A global initiative

Aarya is a dynamic global initiative that promotes vocal music. Aarya recognises that singing is good for you and singing along is good for the world. Science is collecting evidence on singing’s benefits for the quality of life of those who are touched by it. Educators are interested in singing as an advantage in all areas of learning. At Aarya’s core are the ideals of health, education, sharing, hope, positive energy, and joy.

Science confirms the positive effects of singing on physical, intellectual, emotional, and social skills. Songs – lyrics and music – trigger, develop, and connect both sides of our brains – the rational side and the intuitive side. The world is in desperate need of this connection, of insight, imagination, and creativity.

Claudia Castro and Philippe Rixhon formulated a straightforward vision. In 30 years, within the span of a generation, hundreds of millions of people will have trained their voices and will be singing together. To realise this vision, Philippe Rixhon Associates consulted with experts in music, science, and education, and ultimately founded Aarya.

With great commitment, thousands of people worldwide have been working on singing initiatives. Aarya has asked their advice in making its vision a reality. Their recommendation is to bring the effective learning of singing into the curriculum of all kindergarten, primary, and secondary schools as a right for every young person. And in order to do so, they advise that Aarya present scientific evidence of the benefits of singing.

 

Singing science and education advocacy

Aarya’s focus is the advancement of singing science and the advocacy of music education through singing.

The Aarya Foundation fosters the study of singing – an art form – through medicine, neuroscience, physics, and social sciences; it takes into account that education and knowledge are culturally and socially located.

Aarya fosters a better understanding of –

• anatomy, physiology, and neurology of the singing voice
• acoustics of singing, both solo and in a group
• development of singing across the lifespan
• singing and well-being
• music perception and production

On one side, scientific understanding will identify the benefits of singing for the individual which, once they have been analysed by cultural economists, will define the benefits of singing for the community. 

On the other side, this understanding will be brought together with the generic principles of education, effective learning, and effective teaching, to define the principles of learning and teaching singing effectively.

Zing voor je leven! (Dutch, PDF, 2 MB)

 

Singing Nations Network

 

The Aarya Foundation is the research partner of the Singing Nations Network, linking the national singing initiatives from South Australia, Canada, Denmark, England, Flanders, Republic of Ireland, Scotland, The Netherlands, Norway, Minnesota and Wales.

 

The Singing Nations Network connects its members – national initiatives advocating singing education and singing together. The initiatives are promoted and share best practices. The Network is represented at international level, e.g. IMC/UNESCO, ISME, continental organisations, etc., and at local level by the local member.

 

Declaration (PDF, 91 KB)

Objectives, membership and partnership (PDF, 59 KB)

 

Programme venture

 

The Aarya Foundation, an English charitable trust registered on 9 February 2009 under the number 1127953.

Website

 

 

Trustees

• Claudia Castro
• Baz Chapman
• Philippe Rixhon

 

Scientific committee

• Stephen Clift, Canterbury Christ Church University
• Stefan Koelsch, Freie Universität Berlin
• Gunter Kreutz, Carl von Ossietzky Universität Oldenburg
• Marc Pirlot, Université de Mons
• Johan Sundberg, Royal Institute of Technology Stockholm
• Ruth Towse, Bournemouth University
• Graham Welch, University of London, Institute of Education
• Katherine Zeserson, The Sage, Gateshead