Music in schools
MUSIC EDUCATION IN AUSTRALIAN SCHOOLS
This opinion piece by the Music Council of Australia executive director, Richard Letts, ran in the Weekend Australian, 27-28 October 2012, on the eve of Music: Count Us In 2012. It draws on research into music benefits, compares music education provision and teacher training in Australia with top PISA countries and calls on governments to make school music education a higher priority in Australian schools. Read it here.
GONSKI REPORT
Commissioned by the Federal Government to head an extensive review of the way in which schools are funded in Australia, David Gonski's much anticipated report was released in March. Its release was overshadowed at the time by the Gillard/Rudd leadership ballot...but now it's back in the spotlight. The keyword in Gonski's report is 'inequity'. School education in Australia entrenches disadvantage. As music campaigners, we know all about that: music is one of poorest-served subjects in most government schools, particularly in government primary schools. MCA research shows that, overall around Australia, just 23% of government schools are able to provide students a meaningful music education, compared with 88% of private schools. Gonski says the school sector needs an extra $5 billion. Read the report here. Federal Education Minister, Peter Garrett, agrees the current school funding systems is "not transparent, it is not efficient and it isn't fair" more, but is promising no extra spending. Where to from here?
SONG ROOM RESEARCH -
Bridging the Gap in School Achievement through the Arts
The impact of arts-based programs on disadvantaged children's school attendance, academic achievement and soical/emotional wellbeing. Link to the Song Room site and download the report.
SCHOOLS TRANSFORM WITH ARTS EDUCATION
Read education researchers, Brian Caldwell and Tanya Vaughan's book - 'Transforming Education Through the Arts'. Read more.
CALL TO ACTION
An open letter by Dr Richard Letts, Executive Director of the MCA, summarising the current situation of music education in our schools. Read letter here.
MusicEducation.edu.au
This Music Council of Australia web portal is designed to support teachers in teaching music to students at all school levels from early childhood through to high school graduation. It will also assist music education researchers, university music education lecturers, school principals and others. It enables you to find high quality Australian and international music education resources through a rich, searchable database. More Read more.
RADIO NATIONAL'S BACKGROUND BRIEFING - SCHOOL MUSIC ECUCATION
The transcript is now available of Radio National's Background Briefing on school music education. The program, which aired for the first time last Sunday, comprises 50 stellar minutes in which Stephen Crittenden brilliantly presents the arguments about the importance of music education for EVERY child in school and the facts about the inequities and inadequacies of its provision in Australia.
Read the transcript here.
YOUTH RESEARCH CENTRE
The YRC at Melbourne University has produced a number of youth-related studies with projects focusing on middle schooling years through to young adulthood. It's not music specific, but it's really useful stuff! Read more.
TOP TEN FACTS ABOUT MUSIC
Music education helps develop students' intellectual and emotional lives in a way no other subject can match. It helps students engage with school, creates good citizens and even helps them progress in other important learning areas such as maths and English. Download this one-page information sheet to find out more.
SCHOOL LOBBY KIT
Need help to convince your school that music education is important? Download the advocacy kit. The intention of the kit is to provide arguments and methods for school parents and school music teachers to establish music programs in schools where there are none, and gain greater support for music programs in schools where they already exist.
The kit is in PDF format (Portable Document Format) and contains links within the document to access different areas of interest. Adobe Acrobat PDF reader is required to view this kit. Downdload the Music Education Advocacy Kit.
BUILDING THE EDUCATION REVOLUTION
Your school's music program, current or future, could be eligible for a significant government-funded boost. How? Through the Australian Government’s $14.7 billion school infrastructure program, “Building the Education Revolution”. Find out how to access the money and make your school’s new or upgraded buildings music-read. Download the Make Music Matter pdf.
NATIONAL REVIEW - THE CASE FOR SCHOOL MUSIC
Write to your MP: make music part of the education revolution!
Tell your MP you value music education for ALL Australian schoolchildren, particularly in our primary schools. All Members' email addresses are at www.aph.gov.au and click on 'Who's Who'
There has been an excellent National Review of School Music Education (read more about this below), recommendations about how to implement it (the National Music Workshop) but SO FAR Federal and State governments have been slow to act. The February 2008 Cultural Ministers Council (a meeting of the relevant States and Commonwealth ministers) promised a focus on arts education with music 'an initial focus.' In April 2009, State and Federal Education Ministers agreed to include Arts education, including music, in plans for the proposed National Curriculum. But, as yet, there have been no follow-up announcements about policies, strategies or funding.
Why is music education in schools important?
Because, aside from the sheer pleasure of making music together, there are established links between music learning and improved academic and social outcomes in children. Yet most Aussie kids are missing out on the many benefits of music education in school. As few as 23% of State schools are able to provide their students an effective education. In the private system, it's closer to 88%! Music in schools fails the fairness test! Lobby for change! Use the resources, research and lobby kit to affect change. If you need more help, contact campaign HQ and we'll assist you. Email us now! This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Seares Report ("Augmenting the Diminished")
This is an excellent blueprint for stemming the decline in the status and provision of music education in Australia's schools. Released in November 2005, this federally-funded report follows a comprehensive national review into school music education. The review invited submissions from the public. There were a record 6000 received, partly due to a successful lobbying effort from Music. Play for Life supporters. This is an unprecedented public response to a national enquiry and demonstrates the passionate support in the Australian community for ALL Australian schoolchildren having the opportunity to learn music at school. Download the report here
National Music Workshop
As part of the then Federal government's initial response to the Seares Report, a National Music Workshop was convened in Melbourne, in August 2006. It brought together 170 key people involved in music education to come up with an action plan for implementing the report's recommendations. The National Music Workshop report can be Read more.
International Research
International round-up
There are many sources of information on the nature and extent of music making around the world. If you’d like some help to find them, please contact campaign HQ for help in narrowing your search, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
The International Music Council (IMC) is a global network of expert organisations and individuals working in the field of music. Founded in 1949 by UNESCO, IMC is mandated to promote musical diversity and support cultural rights for all. The IMC’s current President is Dr Richard Letts, executive director of the Music Council of Australia.
You can subscribe to the IMC’s regular news bulletins here:
NAMM Foundation, the research arm of the International Music Products Association, funds and promotes a broad range of research into active music making, across the lifespan.
http://www.nammfoundation.org/
Visit US-based MENC for research abstracts and archives on a broad range of music education issues.
http://www.menc.org/research.html
The International Society for Music Education, ISME, has various special-interest commissions, including for early childhood, advocacy, community music and special education. Check out their research here.
The Society for the Arts in Healthcare is a good source of research into the links between the arts, generally, and health.
http://www.thesah.org/template/page.cfm?page_id=33
British organisation, Future of Music Coalition, has lots of employment-and-conditions research into the impact of particular British and international policies on UK musicians’ livelihoods.
Seven inspiring case studies highlight the work of music therapists. Read and download at the Making Music Being Well website. More
Join Australia’s first national community music network. Skill-up and learn from the experts.
