PUPILS from three schools performed at Greenwich Theatre on Thursday (July 16) to showcase the work of Sing Up.

The 18-month initiative, which started last October, has seen nearly 4,000 children across the area take part in singing projects after a £80,000 grant from charity Youth Music.

Sing up includes workshops and projects in schools run by vocal coaching company, Sense of Sound to encourage children to sing as well as compose their own songs.

Children have learnt to sing different types of music such as Indian, Chinese, gospel, pop, jazz as well as learning musical terminology such as pitch and harmony.

Some schools have also been set a 10 minute musical challenge which has seen young people compose their own musical.

Other projects includes peer mentoring schemes where younger students learn from other older pupils.

James Haddrell, executive director of the Greenwich Theatre said one of the focuses of the project was getting boys involved in singing.

Addressing the audience at the theatre on Thursday he said: “The stats around the country show half of boys are not singing. I am pleased to see you have not lost interest.

“It’s something we set out to do at the beginning, Looking at all of you, it’s working.”

Donning their Sing Up t-shirts with the slogan `Help kids find their voices’ young people from Linton Mead Primary School in Thamesmead, Notre Dame Catholic Primary School in Woolwich and Boxgrove Primary School in Abbey Wood performed some of their songs at the theatre.

As a result of Sing Up Linton Mead now has any afterschool singing club.

Juliet Russell, artistic director of Sense of Sound, spoke about the importance of the project.

She said: “It helps people to achieve their potential through music.

“It makes singing really enjoyable while also pushing them to do their best.”

And there are still many things still to come with Sense of Sound running an environmental project, song writing initiative, the 10 minute musical challenge in more schools and a secondary school project in the coming months.

For more information about Sense of Sound ring: 020 7229 6633 or log onto senseofsound.net

So far Sing Up has:

Worked with more than 35 schools

Worked with 4,000 children (the target was 2,000)

Trained 150 teachers