Virtual
Carol Card
Song Writing Challenge
Teacher Information Pack
Introduction
Gateshead Music Service is delighted to launch the Virtual Carol Card song writing Challenge 2026.
We are inviting children and young people across Gateshead to write the lyrics for a brand-new winter song that will become the official song for this year's Virtual Carol Card.
The winning lyrics will be developed into a professionally arranged and recorded song by Gateshead Music Hub. Every school will then have the opportunity to learn, perform and record the song as part of the borough-wide Virtual Carol Card project.
Video submissions for the Virtual Carol Card project will also be used to select schools to represent Gateshead at the North East Choir Competition at The Glasshouse.
This project celebrates creativity, inclusion, literacy, music and pupil voice while creating something that can be shared by schools across the borough.
Competition Aim
To give children and young people the opportunity to:
Develop lyric writing skills
Express their ideas creatively
Celebrate winter, community and belonging
Contribute to a borough-wide music project
See their work transformed into a professionally produced song
Competition Rules
Entries must include:
✅ Three verses
✅ One chorus
✅ Original lyrics
✅ Appropriate language
✅ Suitable for children and young people to sing
Suggested Structure
Verse 1 Introduce the theme.
Chorus A memorable section everyone can sing.
Verse 2 Develop the message.
Chorus
Verse 3 End with a positive and hopeful idea.
Final Chorus
Eligibility
Open to all:
Gateshead Primary Schools
Gateshead Secondary Schools
Special Schools
Alternative Provision Settings
Schools may submit:
Individual entries
Small group entries
Class entries
Choir entries
Whole-school collaborative entries
Maximum of three entries per school.
Entries should be emailed to: robkitchen@gateshead.gov.uk
Word document with name of school, group/individual, contact email, song lyrics.
Competition Timeline
Date Activity
Friday 23rd October Song writing competition closes
26th October to 5 November Judging and song production
Friday 6th November Learning resources released
Thursday 4th December Virtual Carol Card video deadline
Monday 14th December Virtual Carol Card launch
Monday 14th December Gateshead schools selected for North East Choir Competition
Teacher Guidance - Suggested Lesson Sequence
Part 1: Exploring Winter Songs
Listen to a range of winter and festive songs. Use the links to discover popular winter and Christmas songs.
Discuss:
What makes lyrics memorable?
What messages do the songs communicate?
Which phrases are easy to sing together?
Activities:
Highlight rhyming words.
Identify repeated phrases.
Explore imagery and descriptive language.
Part 2: Generating Ideas
Create word banks around:
Winter weather
Community
Gateshead landmarks
Celebrations
Feelings
Hopes for the future
Use mind maps and group discussion.
Part 3: Writing a Chorus
Focus on creating:
A memorable hook
A repeating phrase
A positive message
Encourage pupils to write a chorus first.
Chorus Writing Tips
A great chorus is memorable, easy to sing, and paints a picture in the listener's mind. Try using some of these techniques:
Imagery
Use words that help people imagine a scene.
Example: "Walking in a winter wonderland"
(Winter Wonderland)
Creates a clear picture of a snowy winter landscape.
Metaphor
Describe something by saying it is something else.
Example: "A light in the darkness"
Many Christmas and winter songs use light as a metaphor for hope, kindness, or togetherness.
Alliteration
Use several words that begin with the same sound.
Frosty forest
Shining snowflakes
Winter winds
Alliteration makes lyrics fun to sing and easy to remember.
Simile
Compare two things using like or as.
"Sparkling like the stars above"
Winter songs often compare snow, lights, or hope to stars, diamonds, or sunshine.
Rhyme
Use words that sound similar at the end of a line.
Bright tonight
Snow will glow
Rhymes help a chorus feel catchy and memorable.
Part 4: Writing Verses
Challenge pupils to:
Tell a story
Build upon ideas from the chorus
Use descriptive language
Ideally, 3 verses.
Part 5: Editing and Refining
Review:
Clarity
Repetition
Length
Singability - sometimes we need fewer syllables and sometimes we need more syllables. Also so letter sounds are better in the middle of song lines and some are better at the end.
Read lyrics aloud and test whether they are easy to perform.
