Music stimulates the mind, body and spirit as almost no other activity can. Music builds social capital and enriches entire communities. Yet despite worldwide research showing the many benefits of being musically active, most Australians are not music-makers. There are an estimated 5 million+ people in Australia who used to make music but no longer play. School music education is in decline with as few as 2 out of 10 government schools able to offer their students an effective music education. Music. Play for Life works to change that!

What is Music. Play for Life? 

Music. Play for Life provides information, advice and inspiration to Australians to encourage them to begin – and stick with – their music-making journey. The campaign does this across all ages, all genres of music and all levels of player, from beginner to professional. It is an initiative of the Music Council of Australia, in partnership with the Australian Music Association and the Australian Society for Music Education. 

How is it different? 

• Because it is run by Australia’s peak music body, the Music Council of Australia, it is national in scope.
• It is a not-for-profit campaign (except the rich reward of more Australians making music and actively participating in our national cultural life). 
• It is musically non-denominational. Its religion is music making - in all its forms. 
• It is not about passive listening, buying CDs or building audiences for live performances (though that will happen as a consequence of campaign successes).It’s about ACTION: starting, committing, continuing to make music.

Who is it for? 

Everyone. At any age, in any city, country town, or remote area of Australia, this campaign is for you. 

What is it fighting for? 

To make more Australians believe in the importance and benefits of active music making. 

As a priority, it seeks to instill greater confidence in music teachers, researchers, parents and other educators to talk up the power and benefit of music making in Australia’s schools. 

Put simply… 

Music. Play for Life promotes to all Australians the power of music making to enrich our lives and the lives of our community - whoever we are, wherever we are – and encourages more of us to turn that belief into action. Now and for life. 

Why Music. Play for Life is needed

Despite worldwide research showing the incomparable benefits of active music-making – physical, intellectual, social, emotional – to people at every life stage, from ‘womb to tomb’, most Australians are not active music-makers. Research shows that 75% of Australians say they would love to be involved in music-making but aren’t, because of barriers such as ease of access, perceptions of music being a ‘gift’ and a belief that music is serious and for the ‘professionals’ rather than an enjoyable recreation for anyone, whether it’s a vocation or not. 

In the same research, 87% of respondents survey agreed with this statement: "music education should be mandated by the states to ensure every child has an opportunity to study music in school". 

6000 Australians made submissions into the National Review of School Music Education – an unprecedented show of support for equal access to effective music education for every Australian child while at school. 

BUT we’re just not getting it. With a few terrific exceptions, Australian schools are not providing Aussie kids adequate access to effective music education. The primary school years are crucial, yet many primary teachers receive only 24 hours training in music teaching – that’s over a typical three year degree course! Though there are specialist music teachers at high school level, music is not a required subject in any level of the curriculum in any State or territory except NSW. 

Many people begin to sing or to play instruments as young children but as the years pass their participation declines or ceases altogether. Sure, we’re listening more. But we’re playing less than ever. Only one in three Australian households has someone who has played music, compared with one in two US households and an even higher proportion in many European countries. 

Music adds to our quality of life and provides a creative form of expression. It involves and integrates an enormous range of abilities, stimulating the mind, body and spirit as almost no other activity can. 

It helps build and strengthen our identity and self-esteem. Music making has a direct and positive effect on learning skills and is an excellent way of helping children develop confidence in group and social situations. On a broader level, music builds social capital by enriching entire communities. 

Let’s get music into the public consciousness as a must-have part of every Australian’s life. That’s what the Music. Play for Life is all about.