Tuesday, January 16, 2018

sMAG Summer ENews

With a New Year sMAG extends good wishes to everyone, and the hope that everyone in the community has benefited from a well-earned break. We expect and hope of strong movement forward in our sector in 2018.

Our collective work is not done! We would say that after a four-year journey towards implementing the 17 recommendations from the Victorian Inquiry into the Extent, Benefits and Potential of Music Education (2013), we are just under half way towards achieving the aspirations. When every child, in every school has dedicated and protected time undertaking music education, delivered by an expertly trained teacher, with a sequential, continuous and developmental curriculum in Victoria, then we can say ‘Tools Down’. Not before.

Music Education Expert Reference Group
We look forward to MEERG meeting in Term 1, 2018. We are keen to see work started in 2015/16 completed and published. Substantive work around the VCAA Music Education Guide, and the Melbourne University Quality Music Education Framework has occurred over these years. We look forward to hearing about a date for publication. We also look forward to continued discussions around the SIMP and tertiary sector. Agenda items such as these would contribute towards fulfilling key inquiry recommendations and the vision for The Arts as communicated in The Education State white paper.

sMAG VISION 2018

sMAG vision and aspirations for 2018 need to centre around improvement in tertiary music specialism delivery; rural and regional music education delivery; and continued improvement to the Secondary Instrumental Music Program (SIMP). Furthermore, this is an election year! We all need to be equipped to lobby local MPs in time for the May budget and again for the November election.

To support the 2018 vision, we are planning events to optimize the vision and engage all Music Educators in the conversation and actions.

sMAG Events 2018.

EVENT: PUBLIC FORUM.
  • Victorian Government May Budget;
·      Tertiary Music Education;
·      Rural and Regional Delivery;
·      SIMP.

March 16th - 4.30pm start.

Deakin University, Geelong,
Corporate City Centre on the Water Front,
Address: 1 Gheringhap St, Geelong VIC 3220.
L3, 4th Floor, Sally Walker Building,
Geelong, Victoria 3220.

I extend my thanks to Fiona Phillips who has secured a space at Deakin Geelong for our forum focusing on lobbying towards the May budget.

The room seats around 40 with beautiful views of Corio Bay once the presentation is completed. You can access floor plans and other information at this address http://www.deakin.edu.au/locations/deakin-corporate-centres/geelong-corporate-centre. Please RSVP to smag.schoolmusicactiongroup@gmail.com

FUTURE EVENT: PUBLIC FORUM – ELECTION.
Future date: June/July
Details TBA.

EVENT: AUSTRALIAN MUSIC VAULT.


The Australian Music Vault has opened at The Arts Centre - 100 St Kilda Road, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia 3004.
A tremendous resource for any music teacher, it is dedicated to exploring the history of Australian music.
A venue that may be great for excursions into the future.
Let's check it out together and see/hear the benefits.
Free.
No tickets required. Partners welcome - have not made inquiries about children, it's up to you.

Tuesday, January 23 2018, at 1 PM - 3 PM.

We will meet outside the Arts Centre between 12.50 pm, and 1.00 pm and explore together.  As investment is made into our sector, and associated sectors, we can all benefit. I have set up a Facebook page, so please log on if you use social media: https://www.facebook.com/events/2093213260913990/

SIMP
sMAG Vic has focused significant attention towards the Secondary Instrumental Music Program (SIMP) in 2017. The new Permission to Teach (PTT) policy came into effect on October 1, 2017. The policy is publicly available on the VIT website: http://www.vit.vic.edu.au/news/news/2017/permission-to-teach-policy-changes.

We welcome the clarity the document brings around the definition of a teacher according to the Act of 2006:

“Central to the 2017 PTT policy is the principle that whenever a person is undertaking the duties of a teacher - such as delivering the curriculum, assessing student outcomes in an educational program and being responsible for a class - then that individual must hold teacher registration or permission to teach”.

We have continued the conversations with the VIT and the AEU around the interpretation of the new policy. We anticipate the work will continue into 2018; and continue to be somewhat intensive.. Should anyone have concerns with any SIMP position employment conditions, we advise you bring the conversation to the attention of Erin Aulich at the AEU: Erin.Aulich@aeuvic.asn.au.

What you can do (Repeated from 2017).
All Music teachers, and particularly IMTs, are acutely aware of how intrinsic classroom, Instrumental lessons and ensemble pedagogy all intertwine and are essential to delivering the Victorian Curriculum, VCE or IB outcomes. As a community of practice, we need to be able to articulate this clearly in every local school setting.
A few key phrases to embed in professional lives and documentation may be;
·       Instrumental lessons and ensemble delivery are intrinsic in delivering outcomes against the school’s approved curriculum (VicCurr, IB, VCE etc).
·       Instrumental teachers and ensemble directors report against the standards stated in the approved curriculum, keeping accurate records of evidence and data.
·       Instrumental teachers and ensemble directors document curriculum across The ARTs domain as required by the approved curriculum.
·       Instrumental teachers and ensemble directors meet with their Head of Music or upline managers to provide evidence of their documentation and student progress.
·       IMTs and ensemble directors set aside time for professional meetings with their faculty to ensure curriculum delivery is meeting the requirements of the approved curriculum.

VICTORIAN JOBS.
With the roll out of Victorian government targets for improvement in Music outcomes, we see jobs. Let friends know about the listings at Recruitment Online, and let's get some music happening! From time to time, I publish job openings on the sMAG Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/sMAGVic/



sMAG FACEBOOK GROUP.
Networking and supporting one another on Facebook provides for rich sharing at times.  Please join the group, and join the conversations: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1101931139911842/

Federal Delegation.

Music Australia recently organised a Federal trip to advocate for Music Education on a National level. We supported the Music Australia Federal efforts by writing letters of support.

Letters highlighted our support of the recent delegation, the challenges faced in delivery, and the strategic outcomes required to reach every child in every State in Music around the goals as outlined in the TEMAG report Recommendation 18; https://www.education.gov.au/news/teacher-education-ministerial-advisory-group-report-released. While Music is not listed as a specialism, it is not excluded from the conversation. Federal legislation covers Initial Teacher Education (undergraduate teacher training). We need tertiary institutions to provide specialism training in Music so that a high quality sequential, continuous and developmental music education can be delivered to all Australian children, by an expertly trained teacher.

I am pleased to report that we received a reply from Tanya Plibersek, shadow MP for Education. Within her reply, she provides a reassurance:

I can assure you this (Music Education) is an area my office will continue to take a keen interest in as we develop our education policies going forward.

It’s not too late to write. Please write to your local Federal member and the Hon. Simon Birmingham - Education MP. https://www.senatorbirmingham.com.au/contact/. I have published a video outlining how necessary it is to write to MPs on the sMAG Victoria Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/sMAGVic/.

Please look at the Music Australia PDF and phrase your thoughts around the key points: http://musicaustralia.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Australian-Music-Education-Status-Priorities.pdf


Enjoy the year everyone! I look forward to meeting some of you at the various events planned for the year.