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Canberra and Yu Neng primary schools get Sing50 piano
SINGAPORE, 23 July 2015 – Canberra Primary School and Yu Neng Primary School, each with different needs to develop its music education programme, have been selected as the latest recipients of the Sing50 Fund’s “Adopt-a-Piano” initiative.
Both schools represent the broad spectrum of school-recipients that the Sing50 Fund hopes to partner with and are among 50 schools that will receive the Steinway-designed Lang Lang baby grand piano as part of the Sing50 Fund outreach.
The “Adopt-a-Piano” initiative aims to meet a gap in the recipient school’s existing music programme or raise their music programme to the next level. Through its various outreach programmes, to be announced in due course, the Sing50 Fund hopes to raise awareness, knowledge and appreciation of Singapore’s music heritage among young Singaporeans and the wider community.
The 50 schools, which are selected by the Fund’s Board of Trustees, must commit to promoting Singapore's pop music heritage, and use the piano to support their arts, music and aesthetics programmes. The 50 pianos will debut at the Sing50 concert on August 7, with 50 pianists from across all age performing together for the nation’s birthday.
Global Arts Engagement
Canberra Primary offers a vibrant arts and musical Arts Education curriculum for its pupils. The Arts Curriculum, delivered through the school’s Musical Theatre Education, seeks to immerse pupils in a rich spectrum of arts form – from dance, drama, music, visual arts to new media. The school is confident that these activities will enrich the pupils' learning experiences and develop their passion for the arts and equip them with soft skills when they leave school.
The school also prepares the pupils for musical productions at different levels. For example, it is collaborating with four schools from China, Malaysia and South Africa to stage the musical, “We Know The World: Birthdays of our Nations”, this year, featuring a global cast of 300 pupils. The theme for the musical echoes the nation’s 50th golden jubilee and celebrates significant moments of the nation through songs, music and dance.
Mr Sam Wong, Principal of Canberra Primary, said: “The intent of this international collaboration is to provide opportunities for our young generation to experience deep and authentic learning as they forge international relationships beyond their comfort zones while appreciating the diverse cultures to enrich their lives.”
On plans for the piano, he added: “The Steinway-designed baby grand piano will enhance our pupils’ experience by giving them the opportunity to present their music in splendour. Singapore music is integrated into our school’s music curriculum progressively. With the Sing50 Fund, we look forward to incorporating new musical resources into our curriculum and heighten the musical experience of our pupils and the community.”
Nurturing love for music among pupils
Celebrating its 80th anniversary this year, Yu Neng Primary School has embarked on a few music programmes, which includes its signature “roll-up” keyboard programme to teach the basics of piano playing for Primary 1 and 2 pupils.
The school hopes to foster in its pupils a sense of appreciation for the arts and interest in music-making. One of its plans is to work with Singaporean composers, artists and musicians. Other plans include vocal and percussion lessons and an introduction to music arrangement and infusing iconic melodies from Singapore’s music heritage.
Said Mrs Clara Lim-Tan, Principal of Yu Neng Primary School: “The gift of the Steinway-designed Lang Lang baby grand piano by the Sing50 Fund is timely as the school embarks on bringing its arts education to another level. There are many values and skills that we can imbue in our pupils such as music appreciation, self-confidence, concert etiquette and music making through the arts.
“The school has also partnered with residents in the neighbourhood particularly the elderly and the pre-schools. We plan for our pupils to take the lead in discovering more about Singapore songs and sharing their experience with the community. The addition of the piano in the school offers further possibilities and opportunities for the pupils.”
Sing50 concert and fund
The Sing50 Fund, a private sector initiative supported by The Straits Times and The Business Times, is an extension of the Sing50 concert, which showcases songs composed, performed or made popular by Singapore artists over the past five decades.
Besides performances by iconic Singapore artists like Stefanie Sun, JJ Lin, Tracy Huang, Dick Lee, Jeremy Monteiro, Rahimah Rahim, Mohamad Raffee, and emerging artists like Reuby, Dru Chen and Ling Kai, the concert will also feature a 1,000-member choir, a 100-strong orchestra, 50 pianists and more than 70 ChildAid performers, rappers, ITE choir members and dancers, as well as a sing-a-long pre-concert segment which begins from5.30pm. Audio clips, lyrics and scores of the songs are available to the public at www.sing50concert.sg/pre-concert-sing-along.
