May
brings to the Music Education community a time of concerts, festivals and
report writing. It is a very busy time,
yet very rewarding time. Please remember
to take time out for yourselves and re-energise throughout the winter!
We
have received an expression of interest from Sue at Wyndam College, and comes
to the sMAG committee with a long history in music education. Having trained under the leadership of Peter
Clinch, she has gone on to have a prolific career. Currently the head of Music at Wyndam
College, we welcome her expertise onto the committee, and onto the Instrumental
Music Teacher Working Party.
Our
ENews today is a long one, with attachments, so please grab a cuppa and enjoy!
Victorian Inquiry Implementation Update
VICTORIAN MAY BUDGET
"Music should be
part of a modern curriculum, and the Budget provides $2 million to establish
quality music programs in all government schools and help students buy musical
instruments."
Education Minister James Merlino
The Andrews government
has met their election promise to provide $2M specifically towards music
education as part of their broader education package. In total $1.4 will be allocated to deliver PD
to teachers in all areas (Regional and Metropolitan) of Victoria through
Musical Futures Australia. This is
significant allocation of Professional Learning funding that connects to the
2013 Inquiry recommendations focusing on:
Recommendation 7: Developing
further education opportunities for primary classroom teachers to specialize in
music education
Recommendation 9: Delivering ongoing support and professional learning to primary
classroom teachers (in music)
Recommendation 12:
Increasing music professional
learning opportunities in rural and regional Victoria.
This significant
allocation of Professional Learning funding feeds straight into the inquiry
recommendations, and is ACTION 4 in
a long line of partnership action opportunities for the music community to
become involved in.
ACTION 4
ON May 22nd, DET
published the bulletin on Edugate with the opportunity for schools to submit an
expression of interest to the Musical Futures PD: https://edugate.eduweb.vic.gov.au/newsevents/schoolbull/Pages/Musical-Futures-Australia-Teacher-Professional-Learning-Programs-2015-2018.aspx
DET
Schools Bulletin
Musical Futures
Australia – Teacher Professional Learning Programs 2015 - 2018
Expressions
of Interest are invited from schools to participate in Musical Futures
Australia Teacher Professional Learning Programs to support the delivery of
quality music education in Victorian schools. The program is targeted at
students in years 3 to 9. Expressions of interest close Thursday, 18 June 2015. You can find further
information at http://www.musicalfuturesaustralia.org/victoria.html
A pdf document holding all the information,
guidelines and EOI forms can be emailed by request at smag.schoolmusicactiongroup@gmail.com
In addition two further
funding allocations were confirmed through the State budget. Firstly an amount of $200,000 of funding has
been approved for pre-service teacher education. This aligns with Recommendation 8: Developing an optional course in music
education for pre-service primary classroom teachers
and:
$400,000 worth of funding
has been allocated to instruments and resources. This announcement aligns to Recommendation 13: Supporting schools establish an instrumental music program
These funds have been
allocated over the period 2015- 2018
Details of the instrument funding program and pre-service teacher
professional learning programs have not yet been announced but are expected in
the coming weeks.
PREVIOUS PARTNERSHIP
ACTIONS ANNOUNCED AND IMPLEMENTED
Action 1: The VCAA is developing the
Guide and will consult on a regular basis with stakeholders. Inviting
participation, via the Notice to Schools is one consultation strategy that will
be used. Members of the education community are invited to email Helen Champion
directly, as she will hear expressions of interest to participate in
development of the guide: http://www.vcaa.vic.edu.au/Pages/correspondence/notices/2014/81.aspx
Action 2: ONLINE
NING - contributing to the professional conversation. The DET are
engaging in this NING, empowering your public voice in policy development and
are quoted here "Your engagement with, and input into the
discussions in this space will provide guidance and direction to inform the
development of policy, frameworks and advice on music education for Victorian
children and young people." Please click:http://musiceducation.ning.com/main/authorization/signUp and make your thoughts known.
Action 3: National Music Teacher Mentoring Program - Victoria. The focus -
Singing in the P - 2 space! Teachers already trained with a Bachelor of
Education, some with a music background, some with a music specialisation, a
few from the independent and Catholic school sectors all participated. Of those, 16 will be selected to mentor 2
teachers each. By the end of the year we will see around many teachers
trained to deliver singing curriculum in P- Year 2 levels. Martina
Golding attended, and provided some enthusiastic feedback: http://smag-schoolmusicactiongroup.blogspot.com.au/2015/05/national-music-mentoring-program.html
MUSIC EDUCATION SYMPOSIUMS
The
third DET sponsored Music Education Twilight Seminar will be held at Bastow
Institute of Educational Leadership on Tuesday 9 June at 5pm to 6pm
with Deborah Cheetham AO http://www.deborahcheetham.com/biography, renowned Yorta Yorta
woman, soprano, composer and educator. She will speak on the topic Empowering
young people through voice: Short Black Opera for Kids. Her work in schools mainly targets primary
students in years 4, 5 and 6, but this seminar is relevant to all arts
educators.
