FAQ

On this page you will find all the information you need to register an activity.

Yes, registering an activity is completely free.

Of course! As long as there is an element of singing together where the audience or participants can actively participate.

No, that is not what Start to Sing is for. Only in the case of an 'open rehearsal' or a one-time workshop, open night or sing-along activity you can register a rehearsal.

No, this is not what Start to Sing is for. The only concerts we accept are sing-along concerts, where participants can actively participate. We only accept active singing activities. Think of workshops, open (choir) rehearsals, singing get-togethers, (trial) singing lessons, a sing-along...

Yes, this is possible. The same applies to this as with other choirs: organize an open rehearsal, in which you recruit members and register this open rehearsal on Start to Sing. Exception: Short-term project choirs with only a few (1-3) rehearsals or multi-day singing workshops that take place in the Netherlands can be registered without a separate open rehearsal.

Yes, you can! As long as participants can sing with you during your online activity.

Although Start to Sing stimulates physical meetings between people, an online activity can lower the threshold for some people.

In the registration form you will find a 'slider' to indicate that it is an online activity. Then the obligation to fill in a physical address disappears. Instead, you will be given the option to fill in a video link to your activity. This is not mandatory. Do you want insight into who comes to your online activity in advance? Then ask people to register with you in advance. This can be done in the registration form in the field 'How & where to book and pay?'. Then, send your video link only to those who sign up with you.

Yes, you can. For this purpose, we have the 'Duplicate activity' button. This applies, for example, to open singing activities that recur regularly or are organized at a different location. It is also possible that your choir organizes a few open rehearsals during the year. It is important for placement of these activities that each of the activities is open to new participants who can sing along.

Please note! You won't get a link to the duplicate button. You will only see that button once each time you save the registration form. If you interrupt the duplication process, you first create a new activity. Then duplicate further.

It is not possible to assign multiple locations to an activity. Do you organize the same activity in different places? Create a separate activity for each location. To do this, use the 'Duplicate activity' button that appears once after you have saved your registration form and adjust the location in the copy. For further explanation, see also the previous question.

Your application will first be assessed by Start to Sing before we publish it. This generally takes a maximum of a few working days. Your activity will then either be posted, rejected, or we will ask you to make some adjustments. You will receive a message by e-mail. Also look in the FAQ under "What requirements does my activity have to meet?" Based on this, you can check for yourself whether your activity fits within the criteria of Start to Sing.

As soon as your activity has been accepted, we will publish it on the website.

You will receive a confirmation of this via the e-mail address you have provided. There is a link in it with which you can edit your activity. Are you running into any issues? Send us a message on info@start-to-sing.nl, we will be happy to help you implement the changes.

As soon as your activity has been accepted, we will publish it on the website. You will receive a confirmation of this via the e-mail address you have provided. There is a link in it that allows you to delete your activity. Running into some issues? Send us a message on info@start-to-sing.nl, we will be happy to help.

To make this week as successful as possible, we have put together a campaign kit. In this kit, you'll find templates for a poster, flyer, social media posts, and more. With this kit you can easily promote your activity. You can find the campaign kit on this page.

For everyone – with or without singing experience – who:

• loves singing together
• is curious about singing together and/or wants to know what it is like to sing in a choir
• used to sing in the past but has been out for a while
• thinks they can't sing
• finds singing exciting and wants to embark on a new adventure
• wants to try out a different music genre
• would like to meet other people
• etc.!

All parties that organize activities in which others can sing together and/or sing along.

This can range from:

• amateur to professional choirs
• informal singing groups or ensembles
• singing clubs of friends
• singing teachers to (singing) workshop leaders
• organizers of sing-alongs and sing-along concerts
• conductors
• theaters and other venues
• organizations in the social sector or healthcare
• community centers and cultural centers
• cultural coaches
• companies and other commercial parties
• nursing and care homes
• asylum seeker centers
• schools
• churches and other religious institutions
• etc...

This is what we look for:

• The activity offers third parties the opportunity to experience ‘singing together’.
• The activity is not a concert or performance, unless it is an explicitly sing-along concert.
• Choirs that only wish to present their repertoire during an ‘open rehearsal’—preferably not a ‘sing-along moment’—can indicate this in the description of their activity.
• An open rehearsal may be aimed at recruiting members, but it does not have to be. Make it clear in the description of your activity whether you are open to members or not (you might even have a waiting list).
• The activity is low-threshold (e.g., there is no audition).
• The activity may be offered for a fee. Consider a discount as part of the campaign week.

Start to Sing promotes inclusion and accessibility. Therefore, we invite providers to take this into account when registering their activity. Look here for more information about the accessibility of your activity.

