It’s
a new day! Transformational change,
incorporating a vision to include Music in as many educational settings as
possible, has been led by the Victorian State government, adopted by Victorian
DET, and consulted upon widely.
Opera was playing as I walked through the beautiful
hothouse in the Fitzroy Gardens after meeting with the Music Education Expert
Reference Group at Treasury Place with Victorian DET and other stakeholders who
believe in the vision of bringing as much music education to as many children
in Victorian schools and educational settings as possible ...what joy!
VICTORIA - The Education
State – Including Music
The Andrews government’s vision and financial
commitments, as led by the Hon. James Merlino MP, to The Education State within
the launch paper asserts transformational change is ahead. http://www.education.vic.gov.au/Documents/about/educationstate/launch.pdf .
We wrote to the Hon. James Merlino MP for
Education, commending him on the clear aspiration towards equity across the
State, and for the reforms as outlined in our September ENews. In consultation with DET we can be assured
that many initiatives
for furthering music education
provisions as recommended by the Victorian Inquiry into the Extent,
Benefits and Potential of Music Education are being incorporated into the
overarching Education State delivery including:
· Accountability processes
to ensure the new Education State measures are implemented (including Music)
· Formal analysis in an
overarching, Statewide manner to measure success at strategic timely intervals
(including reforms in Music).
The clear aspiration towards equity across
the State is to be highly commended. Of
particular importance to the music education community is the clear commitment
to The Arts and particularly Music, which is stated with such
intention on page
14 of The Education State Launch document. This is greatly welcomed!!!
Quote directly from the document:
“Over the next 10 years, more Victorian students will reach the highest
levels of achievement in the arts.”
The
VCAA have published a call for specialist mentors to meet the points below from
The Education State document:
·
The “$21.6
million to make sure our teachers and schools are supported to implement the new curriculum.” Including Music.
·
The professional learning program that “will develop best practice specialist curriculum programs
in areas including STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics),
digital coding, early years literacy, critical thinking, music and financial
literacy.”
· That the professional
learning program in each named targeted subject, including Music, will be led by an expert teacher
Principals
around the state would have received the VCAA notice. Please ask your principal or visit the VCAA
website for the details. Expressions Of
Interest close on November 10, 2015.
Clearly
the commitment to developing excellence in education comes through the
document. Please take the time to read
‘The Education State – Launch’ paper, and become familiar with the vision and
aspirations.
It’s
an exciting time to be in Education!
NEW Victorian Curriculum
The
VCAA have published online: http://victoriancurriculum.vcaa.vic.edu.au/the-arts/music/curriculum/f-10 The experts at the VCAA
have done a thorough job in delivering a comprehensive curriculum for Music. The
publication includes levels A to D prior to foundation years. http://victoriancurriculum.vcaa.vic.edu.au/the-arts/music/curriculum/f-10#level=B Clearly this wonderful inclusion acknowledges
and caters for the Early Years of Childhood, and can be applied to assessment
for Students with Disabilities.
This
curriculum sets a high benchmark in Music, and we believe needs to be looked
into across Australia as the lead document for a National context.
UNDER CONSTRUCTION
An
overarching framework document in Music Education (University of Melbourne) and
A Guide to Music Education (VCAA) are being developed. These documents will truly set a firm
foundation for future generations in Victorian Music Education. When the
governing bodies are ready to release they will make their own announcements.
GET INVOLVED – IT’S A PARTNERSHIP!
DET
have provided the Music Education Community with an online platform – the Music
Education NING - to communicate, network and share resources. http://musiceducation.ning.com/main/authorization/signUp. This
investment is OUR OPPORTUNITY to support one another, develop networks and
share information about the latest research.
We can debate, converse and advertise any and all opportunities
happening around the State in a SUPPORTIVE environment. We need to make the most of this opportunity
while the door is still open.
JOBS!
GOVERNMENT
SCHOOL JOBS! – There were up to 30 schools advertising for music teachers last
week, and another this week on Recruitment Online: http://www.education.vic.gov.au/hrweb/careers/pages/advacssch.aspx Rural and regional Victoria were heavily
represented.
