Over half of Denmark’s primary schools have adopted morning song, according to a press release from the Ministry of Culture. The initiative, launched in August of the previous year, has seen morning song introduced in 1255 schools, representing 50.2 percent of all primary schools in the country.

The project, a joint effort between Minister of Culture Jakob Engel-Schmidt and composer Phillip Faber, initially aimed to have one in four primary schools introduce morning song by the end of the school year. This goal has been exceeded.

Engel-Schmidt expressed surprise at the high adoption rate, calling the figures “uplifting.” He highlighted the benefits for children, stating that “tens of thousands of children sing together weekly, learning about Danish songs, culture, and each other’s voices.“

A dedicated fund of DKK 15 million was established to support the project, providing schools with resources such as songbooks, instruments, and training to enhance the musical abilities of teachers and educators.

The Minister emphasized the unique importance of the Danish song tradition, stating that “when we sing together, we belong together.” He added that in a rapidly changing world, passing on the gift of communal singing to children is essential.

Engel-Schmidt indicated the possibility of future projects of similar nature, given the strong engagement from folk schools, private schools and independent schools.

In addition to financial support, the project includes a team of 18 musicians, including pop star Christopher and singer Nanna Øland Fabricius (Oh Land), who are working to encourage more schools to incorporate morning song into their routines.