Empowering young
people through voice: Short Black Opera for Kids
Deborah Cheetham
Date: Tuesday 9 June 2015
Time: 5:00pm – 6:00pm
Free Admission.
Deborah Cheetham
Date: Tuesday 9 June 2015
Time: 5:00pm – 6:00pm
Free Admission.
High quality music education makes a
difference. This Music Symposium is the third in a series of seminars to
explore innovative initiatives to increase opportunities for Victorian children
and young people to participate in and experience quality music education.
In 2010, Deborah Cheetham brought together
Australia’s first classically trained Indigenous ensemble to present the world
premiere of ‘Pecan Summer’. The success of this opera led to the creation of
Short Black Opera Company, providing performance opportunities for Indigenous
singers in classical vocal music and opera.
Join this Symposium to learn about how Deborah
has transformed the lives of young indigenous school children through the power
of voice, through her creation of ‘Short Black Opera for Kids’ in regional and
rural schools. Through this initiative indigenous school children in years 4, 5
and 6 work with her to create their own choir and opera performance for their
community, ‘finding their voice’ and realising their potential.
Venue:
Bastow Institute of Educational Leadership
603-615 Queensberry St, North Melbourne: http://www.bastow.vic.edu.au/about-us/contact-us
603-615 Queensberry St, North Melbourne: http://www.bastow.vic.edu.au/about-us/contact-us
· To participate via videoconference: please contact
Michael Randall, Project Support Officer, on 9651 0248 or by email: randall.michael.mr@edumail.vic.gov.au.Melbourne
VICTORIAN REVIEWS – sMAG Submissions
VIT Permission to Teach Review (PTT)
The
sMAG IMT Working Party submitted a substantial paper to the Victorian Institute
of Teaching (VIT) Permission To Teach (PTT) review. As outlined in the April sMAG ENews, we
focused on the disparity between the definitions of a teacher, the VIT
regulations and the actual work carried out by IMTs in the workplace. We put forward a significant case for
ensemble programs to be recognised as ‘classroom teacher time’, and for IMTs to
have equal status to teaching professionals.
Further, we highlighted the benefits of regulations to allow quality
control mechanisms in HR, enabling school leaders to hire fully qualified IMTs,
and provide ongoing PD.
IMT
staff members are encouraged to speak to Marino D’Ortenzio for advice on any
employment status concerns.
VET Funding Review
The sMAG
Teacher Training Working Party submitted a substantial paper to the VET Funding
Review with a focus on Music Education.
With a premise that most VET courses are delivered in the TAFE sector, we
were led by the expertise of sMAG committee member Peter McIlwain: http://sonicdesign.com.au/. Our submission focused specifically on the
funding lag in the TAFE sector an the impact on course delivery; materials,
instruments, lecturing time allocation and expertise in the field. We outlined the need for an overarching
strategy to implement a sequential learning program from Secondary schools, to
VET courses and on to tertiary VET music delivery in TAFE institutions. We suggested that the Labor proposed
Secondary Technical Schools are a great opportunity to implement a new
sequential program for music industry training in both music performance and
audio engineering. Further, we made
suggestions that a link to any Year 9 – tertiary level training might draw
links to the Federal Report “Action Now: Classroom
Ready Teachers Report” as many graduates of TAFE music courses go on to do Dip Eds and become
music teachers. There may well be a
place for AITSL to have regulatory influence in this area.
FEDERAL
The Teacher Education Ministerial Advisory Group Report was
released on 13 February 2015: http://www.studentsfirst.gov.au/teacher-education-ministerial-advisory-group The
report “Action Now: Classroom Ready Teachers
Report” can be read online at this address.
Following sMAG’S work on a response, and attending the ACEL Q
and A with the TEMAG members and John Hattie, we have been in communication via
email with all concerned. AITSL has
responded to assure sMAG that a consultation process will be put in place to
allow stake holders a voice in the development of new processes to address the
key concerns of the report. sMAG will
continue to focus on Recommendation 18, and voice the importance of Music
Education as a field that required specialised training.