If
you are looking for a teaching opportunity, the door is open right now, and the
welcome mat is laid out!! Many teachers
have begun their careers as part time teachers and often on short-term
contracts. Yet, it is amazing how taking
small steps in the first instance can lead very quickly to more opportunities. It has a great deal to do with confidence and
establishing a connection with a school and a community. Taking the initiative
and being pro-active is always worthwhile.
If
the job is part time, ring the principal and see if you can fill up another day
or two with teaching another subject.
See if there is a staff member who is a part timer and needs a share
arrangement. Are you applying for a
generalist position? Why not state in
your KSC responses that you can offer a choir, or lead an ensemble? As you develop a relationship with the key
people in the school, and they get to know you, a music program can be built up
over time from a classroom position. It
is a matter of building relationships, and it might all start with that one
phone call to a principal.
VICTORIAN REVIEWS – sMAG Submissions
The Education State – Early Childhood
Consultation Paper.
sMAG submitted a substantial paper to this consultation
process. I extend thanks to the sMAG
teacher training committee members, with specific expertise in the Birth to Age
7 area. Within our submission we
highlighted the NQF clauses already accepted in the community:
As a part of
standard 2.2 of the National Quality Framework (NQF) there is guidance
for educators to provide “opportunities for children to engage in dance,
creative movement and drama and to respond to traditional and contemporary
music and storytelling”. If we are to
meet the guidance within the framework, we need to take the integration of
music support, experience and learning seriously within this very important
developmental stage.
Research
concerning the strong relationship between music education in the early years
and the improved educational outcomes demonstrates the fundamental importance
of implementing a full range of quality musical outcomes in all early childhood
centres. Age specific music outcomes
need to be qualified (e.g. development of singing in pitch) and educators in
these settings should have knowledge, understanding and skills in music
education
http://musicinaustralia.org.au/index.php?title=Current_Trends_in_Early_Childhood_Music_Education
We went on to make recommendations around boosting pre service
teacher training to the sector in music, developing over arching policies and
accountability structures, developing mentoring structures, as well as aligning
the sector with work already achieved by AITSL and other governing bodies.
The consultation portal can be found here:
Already,
there are draft promotional plan materials being developed by DET and will soon
be ready for release to the sector. When
these are ready, we will forward on to you.
Initial consultation around these materials is very positive!
BRACKS REVIEW – SCHOOL’S FUNDING REVIEW
The Brack's Review into School
Funding has released Emerging Issues & Ideas report:
This
process will have an impact on the Victorian education context. We do not yet know the full implications,
however, we do know that how programs are funded forms a key point to
delivering a quality music education program.
DET are working actively to be across this document, and we look forward
to hearing further outcomes from this report.
SECONDARY INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC PROGRAM
We
have been assured that the current SIMP will remain in place without change
until a further investigation has taken place.
sMAG’s Instrumental Working Party has submitted a clear position paper
to DET, providing substantive data outlining the positive work done within this
community and the willingness to expand and extend further with the right
support. The outcomes from the Bracks
report and reforms stemming from the IBAC report will create improvements for
the sector.
VIT Permission To Teach Review
Neither
a report nor outcome has been published at this point: http://www.vit.vic.edu.au/registered-teacher/registration-categories/i-hold-permission-to-teach-ptt2 Should you wish to inquire as to the status
of this review, you can direct your communication to: Matthew Shaw, Project Officer, at PTT.PolicyReview@vit.vic.edu.au
AROUND THE STATE
The 2015 Victorian
Instrumental Music Teachers Conference will be held at the Darebin Arts Centre
on Thursday December 3. This event is open to all Instrumental and Classroom
music teachers in Victoria. Traders will also be available to discuss your
schools needs.
Sessions include:
TEACHING INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC TO CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS - Daphne Proietto
DIRECTORS OF MUSIC PROGRAMS IN GOVERNMENT SCHOOLS - Roland Yeung
This PD is presented by Regional Instrumental Music Coordinators
Contact Details: SEVR Music sevr.music.s@edumail.vic.gov.au
TEACHING INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC TO CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS - Daphne Proietto
DIRECTORS OF MUSIC PROGRAMS IN GOVERNMENT SCHOOLS - Roland Yeung
This PD is presented by Regional Instrumental Music Coordinators
Contact Details: SEVR Music sevr.music.s@edumail.vic.gov.au
AITSL
have published an agenda of implementation priorities following the TEMAG
report. A dedicated website to Initial Teacher
Education (ITE) http://www.aitsl.edu.au/initial-teacher-education/ite-reform and a summary can be
found here: http://www.aitsl.edu.au/initial-teacher-education/ite-reform-an-overview.
