The Music Workshop Company Blog

Each month the Music Workshop Company publishes two blogs. One blog, written by the MWC team addresses a key issue in Music Education or gives information about a particular genre or period of music. The other blog is written by a guest writer, highlighting good practice or key events in Music Education. We hope you enjoy reading the blogs.

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To contribute as a guest writer please email Maria@music-workshop.co.uk

Posts tagged “SINGING”

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Bizet Carmen

Posted on 22nd February 2025 at 17:53

Bizet’s opera, ‘Carmen’, has become a favourite with opera fans and its music is known to many through use in adverts, TV programmes and films.

It was premiered on 3rd March 1875 at the Opéra Comique in Paris. Despite a poor reception at the premiere, the work has gone on to become one of the most popular operas and has inspired films and a musical with many musicians being inspired by the now highly recognisable arias.

The Toreador Song's is recommended listening for Year 6 in the Model Music Curriculum for England.

We discuss key moments from Bizet’s life and explore the music and the stories behind the opera.

Image: Célestine Galli-Marié the first Carmen

Stammering and singing

Posted on 12th September 2024 at 18:01

Photo: Richie Luego, Unsplash

Singing is an activity enjoyed by people around the world, and here at the Music Workshop Company we see every day the different ways that it can benefit people. But one little-known benefit occurs for people who stammer – with many people affected finding that singing can help to reduce their stammer.

We take a look at some of the people with a stammer who have made their names as singers, and explore the potential reasons singing can have such a dramatic impact for people who stammer.

What teachers should know about young people’s vocal health

Posted on 30th June 2023 at 16:03

This month, singing specialist Olivia Sparkhall shares her top tips for helping young singers look after their voices. It’s a topic that Olivia has developed a wealth of expertise in as a choir trainer, an award-winning choral conductor and as a secondary school music teacher for over 20 years.

With her new book, A Young Person’s Guide To Vocal Health, available now, Olivia reveals some key advice – and dispels some myths – to help teachers support their students to stay healthy and get the best from their voices.

Our Favourite Home Learning Resources

Posted on 30th March 2020 at 17:54

At a time when more families are engaged in home learning, the MWC team wanted to share online resources that might be useful over the coming months.

The resources cover general advice for Home Learning, reading, music, art and languages.

Music for Peace

Posted on 31st August 2018 at 14:30

21st September is World Peace Day, or the International Day of Peace. It was established in 1981 by the United Nations General Assembly, and, in 2001, the General Assembly designated the Day as a period of non-violence and cease-fire.

This year’s Peace Day celebrates the 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the theme is The Right to Peace.

Image: Paper Cranes, Children’s Peace Memorial, Hiroshima

How Should we Sing these Songs?

Posted on 17th April 2018 at 15:00

While planning a recent singing workshop, MWC’s Artistic Director, Maria, had cause to reflect on the names and lyrics of songs, how the meaning of some words has changed, becoming sensitive, controversial or unacceptable, and how some aspects of music might impact workshop participants.