We Can All Make Music.
Introducing…
“Victoria
Victoria Sings is a state-wide
initiative designed to weave community singing into the cultural fabric of
Our
major strategy is to nurture and support singing leadership within communities.
The key
outcome of the work has been, and will continue to be, the emergence and growth
of a state-wide network of independent, self-sustaining and re-generative
singing circles which:
are engaged with their communities.
welcome newcomers.
nurture their participants.
are proudly diverse.
Since
the program began, with the support of VicHealth, we've been testing models,
first in rural and regional communities, and more recently, in urban
situations. Assessing the value of
community singing as a contributor to community health and well-being has been
an important aspect of this process.
The outcomes
have been that:
the strategy of focusing on the development of community-based leadership
skills has been affirmed.
training programs have been developed and successfully tested.
the need for on-going counselling and advice for leaders and groups has become
clear.
a team of experienced trainers and networkers has been developed.
methods for assisting the establishment of singing circles have been developed and
successfully tested.
over 200 new leaders have emerged and, together with many established leaders,
are developing into an active leadership network.
more than seventy new groups have independently established themselves, and
many already existing groups have availed themselves of CMV's services.
ways of developing an original, diverse and authentic repertoire have been
explored and clear strategies developed.
ways of engaging with agencies which excite them into using singing circles in
their work have been developed.
ways of effectively promoting community singing have been developed and successfully
tested.
singing leaders, singing circles and agencies with community development
responsibilities are increasingly aware of and articulate the function and
value of group singing in communities.
In our
view, Victoria Sings is an
internationally innovative community arts program, in that it:
consciously recognises and articulates its purpose as enhancing well-being through
community-based and owned creative practices.
affirms, enhances and supports community embedded leadership teams.
encourages independent, on-going and subsidy-free activities.
has no emphasis on “public performance” manifestations, but rather
on recognising and promoting the belief that the primary benefits of music are
in its making.
has no emphasis on the creation of singing groups, but rather focuses on
sessional group singing at which newcomers are always welcome.
has a systemic and holistic approach, and has developed replicable techniques,
accessible philosophies and integrated training, advocacy, resourcing and
networking functions.
has state-wide coverage and a vision of universal application.
In
combination, these characteristics set the program apart (as far as we are
aware) from all other community arts projects, and from virtually all community
development initiatives. CMV is now
ready to comprehensively implement a major initiative aimed at making singing
together a regular part of the everyday life of all Victorians.
Most
importantly, it will be a communal activity imbued with a spirit of
inclusivity, creativity and joy.
CMV - making a sound world together.
© Community Music Victoria Inc.