DESIGN-led communications agency Silk Pearce, based in Colchester, has developed a website to encourage schools to take part in Friday Afternoons, a new nationwide singing initiative created by Aldeburgh Music to celebrate the centenary of Benjamin Britten’s birth in 2013.

The site – at www.fridayafternoonsmusic.co.uk – has been designed to make it as easy as possible for schools and young people to join in and to learn more about Britten’s life and music by singing his Friday Afternoons cycle of 12 songs composed between 1933 and 1935.

Teachers can listen to recordings of each song and download teaching resource packs, including the score and lyrics for each song, backing tracks and suggested lesson plans for both primary and secondary levels.

Users can also upload audio or video clips of their own performances or review other schools recordings.

“Silk Pearce has designed a fresh, striking and integrated look for all of our Friday Afternoons communications that we believe will inspire teachers and young people to get involved,” said Ann Barkway, project manager for Friday Afternoons at Aldeburgh Music.

“Many schools have already commented on its contemporary feel, and have told us it is exceptionally easy to use, needs no specialist skills and has everything needed to encourage young people to sing.” The Friday Afternoons project, which is being run by Aldeburgh Music in partnership with the Britten–Pears Foundation, Britten’s main publisher Boosey & Hawkes, and Arts Council England, will culminate on Friday, November 22, 2013 when tens of thousands of people join together to sing the songs.

Aldeburgh Music is also being supported on the project by a broad range of arts organisations including the Royal Opera House, English National Opera, Opera North, Sage Gateshead, Symphony Hall, and Brighton Festival.