The Courage to Sing: Reflections on Secondary School Singing

Abstract

This chapter reflects on boys at St Laurence's College who have developed the courage to sing. In the greater scheme of things it does not matter whether these men join choirs, sing in rock bands, perform in musicals, sing with guitars at the beach or around camp fires, sing along at concerts or sing to their sons and daughters but it does matter that they given the freedom to do so by enculturation and education. Some boys' schools in Australia have strong singing traditions while other traditions have withered away or never existed. Separating genders may help men sing but it does not guarantee participation. What the chapter offers is lived examples of how the common themes of this text have been applied in a school to return to men their birthright of being able to communicate through song.