The 50 schools which are getting the pianos and sending their students to the August 7 concert, have been encouraged to familiarise their pupils with the iconic Singapore songs to encourage greater participation at the concert.
The list of 50 schools and details of their plans will be announced after the Sing50 concert. More information about the Sing50 Fund is available onwww.sing50concert.sg/sing50-fund.
Media invitation
Members of the media are invited to the:
We Know The World: Birthdays of our Nations Musical by Canberra Primary School, on July 24, 6pm – 9pm, at 21 Admiralty Drive, Singapore 757714.
YN80 Gala Dinner by Yu Neng Primary School, July 25, 6.30pm – 10pm, 56 Bedok North Street 3, Singapore 469623. Photo-opportunity is from 8.30pm – 9.30pm.
Issued by Singapore Press Holdings Ltd Co.
Registration. No. 198402868E
For more information, please contact:
Yasminbee Sheikh (Ms)
Integrated Communications, The RICE Company Limited
Email: yasminbee@therice.sg
Deror Wong (Mr)
Assistant Manager, Corporate Communications & CSR
Singapore Press Holdings Limited
DID: 6319 1226
Email: derorw@sph.com.sg
About Sing50 concert
Sing50 is a celebration concert of 50 years of Singapore Music co-organised by The Straits Times and The Business Times of Singapore Press Holdings Limited. The two-hour long concert will be staged at the new National Stadium, Singapore Sports Hub on 7th August 2015, two days ahead of Singapore's 50th National Day. The mega concert will feature iconic popular songs, composers, performers and stories that mark the milestones of music in Singapore for the past 50 years. The concert will also showcase both established and new talents from an almost all-Singapore cast in the local and international music scene. This inter-generational music concert is a birthday gift to the nation's golden jubilee SG50 celebrations.
About Sing50 Fund
Launched on 17 January 2015, the Sing50 Fund is a private sector initiative supported by The Straits Times and The Business Times. The Fund's mission is to preserve and celebrate Singapore’s music heritage by fostering the knowledge of and affection for Singapore music in our children and the community. The Fund provides music resources such as musical instruments and learning materials to schools, as well as organises annual Singapore song competition and concert to promote and popularise these songs. The Fund is managed by arts and cultural organisation, The RICE Company Limited, and governed by the Sing50 Fund Board of Trustees.
About The Straits Times
The Straits Times is the English-language flagship daily of Singapore Press Holdings and the most-read newspaper in Singapore. It was launched on July 15, 1845, and provides comprehensive coverage of local, regional and international news. It has 20 bureaus in major cities worldwide, with its correspondents providing a Singapore perspective on what is happening around the world. Complementing the main title are weekly lifestyle supplements Digital Life, Urban and Mind Your Body, as well as IN and Little Red Dot for students. The Straits Times is also on digital platforms with its website at www.straitstimes.com. It also has ioS and Android apps, and a menu of e-books housed in a separate Straits Times Star app.
The Straits Times has won multiple international awards, including from the Society of Publishers in Asia, the World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers, the Pacific Area Newspaper Publishers' Association (Panpa) and Society of News Design. It was named Singapore Newspaper of the Year 2014 and 2013 by Marketing magazine and voted Singapore’s favourite newspaper 2013 by Superbrands. Its websitewww.straitstimes.com won gold in “Best In Online Media” at the 2012 Wan-Ifra Asian Digital Media Awards. Its Communities microsites platform was named 2014 Digital nnovation of the Year award by Panpa, and got Gold in the Best in Social Media category at the 2013 Wan-Ifra Asian Digital Media Awards.
About The Business Times
The Business Times, a member of the Singapore Press Holdings group, is South-east Asia's leading financial daily. BT brings to its readers daily corporate, financial, economic and political news, analysis and commentary on print and digital platforms. It provides readers with in-depth coverage of Singapore and Asian business and economic developments, as well as global trends that impact Singapore business. BT's lifestyle journalists bring busy executives the latest in recreation, entertainment, the arts, design, food and shopping.
For more information, please visit businesstimes.com.sg.
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About The Rice Company Limited
The RICE Company Limited is a non-profit organisation that harvests the potential of the arts and culture for the development of human lives and connecting communities locally and around the world. The RICE Company Limited was incorporated on March 2014 and is a registered charity with an IPC.