Music is a universal language that transcends barriers, and its magic lies in how it brings people together. At the Esplanade’s Voices – A Festival of Song, I had the opportunity to attend two events: Vocal Focal: An Introduction to Song-Signing and Pop Singalong with Siao Sing Songs. Both events offered unique experiences, but they also illuminated the need for deeper conversations about accessibility, and representation. This also reflected how song-signing has evolved into what is now proudly recognized as “Deaf Music”.

Vocal Focal: An Introduction to Song-Signing

The Vocal Focal workshop, led by a Deaf presenter, highlighted the beautiful fusion of music, song, and sign language. While I deeply applaud the presenter’s dedication and efforts in sharing this art form with the audience, the term “song-signing” itself warrants deeper reflection.

Over the years, Deaf artistes worldwide have reclaimed song-signing, transforming it into a powerful medium of expression that extends beyond mere translating lyrics into signs. Today, song-signing embodies cultural pride, creativity, and Deaf identity. To honour this reclamation, it’s vital to reframe song-signing as an independent artistic discipline—not just a tool for accessibility. Workshops, like this, have the potential to educate hearing audiences and elevate the artistry of Deaf presenters, showcasing them as creators and leaders in this field.

That said, I left with mixed feelings about the workshop’s promotion about its overall outreach. Despite the presenter’s dedication, the audience largely consisted of acquaintances, which limited the event’s impact. Music is appreciated by Deaf and hard-of-hearing communities, and events like this can be transformative opportunities for hearing audiences to learn how Deaf individuals connect with music—not as passive participants but as active creators of art.

Pop Singalong with Siao Sing Songs

In contrast, the Pop Singalong with Siao Sing Songs performances managed to reach a much wider audience. It was a lively and interactive session where participants could sing along to popular tunes. The inclusion of screens displaying lyrics (as seen on the above photo) was a thoughtful touch, enhancing accessibility for everyone in attendance.

Overall, the event was well-received, and its ability to attract a diverse crowd made it a positive example of how music can bring people together. While there’s always room to improve accessibility features further, Pop Singalong with Siao Sing Songs set a commendable standard for inclusive events at the festival.

Enhancing Accessibility and Inclusion

While both events showcased the potential for inclusivity in music, there’s a need for more consistent promotion strategies across the board. By reaching out to schools, cultural organizations, and community groups, Esplanade could draw a more diverse audience to workshops like Vocal Focal. It’s an opportunity to highlight the appreciation of music within the Deaf & hard-of-hearing communities and demonstrate how sign language can beautifully interpret and complement songs.

For events like Pop Singalong, the success in outreach can serve as a model for future initiatives. Ensuring accessibility, such as on-screen lyrics, integrating sign language interpretation, or both, can make these events even more inclusive.

Moving Forward: Creating Inclusive and Impactful Events

Both the events at Voices — a Festival of Song represent important steps towards inclusion in the arts. While Pop Singalong excelled in outreach and engagement, Vocal Focal highlighted the need to reframe song-signing and ensure its representation honours the Deaf community’s reclamation of this art form. Together, these events show the potential of music to bridge communities when inclusivity and representation are prioritized.

By continuing to promote accessible, inclusive, and representative initiatives, we can create a future where the arts not only entertain but also empower and connect communities. Let’s work towards ensuring that music truly becomes a universal language for all.