• Preferably, offer an activity that takes place during the campaign week, from September 19 to 27, 2026.
• You may submit activities throughout the year. The date of execution is also not limited to the campaign week itself.
• Only fully completed application forms (at least the mandatory fields) will be considered.
• Your application will first be reviewed by Start to Sing before it appears on the site. This generally takes a maximum of a few working days. Subsequently, your activity will either be posted, rejected, or we will ask you to make some adjustments. You will receive notification of this.
• Start to Sing reserves the right to reject or remove the application.

• On this platform, your group singing activities will be given a visible spot with national, regional, and local attention. Additionally, we use our social media channels for promotion.
• In the run-up to the campaign week, we will be drawing attention to Start to Sing during various events, including via flyers with a QR code to start-to-sing.nl, as well as banners, flags, and presentations. Do you have an event where you would like to give us the opportunity to shout Start to Sing from the rooftops? Then send a message via the contact form or via info@start-to-sing.nl.
• Initiator Koornetwerk Nederland has many members and partners with a broad network in the Dutch singing community. Through their websites and newsletters, as well as those of their supporters, we regularly post messages about activities, genres, providers, etc.
• We also promote Start to Sing through the networks of our collaborating partners.
• Our campaign kit is available for all these parties and for you.

• Post a news item and calendar entry on your website and social media channels. Create your own version or use the message template from the campaign kit.
• Create a flyer or use the flyer template and distribute it at places where your target audience can be found. Think, for example, of libraries, community centers, health centers, theaters, hospitality venues, etc.
• Ask the members of your group to also generate attention using the chosen promotional material.
• Involve your neighborhood: Ask your neighborhood association and/or rehearsal location if they would like to share your message on their website and social media channels and/or place the flyer there.
• Use neighborhood apps such as Hoplr, Nextdoor, and WhatsApp groups and invite your neighbors to come to the open rehearsal.

At Start to Sing, everyone is welcome to sing! Accessibility means that we try to ensure that everyone can participate physically, mentally, and financially. With this field in the registration form, you help potential singers assess whether your activity fits their needs.

When filling it out, consider the following categories:

1. Physical accessibility
2. Sensory friendliness
3. Financial and social accessibility
4. Experience and target group
5. Cultural diversity and representation

You can read more about this in the following questions. You do not have to mention everything. Sometimes it can also help participants if you are clear about what you CANNOT offer. Choose what feels most relevant to you. This overview is for inspiration.

Physical accessibility means that the location is easy for everyone to reach and use, and that you take into account the needs of the visually and hearing impaired.

For example, report on:

• Wheelchair accessibility: Is the location on one level, are there thresholds, is there an elevator or a ramp, and is an accessible toilet available?
• Seating: Is there standing all the time, or are there (sufficient) chairs available for people with mobility issues?
• Getting there: Is there a parking space for people with reduced mobility nearby, or does public transport stop right outside the door?
• Sheet music/Lyrics: Is the text available digitally in advance (useful for software for the visually impaired) or is there text with extra-large letters available?
• Induction loop/Sign language interpreter: Is an induction loop available in the room? Or is there someone who can translate for the deaf and hearing impaired?
  

Singing is intensive and can be overwhelming. What can participants expect?

• Stimuli: Is it a very large, echoing room with a lot of loud noise (e.g., a pop choir with amplification), or rather a quiet, intimate setting?
• Relaxation area: Is there a place where someone can withdraw for a moment if it becomes too much?

Are there any barriers regarding money or language?

• Costs: Is the activity free? If not, do you work with, for example, a Regiopas, Stadspas, or a pay-what-you-can principle?
• Language: Is the language of instruction Dutch, or is knowledge of the Dutch language not required (for example, because the singing is in sounds or English)? Is an interpreter (e.g. sign language) present?

Do participants need to be very good singers to participate?

• Experience: Is the ability to read sheet music or singing experience required, or is the activity explicitly also for absolute beginners or people who think they cannot sing?
• Target group: Is the activity open to all ages and backgrounds, or does it focus on a specific group (e.g., young people, seniors, or people with dementia)?

Music connects people and cultures, but sometimes unwritten rules or traditions can form a barrier. Simply mentioning that your activity is open to singers of *all* cultural backgrounds and that there is room for everyone's individuality can be the deciding factor for someone to take the plunge.

• Repertoire: Which musical styles are sung? Is the repertoire broad and international, or do you also sing songs from specific non-Western cultures? Is practice done on the correct pronunciation of lyrics in other languages?
• Representation and atmosphere: Does your activity take place in a culturally sensitive and inclusive environment where everyone is respected?
• Clothing requirements or dress code: Is there room at your activity for traditional or religious clothing (such as a headscarf or turban), or are there strict dress rules that unintentionally exclude people?
• Hospitality and catering: If food or drinks are offered (for example, during a workshop or break), have halal, kosher, vegetarian, and non-alcoholic options been considered?