How can I make a stand against the "chavvy" music at dd's school?

[fircone]

When ds was in the infants, the children sang a lot of songs and it sounded lovely. Now dd is there the music is on a downward spiral. They just sing along to (presumably teachers') old pop music tapes. At the last assembly the children mumbled dispiritedly to "Reach for the Sky" by SClub7, and at Christmas I ground my teeth as they half-heartedly muttered a bit of "Funky Town" (remember that one?!) and something by Annie Lennox. They came into the Christmas concert to "Fairytale of New York". You cheap lousy slut, anyone?

I'm not expecting a full production of "Nymphs and Shepherds" but this is getting ridiculous. It seems not just a shame but a failure not to encourage music.

Does anyone have any ideas on how I can broach the subject? I am a governor, but I am not in the inner circle, and have to struggle to get my points raised. I need to put it diplomatically, rather than coming across as an outraged snob.

[MrsMattie]

Are you serious? What's wrong with kids listening to pop music? You do realise you sound like Mary Whitehouse.

[fircone]

Nowt wrong with pop music. Love it. BUT - I think children should have the opportunity to learn songs and sing properly.

[hercules1]

THey do sound like odd choices for primary children to be singing.

[GreensleevesFlouncedLikeAKnob]

Oh I agree with you fircone

but have also been called all sorts of things for saying so on here

[hercules1]

I can't see what you can do about it though.

[hercules1]

I bet there are lots of other parents who agree with you too. Maybe there could be someway a few parents make a point.

[muggglewump]

Oh dear, my DD only ever sings pop music.

I couldn't even tell you what she sings at school, all she sings at home is current music, as shown on TMF!

I think you are being picky. If your kids are happy then leave it.

You are coming over as snobby.

[GreensleevesFlouncedLikeAKnob]

there are so many gorgeous age-appropriate songs which have been around for generations and are part of our shared history though

it's so sad that these have been usurped by the mass-produced music industry who see young children as another lucrative market

"reach for the sky"

poorly written claptrap

[fircone]

If they were all singing whatever with gusto, then it would be ok. But just having a CD playing and the kids mumbling along, not knowing the words properly, is in my opinion a big cop-out on the music front.

[scottishmummy]

any damn circle express those views=you will look daft

like a "i dont like these new fangled beat combo's..what's it called pop music. oh i say"

give it a few years they will be singing this

[TheFallenMadonna]

Mumbling along to a tape isn't a good way of learning singing I wouldn't have thought, but am not in any way experienced in that, beyond a bit of choir singing myself.

My DC's school uses tapes with the accompaniment, but no melody line IYSWIM, if they don't have a teacher playing an accompaniment on the piano. I have some cds like that at home too.

[Lizzylou]

My DS's like current music but I would be disappointed that they weren't learning traditional songs and carols at school tbh.

Also "Reach for the stars" is NOT current and is crap.

[Lizzylou]

Or even "Reach for the Sky"

My boys sing along to the radio, TV and have picked up songs from friends (current fave is "Some people think I'm bonkers" ), but I wouldn't want them singing along to a CD of that sort of stuff at school.

[MrsMattie]

lol!@scottishmummy

I remember loving 'Fuck the Police' by NWA when I was about 10 yrs old.

[ZZZenAgain]

"Funky Town" for Christmas though? Don't really rmeember the words. Is it: "are you going to Foonky town?" etc. Maybe that was the whole text even...

Who is responsible for the productions, do you know? Maybe you could ask for them to sing some songs in foreign languages - all PC and "one worldy", they might go for that. Then you could helpfully provide them with some more traditional French/German/Spanish whatever language songs.

[janeite]

Reach For The Stars

Cheap lousy faggot

However, I agree that these seem very odd choices for the school choir.

[GreensleevesFlouncedLikeAKnob]

my kids like a range of different music

at the moment 5yo ds2 is mostly liking Queen

but they do know lots and lots of traditional songs, all the ones I knew as a child and dh did etc

I am a folkie musician so I suppose I am quite big on music being shared and passed down

I would prefer them to be learning and singing "proper" songs at school, it's part of being a child IMO and doesn't have to preclude liking more modern stuff too

[MrsBadger]

I'd rather she sang shite popular music at school than didn;t sing at all

and I'd rather hear 30 9yos bellowing Fairytale of New York than embarrassedly murmuring Britten.

play her a variety of stuff at home and take her to concerts. Secondary may be better.

[Feenie]

I think you will find that your dc's school will make a stand against stereotypical language such as 'chavvy'.

Depends what the children enjoy singing, doesn't it? It's difficult to select songs which all the children will enjoy singing.

Our children enjoy 'Reach' aswell. I would never dare put 'Fairytale of New York' on our rickety hall stereo for the reasons you mention (it's 'cheap lousy faggot, btw), and I sometimes leave singing assembly when they start singing 'Underground' by Girls Aloud because I can't stand that song - but the children love it, it's one of their favourites.

You could trying speaking/writing to the Head as a parent giving their view. I doubt you would get anywhere mentioning it as a governor - it would come under the day to day running of the school, and so out of your remit.

[TheFallenMadonna]

IME secondary will be much worse.

[GreensleevesFlouncedLikeAKnob]

agree "chavvy" is a bloody awful term

[Hulababy]

I'd have no problem with DD singing pop songs at school (even S Club) so long as the lyrics are appropriate (Fairytale of New York I don't think is) so long as it was mixed in with a whole load of other singing and music. I like that DD's school sings traditional songs, and hymns and proper carols too.

[fircone]

Bellowing anything I'd be happy with. But you can't really bellow if you're just accompanying a CD. And believe me, currently there is no bellowing. Half of the children don't sing at all, and most only join in with the very obvious words.

Why can't they just sing London's Burning or something?

[scottishmummy]

should turn them into republicans singing no future (god save the queen) Johnnie lydon. i would cheer that

[fircone]

Well, I'd hardly say "chavvy" to the school - but I do feel it is more than day-to-day running of the school stuff. I think it is an area where the school could and should improve.