absorb musical concepts naturally and joyfully. The songs span a range of traditions and languages, including English, Scots and Gaelic, reflecting both Scotland’s cultural heritage and NYCOS’s belief that singing should be open and accessible to all.

More than simply a teaching resource, NYCOS Singing Time represents what the organisation describes as a “gift to Scotland” as it celebrates a milestone birthday. Founded in 1996 by conductor Christopher Bell, NYCOS was created at a time when opportunities for young singers at regional level were disappearing across Scotland due to local government reorganisation.

What began as a single national youth choir has grown into a nationwide organisation that supports thousands of young people every year through regional choirs, national ensembles, schools’ programmes, teacher training and creative learning initiatives.

Over the last 30 years, NYCOS has helped shape Scotland’s singing culture at every level, championing the well documented benefits of singing for confidence, self esteem, communication, social connection, literacy and learning. Its regional choir network has enabled young people across Scotland to experience the social, educational and artistic benefits of singing close to home.

For NYCOS, the launch of Singing Time reflects its belief that the opportunity to sing should be available to every child, in every primary school. As Christopher Bell, Founder and Artistic Director of NYCOS, explains:

“NYCOS Singing Time is our gift to Scotland as we celebrate this anniversary year. We want every child, in every primary school, to have the opportunity to sing. If we can help bring singing back into more classrooms, then we can help another generation discover the same joy, confidence and sense of belonging that singing has given so many young people over the last 30 years.

“When young people sing together, something remarkable happens. They learn to listen, to communicate, to work together and to express themselves. Those benefits extend far beyond music, and that is why this work remains so important today.”

Find out more and access NYCOS Singing Time at nycossingingtime.co.uk