The Music Trust
Associate Professor Robin S. Stevens has published extensive
research into an overview of Tertiary
degrees towards Primary Specialist Music Teacher qualifications In Australia: http://musicinaustralia.org.au/index.php?title=Tertiary_Pre-service_Courses_for_Primary_School_Specialist_Music_Teachers
The Music Trust continue engage in lobbying at Federal
levels. We will be interested to see and
hear what implications are envisaged as a result of the recent Abbot government
budget announcements, and lend our voice to any concerns that may arise.
SPOTLIGHT ON VICTORIAN
INITIATIVES
MSO IN EDUCATION
The
Melbourne Symphony Orchestra (MSO) and ABC Splash are excited to announce a
live stream of the MSO's sold out Meet the Orchestra concert for primary school
students on Wednesday 3 June. Classrooms
around the country will be able to watch the concert in a live stream direct
from Arts Centre Melbourne, Hamer Hall, via the Splash website - the ABC's
digital education portal.
http://splash.abc.net.au/livestream/-/l/1869205/meet-the-orchestra-live-stream-
Teachers
can access the MSO's free teaching resources, prepared by concert presenter
Paul Rissmann, to prepare students for the experience and the featured audience
participation piece, H2Oz by Rissmann.
ABC
Splash is also hosting a Musical Art competition leading up to the concert.
Students are asked to create artworks to accompany selected music. The best
entries will be projected on a screen above the MSO while they perform the
music during the event.
Visit www.mso.com.au/edweek/ for more information about MSO
Education Week (1-6 June) or visit our competition page to find out more about
the competition.
SOUNDS GREAT - VICTORIAN MUSIC EDUCATION CONFERENCE
Sounds Great 2015 will be held in the
outstanding facilities of Arts Centre Melbourne. The opening keynote address
will be provided by the one and only Mr. Richard Gill, OAM ” A Happy
Country is a Singing Country “Thursday 16 July 9.00am. A focus on the National
mentoring program. Registrations for the conference are open now!
Enquiries can be directed to the Conference Secretariat at the Association of
Music Educators. info@amuse.vic.edu.au
sMAG will be holding an Open Forum at Sounds Great so
come along and be a part of the discussion.
WHAT CAN YOU DO?
Mentor
relationships are rewarding for both mentor and mentee. Across the field there are numerous graduates
coming into the music education classroom with new energy and vivacity. Some of us are closer to retirement and have
a wealth of knowledge to share! Why not
speak to your principal and/or networks and see if there is a relationship that
can be established in your local area?
The intrinsic rewards are far reaching, and may blossom ot have high
impact at this exciting time in music education.
Become your own marketing manager.
Music
Play For Life offer significant online resources to equip the local music
teacher to speak out on behalf of their own programs, and the need for Music
Education in Schools. Have a look at the
website: http://www.musicplayforlife.org/pdf/mpfl_lobby_kit.pdf and display some of the
posters, and notices throughout your school, both in print and online.
Anita
Collins has published numerous research papers, prepared Tedx Talks and now
published some infographics directed towards school leaders: Anita Collins has released
infographics aimed at school leaders about the benefits of music education.
Both educational and economical benefits are outlined. Go to http://www.anitacollinsmusic.com/infographics/ for more information. Which school leaders do you think
should see this?
Music Count Us In
Music: Count Us in (MCUI) is excited to announce the launch of its Meet Marcia competition.
Australian schools around the country have the special opportunity to meet
Marcia Hines, one of Australia’s musical icons and MCUI’s mentor by taking part
in the ‘Meet Marcia’ competition. The competition is open to all
schools that have registered for MCUI 2015.
Classes or groups are invited to submit a video performance of Marcia
Hines’ latest single Amazing. Entrants are supplied with a music
pack containing the album version of the song Amazing, the backing
instrumental track, competition guidelines and a lesson plan to teach the song
in the classroom.
On being MCUI’s 2015 mentor Marcia says, “Here’s to sharing the gift of
music and creating something very special. I look forward to our journey
together.” Entries close on June the
12th and the winner will be announced mid-June. Marcia and the MCUI team will
select the winner based on the most inventive and creative entry. The winning
school will secure a visit from Marcia Hines during term three, July 2015. Her
visit will involve a performance with the winning class or group and they will
also receive an MCUI/Marcia Hines prize pack. Don’t miss out on this unique
opportunity to meet one of Australia’s iconic music artists! To register or for
more information visit the MCUI website: http://musicaustralia.org.au/program/countusin/
ON FACEBOOK
sMAG ON FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/sMAGVic?fref=ts Yet another way to network, and share your
ideas and new finds in the music education area!
Please share our news with your
friends, and post your ideas to our Facebook page – we love hearing from the
whole community.
