Singing for Mental Health and Wellbeing - Spotlight on Children and Young People

This prestigious online conference is a partnership between the Singing for Health Network, Sing Up Foundation and Music for Good.  Day 1 included presentations and discussions around inclusive practice, trauma-informed practice and singing for autism, as well as the presentation of a new report into singing for displaced minors by the University of Limerick. N.B. you can access the recording of Day 1 by booking a 2-day ticket.

Day 2 will bring together international leaders in Singing for Health research and practice, to share their expertise and experiences in relation to singing for Children & Young People's Mental Health & Wellbeing. It will be of interest to students, researchers, educators, healthcare professionals and singing practitioners. The Conference will be recorded and ticket holders will be sent a recording of the Conference session they purchase tickets for.

June 30th - Implications for practice and examining the notion and measurement of well-being

9:30-9:45 – Welcome and housekeeping

9:45-10:30 – Katarzyna Grebosz-Haring and Leonhard Thun-Hohenstein - Psychobiological Responses to Choral Singing in Mentally Ill and Healthy Children and Adolescents: Results of Preliminary Studies in Salzburg

10:30-10:50 – Kat Lord Watson & Stephen Deazley - Singing for Wellbeing in Scottish Schools.  Presentation of research analysing the impact of the Singing for Wellbeing programme on the wellbeing outcomes of primary school children

10:50-11:00 – BREAK

11:00-11:20 – Fiona Evison – Relational Composition for Post-Pandemic Well-being in a Canadian Children’s Choir – Presentation reporting on the findings of research introducing composing for enhanced well-being to choristers

11:20-12:20 – Panel discussion on 'What is well-being and how can we measure it?'

12:20-13:00- BREAK

13:00-13:30 – Kevin Stannard & Rebecca Thompson- Collective nouns: give us a clew! Findings from a multi-modal compositional project in Coventry designed for younger pupils across the KS1/KS2 divide

13:30-14:00 – Jane Gosine - The neurodiverse youth choir: a model for more inclusive choral communities to support wellbeing. Presentation on principles and elements of practice and pedagogy from a youth choir project in Canada

14:00-14:30 – Dr Sarah Glew - Finding My Voice and Forming Our Place: Understanding the Effects of a Participatory Singing, Music and Drama Project on Wellbeing for Autistic Young People

14:30-14:45 – BREAK

14:45-15:15 - Lisa Price - Developing student self-efficacy through singing and music in primary school by designing a practical tool for the classroom teacher. What is self-efficacy, how can we measure it and how can we ensure we support the development of it?

15:15-16:00 - Anupa Paul and Teresa Shaw - Introduction to Music Performance Anxiety and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy principles as a potential practical tool for singing teachers

Programme for both days subject to change

DAY 1 PROGRAMME FOR INFORMATION: May 26th - Focus on inclusion and working with vulnerable groups

9:30-10:00 – Welcome and housekeeping - Intro to the Sing Up Foundation and the Singing for Health Network

10:00-10:30 – Tom Benjamin - An inclusive approach to music-making. Presentation on research exploring practical ways of adopting and modifying music scores through technology, to allow for more inclusive access

10:30-11:00 – Abigail Mann-Daraz - Developing a research and evidence-informed approach to working with autism, ensuring inclusive practice and participant voice are central to promote well-being

11:00-11:15- Break

11:15-12:00 – Emily Foulkes - Presentation of a trauma-informed singing programme and trauma-informed principles

12:00–13:00 – Panel discussion on inclusive practice - chaired by Dr Andrew McWilliams, Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist and Researcher, University College London, Kings College Hospital and Great Ormond Street Hospital and Sing Up Foundation Trustee

13:00-13:45 – LUNCH

13:45-14:30 – Dr Hala Jaber, Professor Helen Phelan and Dr Fran Garry from the University of Limerick will present their new report for the first time. This research explored the benefits of 'Singing on the mental health of young refugees and unaccompanied minors'  and implemented a literature review and evaluation, with a focus on developing recommendations on how to set up and run sessions/projects

14:30-14:45 – Break

14:45-15:30 – Q&A and panel discussion on implications and principles for practice - working with refugees and migrant minors, chaired by Dr Andrew McWilliams

15:30-15:50 – Break out rooms/ networking / sharing discussion

15:50-16:00 - Closing