Briefly describe where and when the singing schools began and how they worked

What will be an ideal response?

New England; spread south and west
began in 1720s
1760-1800: greatest activity
private venture
taught by an itinerant master
Students (most often young) enrolled by subscription.
did not always take place in a church
Singing schools were a nondenominational institution.
common schedule: two or three meetings per week for three months
Students were expected to by the master's published tunebook.
Vocalization on syllables (fa, sol, la, mi): used to teach the correct pitches
syllables mastered first; then words were added
tempos often determined by homemade pendulums
public concert or "exhibition" finished the term