August 2009
Welcome to the Music. Play for Life campaign newsletter, issued to campaign supporters on a regular basis to bring new achievements, updates and stories from around the country. More about the campaign at www.musicplayforlife.org
In this Issue
Flame Awards finalists announced
$20,000 prize pool and Community Wellbeing theme in this year's Music in Communities Awards
New appointments for two high-profile community music advocates
New network uncovers priority issues for community music groups
600 schools so far signed up to be counted in!
176 entries were received from schools all over Australia in this year’s Flame Awards, keen to show how their singing programs permeate the life of their school communities. As in previous years, the Flames cover a broad cross section of school types, from well-resourced metropolitan secondary schools to tiny rural primary schools. Common to many this year is the passionate belief that music can have flow-on benefits to students and school life beyond the pleasure of musical experience. The entries have been shortlisted by a panel is South Australia, led by Suzanne Rogers, manager of the SA Primary Schools Music Festivall and a national committee member of ASME. Congratulations to the 38 shortlisted finalist schools. They now move to the National Judging phase.
Here’s a snippet from two of the finalists, Sandgate State School in Brisbane and MLC in Sydney.
“I am really glad I joined a Sandgate State School Choir, it really changed my life. And all that you require - A sense of humour, a friendly smile and then you’re talking Sandgate Style.” Caitlin, year 6, Sandgate State School, QLD
“The core focus of the music programme is that every girl from K-12 is involved in a special project that involves singing. Singing at a high and disciplined level is the focus, whether in a massed choir or smaller groups. Students leave school with a rich heritage of singing and a love of music that remains with them for life.” MLC, Sydney, NSW
The national winners will be announced next month! You can view the list of finalists here.
Music in Communities Awards 2009
The theme for this year’s awards is Community Wellbeing: How does being musically active improve life in YOUR community? To enter the awards go to our website.
The Beecroft Orchestra has already made its submission:
“The Beecroft Orchestra makes a difference to its members, whose lives are brightened by the regular rehearsals and the regular concerts. The members who work as doctors and scientists say that their work is important and stressful and rewarding, but that playing music at rehearsals and concerts brings a different sort of magic into their lives.”
To all those community music groups out there – you could win a share of $20,000 for your group!!
The closing date for the Music in Communities Awards 2009 is 21st September (extended due to your many pleas!)
All the details are at www.musicincommunities.org.au
Congratulations on new appointments to two stalwarts of Australia’s musical life, each with an active commitment to encouraging community music-making.
MCA councillor, Professor Huib Schippers, has recently been appointed to head the Queensland Conservatorium.
"Music will always play a key role in people lives so we must guide the development of young musicians with the depth, breadth and skills needed to engage successfully with our rapidly changing world and its audiences," said Professor Schippers, with his new Director’s hat on.
A bouquet, too, for Lyndon Terracini who was recently named Opera Australia’s Artistic Director. He kicks off in the role in October.
Huib is Deputy Chair of MCA and has a strong interest in community music.
Lyndon is a former MCA Councillor and built the extraordinary community music activities across the state as Director of the Queensland Music Festival.
And still on music in our communities: what do you want the new Music in Communities Network to do for you? If you have ideas, we want to know! Eve Klein, who counts opera singing as one of her many passions, has joined MPFL HQ as new Network coordinator. She has hit the phones to current Network members to find out what they’re doing, what issues are important and what services would be most useful to offer under the Network banner.
"What has been emerging for me is an astounding diversity of community music projects,” she says. “Music in Communities
Network members are running choirs and bands with people of
all ages and abilities, mentoring emerging singer-songwriters, teaching music production in remote communities via the internet, initiating recording programs in low socio-economic communities and generally making a whole lot of music!"
The conversations so far have revealed a great need for resource lists, says Eve. Lists of repertoire that's playable and singable by mixed ability groups, lists of who's out there in the community and what kinds of music they are supporting, lists of venues, organisations and people willing to assist with community music projects and more. Our members want to know what other groups are doing, are interested in collaborations with other groups, and are interested in seeing videos of the results. Universally, community group management issues are important, especially the minefields of liability and insurance, and problems communicating effectively with local councils.
"I’m busily working on developing web resources that will fill some of these needs, beginning with an online community music handbook and a community music blog. The goal is to continue talking within the MICN so that we can gradually build up services, resources and a vibrant network space"
If you would like to contribute to the conversation and haven't been contacted yet, please call Eve on: 02 4787 8742. Want to join the Network and be part of this Australia-wide conversation? Go to www.musicincommunities.org.au
Join the song that stops Australia!
At time of writing, more than 600 schools have already registered to take part in this year’s Music. Count Us In on October 22nd. How about you?
Registered schools are already providing fantastic feedback about how they're getting behind the program:
"Our children LOVE the song, they agree that 'Music is Everything'; we've talked about how Music is Maths, Music is English, Music is History..." Annette Castles, Music Specialist, Boisdale Primary School, VIC
"I have attached an MP3 recording of my Year 9 class (no teacher playing - 22 students) playing "The Music is Everything" - we got to the end for the first time today and even negotiated the key change! Fairvale Primary (whole school 500+ students) are also learning the song through their RFF music staff member and our 200 Year 7s are well underway as part of their class music program. The only issue will be sorting out the logistics of getting hundreds of students together when we visit the Primary School on October 22." Greg Thwaites, Head Teacher Performing Arts, Fairvale High School, NSW
Click here to listen to Fairvale High’s Year 9 instrumental recording.
Visit www.musicountusin.org.au to register and help create a nationwide celebration of the importance of music education in school education. Don’t forget everything is free!
Did you know that last year’s ‘Music. Count Us In’ achieved over 50 million media impressions for music education? That’s a lot of community discussion about the important of school music, in newspapers, radio and TV shows all over the nation.
AMAC – Music Educators’ Day
The song – "The Music is Everything" was showcased at this year’s Australian Music Association Conference “Music Educators’ Day” at the Gold Coast this week. Music teacher and the national professional development consultant for this year’s online professional learning materials, Debbie O’Shea, led 100 QLD teachers through the song in her inimitable, high octane fashion!
If you want some professional development where you are, contact campaign HQ and we’ll put you in touch with the PD providers in your State or Territory. admin.mpfl@mca.org.au
Music. Play for Life
Tel: 02 4454 3887
admin.mpfl@mca.org.au
www.musicplayforlife.org
‘Music. Play for Life’, the Music Council of Australia’s grassroots campaign to get more Australians making music: in schools, communities, everywhere.
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