Original Performances - song 9 and discussion by Angela Lansbury about Songs In Sign Language copyright

 Swanwick Writers' Summer School

At The writers Summer School at Swanwick in 2024, we learned to use sign language for the lyrics.

Singn Language On Singapore Airlines

I had previously watched the sign language instructions in the corner of the security announcements on Singapore Airlines Planes. Some signs were obvious and easy. For example, take off, was a hand moving diagonally through the air, upwards.

We rehearsed it by seeing our instructor do the song once. Then we all copied her three times. After that we ran out of time.

In the evening, she first did the song by herself, singing alone to the recording. Then she did it with all of us. We repeated each sign two or three times together, half a fozen of us. Then each member of the singing group, individually.

 I really enjoyed it and so did the audience. 

Writing Songs In Sign Language

She had written her own song, with very simple sentence structure and message, something like, I love you , you love me, the more we are together, the happier we shall be. We only needed half a dozen signs, and stage movement, stepping forward, and backwards.. Arms out, beckoning, Hugging ourselves. Only two or three verses. Simple rhythm.

A novelty. Amusing. But its purpose was to involve people who are hard of hearing in singing or watching and understanding a showrt song performance. Also, a first step towards learning sign language, to show that it is fun and easy to learn some basic words.

You might want to do this as a challenge. As a novelty at an event. Or to give a performing role to somedy eho is hard of hearing. Or for an amateur singer who cannot yet sing in tune. Or to involve an elderly person at a family or group, so they don't f Or to entertain a group of people at an old people's home

Wikipedia under the website title Sign Singing, has a video of sign singing Twinle Twinkle Little Star. On the left is a harpist playing slowly. On the right is the singer wwho is singing slowly and also doing the sign language. (A bit like an Italian talking with their hands.) Twinkle is fluttering your fingertips up and down. You can imagine that up above involved your hand going up and your finger pointing. The word is drawing a circle in the air, vertically. Watch it. You'll like it and find it interesting.

It reminds you of the elements of a catchy and eternal song. 

1 Simple message. 

2 Visual message. 

3 Simile. 

4 Conversation, addressing the audience, or personification of an object or place or time or feeling, in this case talking to a star.

5 Repetition

6 Rhyme

7 Pause at the end of the line or idea, especially if it is the end of the verse, or a question.

Useful Websites For Songwriters Using Sign Language

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sign_singing

https://www.bbc.co.uk/teach/bring-the-noise/articles/z4g88xs

https://www.british-sign.co.uk/fingerspelling-alphabet-charts/