A tribute to the power of sharing and singing together!
The Listen Up! campaign stresses the importance of listening and illustrates the power of our voices. As an instrument to help us to both express ourselves and be heard, the voice is our key. We live in an era where people speak but often do not feel heard. Choral singing is a platform for exploring the benefits of using our voices to share a full range of emotions from love and excitement to worry and fear. It provides the opportunity to share thoughts and feelings in an atmosphere of trust and acceptance. Singing with others builds community, creates hope and resilience and empowers people to make the world a better place.
Sing Together! – launched in 2022, was developed as a means to building communities that are characterized by respectful inclusion and honouring diversity. It was widely used and now itis time to launch a new song-based campaign. This one builds on and extends the message conveyed by Sing Together! This campaign is called Listen Up! It was created by Nico Rhodes, the same songwriter who gave us Sing Together!
SCORES
Downloadable free PDF scores of the Listen Up! song in a variety of voicings and formats:
- SATB: individual S, A, T & B parts; full SATB score with piano
- 2-Part: lead sheet; lead sheet with piano; high-voice version; low-voice version
- SAB: individual S, A & B parts; full SAB score with piano
- Video sing-along scores with learning tracks.
AUDIO
- Composer’s demo version (MP3)
- Piano accompaniment track (MP3)
- Learning tracks for all voicings & versions of Listen Up!
GRAPHICS
- Two downloadable & printable posters
DOWNLOAD FREE RESOURCES
We invite individuals, small groups, full choirs, directors and music teacher to use these materials creatively and share what they produce to inspire others to get involved.
VIDEOS & IDEAS
Choirs across British Columbia have started bringing Listen Up! to life in their own ways. The videos below offer a little inspiration for your own performance, showing how different groups have interpreted the song, made it their own, and shared its message in their communities. We hope these examples spark ideas, creativity, and excitement as you find the version that feels right for your choir.
IDEAS FOR CHOIRS
- Share the campaign with groups that are not part of the choral community (i.e. early childhood groups, senior groups, residents in long term care, etc.)
- Tell your singers what the campaign is about in an email or newsletter
- Share the link to the campaign materials
- Ask them to share the campaign with friends, family, acquaintances
- Use the materials with full choir. Make a recording (audio or video)
- Encourage individuals or small groups to explore the materials and create their own presentations
- Produce some choreography
- Invent some instrumental accompaniment other than piano
- Add some percussion
- Develop a concert program on the Listen Up! theme
- Craft a slide show to illustrate the Listen Up! theme
- Design a poster to illustrate the intention of the campaign
- Use ASL (American Sign Language) with the song
- Use closed captions with videos of the song
IDEAS FOR MUSIC TEACHERS
- Develop lesson plans around the Listen Up! materials
- Sing the song
- Record a video of the music being performed by students
- Use rhythm instruments with the song
- Use other instruments to accompany (i.e. ukulele, guitar, Orff, etc.)
- Interpret the music using movement
- Collaborate with classroom teachers to integrate the Listen Up! materials (and message) with the language arts, social studies/history, art, drama and other subjects
- Design assembly or concert programs using the Listen Up! materials
IDEAS FOR AUDIENCE MEMBERS
- Share the materials with your audience base. Tell the about the campaign, what the message is and how you are using the materials
- Post the materials on your website and/or social media
- Encourage individuals to build their own audio/video creations. Share them with others.
CAMPAIGN TOOLKIT
ListenUp-CampaignToolkit-Draft1Come together, share your voice, and Listen Up! (And when you do, be sure to show us the results.) We can’t wait to see your posts on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Tag us or email communications@bcchoralfed.com.
We’ve also set up a Google File Request link for submitting your own Listen Up! videos, photos and resources. As materials come in, we will be selecting highlights to feature on the BCCF’s social media, with your permission.
Feel free to get in touch with us for questions, comments and ideas as well. The launch of this project is only the beginning of an exciting musical journey.