The
Teacher Education Ministerial Advisory Group found strong
support for a sophisticated approach to
selection of candidates to undergraduate teaching courses, taking into account
academic capability, literacy and numeracy
skills and personal characteristics, in order
to select the students who will make the
best teachers.
The Australian Government has asked AITSL to develop and set clear expectations of universities in making sure that those going into teaching have the right mix of academic and personal qualities that give them the best chance of becoming effective teachers.
AITSL has developed Selection Guidelines that were agreed by all Australian Education Ministers in September
2015.
best teachers.
The Australian Government has asked AITSL to develop and set clear expectations of universities in making sure that those going into teaching have the right mix of academic and personal qualities that give them the best chance of becoming effective teachers.
AITSL has developed Selection Guidelines that were agreed by all Australian Education Ministers in September
2015.
sMAG
welcomes the teacher undergraduate guidelines listed, and particularly welcomes
an approach that includes an appropriate ATAR score, and non academic
capabilities. These overarching reforms
will have a very positive impact on education in all subject areas: http://www.aitsl.edu.au/docs/default-source/initial-teacher-education-resources/selection-guidelines-factsheet.pdf?utm_source=AITSL+eNews+Updates&utm_campaign=f5e3e4d927-AITSL_monthly_eNews_update_October_22_2015&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_72de9f2d1b-f5e3e4d927-82680337&mc_cid=f5e3e4d927&mc_eid=444fa29e88
sMAG
wrote to the new Federal Minister for Education, The Hon. Simon Bimmingham MP, outlining
our support for the TEMAG report, particularly on recommendation 18. We brought to his attention our response to
the TEMAG report and introduced ourselves.
WE made a specific request that Rec 18 be reviewed to include ‘Music’ as
a named, targeted specialization subject.
Music Count Us In
Music: Count Us in (MCUI) was spectacular this year!
Congratulations to all involved throughout Australia, and particularly
to John Foreman and Marica Hines. Over half a million voices were raised
simultaneously to sing ‘Gold’.
John Foreman appeared on National TV – Studio 10.
Marcia
Hines led the singing from Taronga Zoo, overlooking the harbor to Sydney
Harbour Bridge, where a choir was joining in from the top! The live stream was brilliant: http://event.5stream.com/6224. Video is available at https://www.facebook.com/bridgeclimbsydney/
PUBLICATION - The Power of Music
Commissioned by the
Music Education Council (MEC) UK, and published by the International Music
Education Research Centre (iMerc), The Power of Music - a research synthesis of
the impact of active music making on the intellectual, social and personal
development of children and young people brings together the vast amount of
quality research evidence that has built up over recent years.
It provides the basis for the argument that every child and young person should have access to quality music making opportunities and supports calls for schools to ensure that all pupils receive a thorough, broad and high quality music education.
It provides the basis for the argument that every child and young person should have access to quality music making opportunities and supports calls for schools to ensure that all pupils receive a thorough, broad and high quality music education.
sMAG Membership
We
welcome Jemima Bunn to the committee in Term 4.
Jemima comes to us as a lead representative of the Secondary School
Music sector in her role as Head of Music at Blackburn high school. She is currently undertaking PhD studies, and
we look forward to having her expertise on board as we look forward to next
year’s round of reviews.
ON FACEBOOK and TWITTER
sMAG ON FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/sMAGVic?fref=ts Twitter: @sMAG_Vic Yet another way to network, and share your
ideas and new finds in the music education area!
sMAG is a
non partisan committee, consisting of volunteers
from all sectors of the music community, and we welcome your input. A survey is being developed to invite
people’s input, however anyone is welcome to email us at any point and make a
contribution: smag.schoolmusicactiongroup@gmail.com.
Please share our news with your
friends, and post your ideas to our Facebook page – we love hearing from the
whole community.
