October 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
Two weeks to go in Australia's biggest school music initiative.
Community music groups show off their programs in national awards.
Bushfire Appeal for musical instruments.
New discussion forum for music in the National Curriculum.
'Music. Count Us In' 2009: registrations are still coming in; the TV promo is running on Channel TEN; Radio National's Bush Telegraph program is preparing its live countdown broadcast; 2000 students in Canberra are busily rehearsing to perform the song with the federal arts Minister outside Parliament House, the Kimberley School of the Air kids are getting ready, the buses are booked for the 600 students to perform on the steps of the Sydney Opera House, plans are in full swing for a music extravaganza at Federation Square in Melbourne, politicians in Darwin are learning the words...what is your school doing for Australia's biggest ever school music initiative?! Send us news and a photo. If you're not in the mix yet, it's not too late! Register at www.musiccountusin.org.au and join the national celebrations that put school music education in the headlines!
Music in Communities Awards 2009
170 community music groups have entered the Music in Communities Awards 2009, keen to show off the ways in which their programs contribute to the wellbeing of their communities. Together the entrants represent choirs, town bands and orchestras, drum circles, ukulele groups, jam nights as well as inspiring programs for disadvantaged young people, isolated rural communities and people with disabilities. Stand by for news about the shortlisted finalists. Congratulations to all entrants.
The Resound Bushfire Appeal matches pledged musical instruments with those who lost instruments in the February 2009 Victorian bushfires. To date Resound has delivered $32000 worth of instruments. More are needed... in particular guitars, amps, drumkits, keyboards. If you have an instrument that could be pledged for donation, please go to www.mca.org.au/resoundbushfireappeal and follow the links to the pledge form. Thank you for your support.
New discussion forum for music in the National Curriculum
YOUR CONCERNS ABOUT MUSIC AND THE NATIONAL CURRICULUM is a discussion blog now posted on the MCA website. It looks into the recent history and then discusses the advocacy approaches that could get us a strong music curriculum along with government funds to pay for trained music teachers. There is a place for you and your colleagues to add your comments and debate the best way forward. Go to www.mca.org.au. At the top left of the screen is an UPDATES box, Click on the Music and the National Curriculum item and go straight through to the blog.
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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