TEN SING is a youth work method within the YWCA and YMCA. It organizes groups of young people from 11 years and up (some countries have a higher entry age), ranging in size from a handful to several tens of members. Membership is open to all and does not require any type of talent, skill or training.
TEN SING is based on the core goals and values of YWCA and YMCA with an emphasis on the following:
TEN SING originated from Norway in 1968. The name "TEN SING" is a combination of the Norwegian suffix "-ten" (en. "-teen") and the English word "sing" – a kind of language mixing that was quite common in Norway at the time.
The first TEN SING group was started in Bergen by Kjell Grønner. It was inspired by Sing Out, which later became known as Up with People.
In 1981 the International YMCA conference was held in Bergen, and attending that same conference from the YMCA in Sheffield, UK, were two delegates by the name of Keith Wells (General Secretary of the Sheffield YMCA) and Blair Crawford. They were so impressed by the whole youth culture and performing arts ministry that the Ten Sing choir had developed that they consulted with them and arranged for the Bergen Ten Sing choir to travel to Sheffield on tour. There were a number of concerts held, which were both recorded on video and on Cassette Tape, in church locations in the city. The resulting success of the concert led to the setting up of the first Ten Sing choir outside of Norway later on in 1982. Over the next three years Ten Sing Sheffield kept in close contact with Ten Sing Bergen and this close friendship led to the Sheffield choir making a return trip on tour to Fana, Bergen, in July 1985, enjoying the hospitality of the Bergen Choir.
(By 1984 the Norwegian YWCA–YMCA started "exporting" the TEN SING method to other countries. Today there are hundreds of TEN SING groups all over the world.)
In January 1986 the Ten Sing Sheffield choir had grown so much, both in size and ideas of how to link into youth culture, that the original choir split in two, forming Tensing Hosanna, a more choral based group, leading worship and music events in a church based context; and Ten Sing Freedom, a more performing arts, drama and youth street-work group. Both Ten Sing groups continued to flourish for a number of years in Sheffield.
By 1986 further Ten Sing groups had started up around the UK. In some areas they had adopted the name Y-Sing, and in others had remained faithful to the name Ten Sing. The YMCA in Plymouth had a Y-Sing group, and had appointed a norwegian musical director by the name of Kjersti Thoen. Members of both Ten Sing Freedom in Sheffield and Plymouth Y-Sing converged on Portsmout, UK, to bring their groups together for a weekend of working together to help Portsmouth YMCA establish their own Ten sing / Y-Sing group.
Sadly in the 1990s the YMCA in Sheffield had to make serious decisions about its future. The original founder members and subsequent leaders of the groups had already moved on and the Ten Sing Hosanna choir had quit the YMCA, severing connections with Ten Sing movement. Neither group exists anymore in Sheffield.
TEN SING Norway is a one year curriculum at Volda University College (KULS) yielding 75 credits. It is open for experienced members of TEN SING groups who qualify for Norwegian university studies. Up to 30 students are admitted each year. During the year, the students cooperate with YWCA's and YMCA's in Norway and abroad, presenting the TEN SING method through concerts and seminars. Tuition is based in Rønningen Folk High School in Oslo.
Note: Please keep listings in alphabetical order
More are listed at the German TEN SING-Homepage.
U-sving Ullern Ten Sing, Joysing Voksen Ten Sing, Response Gjøvik Ten Sing, Sjibbolet Hauketo/Prinsdal Ten Sing, Good News Østerås Ten Sing, Avertimento Høvik Ten Sing, Synzygus Karmøy Ten Sing, Kopperud Ten Sing, De Umulige Tonsen Ten Sing, Ten Sing Tromøy, Bergen Ten Sing, Ås Ten Sing, Grimstad Ten Sing, Lier Ten Sing, Amateur Ten Sing Bærum, Appell Ten Sing Arendal, Asker Ten Sing, Crazing Ten Sing Florø, Crescendo Ten Sing Bærum, Jatsi Ten Sing Jar, Justus Ski Ten Sing, Krispo Ten Sing Sandane, Lommedalen Ten Sing Lukas Ten Sing Sotra, Løkka Ten Sing Oslo, Praising Ten Sing Hamar, Refleks Ten Sing Vonheim, Røyken Ten Sing Flambeaux, Sanctus Ten Sing Åsane, Slettebakken Ten Sing Bergen, Teasing Ten Sing Askøy, Tromsdalen Ten Sing Tromsø, Ytrebygda Ten Sing Fana, Østenstad Ten Sing Pappas Barn, Nordberg Ten Sing Oslo, Ten Sing Bømlo,