4th November
1941 – 28 October 2018
Patron
of sMAG Victoria
The passing of Richard Gill AO is an
enormous loss to both music education and the music industry. He touched the
lives of so many people from all ages, from tiny children to elderly citizens.
His interaction with school children and music teachers was inspirational.
So many of our professional musicians, music teachers, members of
Orchestras, music ensembles and choirs in all Australian States and Territories
acknowledge Richard’s part in their choosing a career in music. To have heard
him talk and present music was an experience that no one forgets.
Richard’s passionate support for so
many music organisations including The School Music Action Group (sMAG)
was exceptional. When we invited him to speak, he did whatever he could to be
there. Richard was always available to talk to people, and make them feel
valued and important to him. The fact that he remembered the names of
people was extra-ordinary.
Richard will be remembered as an
amazing human being, philosopher, Director of music, conductor and music
educationalist.
Richard worked tirelessly for music
education all his life, and was a key person in the lobbying of the Federal
Government for a National Review of School Music Education, which took place
from 2004 to 2005. His personal lobbying for music education started years
before, and Associate Professor Robin Stevens and I remember the meetings we
had where the three of us discussed the status of music education in Victoria,
and the needs and processes in the development of a National Review. We also
had the great privilege of being part of the Review, with Robin Stevens invited
to be on the Steering Committee, and Richard and myself as Critical
Friends. Victorian music educators who became members of the School Music
Action Group (sMAG) when it was formed in 2007 were also on the Steering
Committee and included Ian Harvey, Dr Neryl Jeanneret, and Carl Stevens.
After two years with minimal action in
regard to the implementation of the Recommendations from the National Review
(both federally and in the States), a group of Melbourne music educationalists
took action. A Victorian Music Workshop titled School Music Education
for every child. Promoting a World Class Music Education, took place
at Melbourne High School on April 21 2007. Over 100 delegates included
Principals and music teachers from Primary and Secondary Schools, Heads and
lecturers from Tertiary Institutions, and members of the music industry, came
up with actionable responses to three of the important issues raised in the
National Review: Teacher Education; training and professional development; and
Curriculum.
Richard Gill took a leading role at the
Workshop, giving the powerful Keynote address. Senator Rod Kemp, the
Honourable Mr Phil Davis, the leader of the Opposition in the Upper House and
spokesperson for Education also spoke. The day concluded with the formation of
‘The School Music Action Group’ and the writing and publication of the
Victorian Music Workshop Report, which included a list of Recommendations for
the Victorian Government. This work was driven by a great team of passionate
members of sMAG all supported by Richard Gill’s conviction, support, and
driving energy.
His support for the work of sMAG was
ongoing, even hosting meetings at Horty Hall the home of the Victorian Opera in
Dec 2010. He also met with politicians personally lobbying the Victorian
government on behalf of sMAG.
Richard was passionate about curriculum
and teaching. His anger and frustration with the new Australian Curriculum
Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA) was publicly expressed when they
began merging The Arts into one subject.
Richard spoke with great passion at a
Curriculum Forum held at Iwaki Auditorium in Melbourne organised by sMAG in
August 2012. As a result, over 70 curriculum responses to the Draft of
the ACARA Arts Curriculum were developed by the delegates at the meeting, and
were forwarded to ACARA.
His philosophy of music education, and
his despair for the State of music education in Australia was well revealed in
his Keynote speech at the Victorian Music Workshop 2007. A few points he made
are included below.
Beginning with where we were at early
in the twentieth century, he reminded us that kindergarten teachers in NSW
could not graduate from teachers’ college until they could sing at sight in all
major and minor keys with the pitch taken from a tuning fork. Teachers
also played a simple piano accompaniment to a wide range of songs. He added
that today, few graduating music teachers, including high school music
teachers, have these skills.
He pulled no punches and attacked
precepts, ideas and principles, not people. He argued that “Good musicians
teach for all” presenting a long list of reasons why we need every child in the
country to have access to first rate teaching of music by properly trained
teachers. He then went on to describe why music education was in big trouble.
A principle gripe was that “music is
lumped in with all the other arts because it suits some bureaucrats to do so in
an effort to in-invent the wheel”. Richard continued – “Frankly I do not want
to be told by someone who knows nothing about music how I should go about
teaching the subject I know reasonably well, and more insulting telling me how
I should integrate it into the other art forms. It is difficult enough to teach
music itself without the burden of unreasonable, external and unrelated
requirements…which have nothing intrinsically to do with music anyway.”
He continually repeated his statement
that music should be taught by highly-trained specialists with the most
brilliant and gifted teachers working at the elementary or kindergarten level.
His attack of the Victorian Essential
Learning Standards “VELS” document vociferously, and he emphasized;
- the need to teach music for its
own sake,
- reinstate serious vocal music in
schools,
- open strong and vigorous dialogue
with the tertiary institutions,
- establish a primary curriculum in
the State, and
- lobby politicians for specialist
teachers in Primary Schools.
Richard concluded his address with a
magic statement:
“We just need to guide them (children) to a world of music which is
broader and deeper than they every dreamed and to let them know that their
lives can be richer and more satisfying by a hundredfold if only they had the
opportunity to study music properly.”
Richard will be deeply missed, and his
legacy will have a lasting effect on Music Education in Australia.
Dr Anne Lierse on behalf of the School
Music Action Group.
Chair of sMAG 2007 – 2013.
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The Music
Victorian Workshop Report can be found on the sMAG blog spot, and the
Cataloguing-in-Publication entry for this title is available from the National
Library.
ISBN 978-0-646-55695-6 (2007)
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Richard was a compelling orator, influencer and
presence. We are forever indebted to him for all of his work in the music
arena in Australia, particularly for his work in championing Music Education in
schools and sMAG's commencement.
When asked on the ABC's Q and A what could be done to
improve Music Education further, Richard emphatically announced "We've
just got to keep banging on about it!"
Now, it is up to all of us to "keep banging on about
it." We must all carry the message of Music Education's benefits forward,
and in so doing, further Richard's legacy and honour his memory
Catherine Lyons
Chair of sMAG January 2014 – July 2018
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Note from the new leadership structure.
VICTORIAN ELECTION
We, the music community, have opportunity to carry the vision of music education advocacy forward at this crucial time.
In the political arena, decisions are made around numbers. With a Victorian election campaign current, each one of you are invited to write to your local candidates. A proforma letter can be found here: http://smag-schoolmusicactiongroup.blogspot.com/2018/09/smag-spring-enews-2018.html By writing a letter to your local residential area candidate, you demonstrate that Music Education is important. The more people that write, the more weight the subject becomes as an election matter. It is vital that everyone with time, write to their local candidates.
Using the proforma, it takes 5 minutes per letter to email to the appropriate candidate.
FEDERAL PETITION
As the ABC Documentary ‘Don’t Stop The Music' https://www.abc.net.au/events/dstm/ goes to air, we have opportunity to bring our cause to the attention of all Australians. Please sign this petition, share with friends, and make a noise about Music!
Sydney Tribute
The Sydney Music Community gathered to celebrate
Richard Gill’s life.
Playback the Sydney tribute on Facebook.
Any
livestream technical queries need to be directed to City Recital Hall
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