Saturday, October 27, 2018

Don't Stop The Music


ABC Documentary  

Catalyst for a National focus on Music Education

Showing on the ABC on Sunday 11 November 2018, 7:40pm
Don’t Stop the Music, a landmark new ABC documentary from Artemis Media, highlights the transformative effects of teaching music in primary schools.
Challis Primary School in Western Australia runs a pilot program for the show.  'Just Brass' by the Salvation Army, provides donated instruments and volunteers to tutor the students.
Guy Sebastian lends his voice to the vision of seeing every child, in every school in Australia receiving a Music Education.
Pictured: John Collinson from the Salvation Army and Catherine Lyons

As the immediate past chair of sMAG Vic, Catherine Lyons was invited to the launch of ABC Documentary 'Don't Stop The Music' at Parliament House, Canberra. A room full of professionals, lecturers, politicians and public servants, laughed, cried, cheered and clapped for a film!
So engaging, so emotive, so compelling.

It's time to take action #DontStopTheMusicAU.

After a heart-warming screening of Episode One, there was a Q&A with Celia Tait the Don't Stop The Music Executive Producer, Dr Anita Collins our expert music educator, Rhonda Davidson-Irwin from Music Australia and Dr Bradley Merrick from the Australian Society of Music Educators, marvellously MC'd by ABC Classic FM’s Russell Torrance. There was also a very special performance from the ACT Primary Choir, made up of children in year 4-6 from ACT Public Schools.

The national airing provides the Music Education community with a once in a lifetime opportunity.  The lack of delivery will be brought into the public domain and generate significant debate.

Now is the time to prepare, and take action!

Initial Teacher Training:   At a federal level, sMAG received significant insight in letters from the Hon. Simon Birmingham MP during his tenure as Education Minister.  The Federal government can't tell universities what to teach, unless a subject is mandatory/compulsory.  Under the current legislation, universities will respond to principal demand from parents. At the moment, universities are not convinced that Music Teachers are needed, so many are not delivering.
So parents need to make a noise about wanting music in schools.
The general public will respond to this very emotive documentary.
We have opportunity now to demonstrate that parents want music education to ITE providers, principals and the Federal government.
We have opportunity to capitalise on a push to make Music Education mandatory/compulsory as we move towards a Federal election.
We have opportunity to lobby local members, both at the Victorian election and in next year's Federal election.

Victoria can stand proud in that we are leading the way in delivery.  There has been a $3M investment from the Andrews government, as well as The Quality Framework for Music Education and the VCAA Music Education Guide.  Details of the last 4 years published here:
http://smag-schoolmusicactiongroup.blogspot.com/2018/09/smag-spring-enews-2018.html 

What can we do next?

What major investments can come towards Music Education?
How can major companies like SONY, YAMAHA and JB HiFi contribute to the field?  Sponsorship?  Competitions? Festivals? Prizes?
How can we capitalise on the wave of engagement that is about to be directed towards our field?
Please sign both Change.org petitions running through sMAG.
Please write to Federal members.  A template is on the sMAG blog.
Please encourage your local communities to watch the show and donate instruments.
Please prepare for how your organisation will respond as the documentary goes to air.

Don’t Stop The Music Instrument Donation Campaign
From 1 November the ABC, The Salvation Army's Just Brass, led by John Collison, and Musica Viva will launch a national appeal encouraging people to donate unused or unwanted musical instruments so they can be distributed to children who need them.
We’d love for you to support the campaign and invite your networks to participate in getting any unused instruments out of the cupboards and down to a local Salvos Store.

"The ABC have done a tremendous job in putting together such a compelling series, demonstrating clearly the need for increased music education delivery in Australia.  I have known John Collinson for many years.  He is a quality educator, and person.  We have the opportunity to gather great support from all sectors as we lobby for Music Education for every child in Australia.  Let's get behind the series, sign the petitions and write to election candidates all through November - AusMusicMonth."  sMAG Co-Chair, Fiona Philips.
Use the Hashtag:  #DontStopTheMusicAU

Join the TV Screening Event Page on Facebook

Let's get every child, in every school from Brighton to the Back of Bourke an instrument and Music Education.
Just Brass are sending in the Salvos to provide free tutoring.
Like them on Facebook, and encourage them along!

Dr. Anita Collins 

Research, teaching and coaching provided by Dr Anita is a feature of the show #DontStopTheMusicAU

Federal Election Music Education Charter 

Parents, Industry providers, teachers, musicians, and anyone in the public may want to sign this online petition following the ABC Documentary 'Don't Stop The Music'.  Share with your networks, and show Federal politicians that Australians want Music Education delivered to every student, in every school in a continuous, sequential and developmental style.

https://www.change.org/p/the-hon-daniel-tehan-mp-federal-election-music-education-charter

"I strongly encourage everybody with an interest in making sure music is delivered consistently and properly across all schools to sign this important change.org petition. Initiatives such as this petition are often the only way for all our interest groups to come together and vote as one for this vital cause. Let’s keep the educational focus on the ‘whole child’! "

                                  Carl Williams - sMAG Vice Chair
Don't Stop The Music Event

SYDNEY
FACEBOOK CLICK HERE
                              Sunday, November 18, 2018 at 11 AM – 3 PM

                                     Centennial Parklands
Grand Drive, Sydney, Australia 2021
Come and join the fun when the ABC, Centennial Parklands, Musica Viva, Sydney Youth Orchestras and the Salvation Army join forces to show just how exciting making music can be. 

To celebrate the launch of the ABC’s landmark new TV series Don’t Stop The Music, which promotes the transformative powers of music in education, there will be dazzling performances, fun-packed musical workshops for kids, giveaways, appearances from ABC personalities, and the Salvation Army will be collecting second-hand instruments as part of a national campaign to help get them to schools and students in need. 

So bring a picnic rug, and don’t miss this magical day in the beautiful surrounds of the Belvedere Amphitheatre!

Main Stage Line-Up
11:00am: Sydney Schools’ musical groups, bands and choirs take centre stage
12:30pm: Musica Viva's B'Tutta Percussion Quartet Show and Kids Workshop 
2:00pm: Sydney Youth Orchestra show "Meet The Orchestra"

Other Activities (All Day) 
• ABC Kids Listen Under 5’s Play Space, with Introduction to Music activities and workshops
• ABC Giveaways
• Meet and Greets with ABC Personalities
• Salvation Army drop-off point for second hand instrument donations
• Salvation Army pop-up performances

If your organisation would like to be involved in outreach activities around music in education on the day the ABC can provide a gazebo and table for you.  Get in touch with David Seale, ABC Community Engagement Advisor at seale.david@abc.net.au for more information.

Victorian Election Music Education Charter 

Victoria is ahead of the game, and has already seen significant strategic investment at State level.
A November election means we need to ensure that any newly elected government will maintain momentum to see every student, in every school receive a music education.  Numbers count.  Politicians will only move if voters want change around an issue.  Add your name to the Petition, and spread the word.
https://www.change.org/p/smag-vic-victorian-election-music-education-charter.
JOIN THE sMAG FACEBOOK GROUP
Networking, sharing and support is all offered through the group!
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1101931139911842/?source_id=493771463995354
The Ugly Sound Competition

ABC Classic FM and ABC Education are running a schools competition calling on kids to create a picture inspired by the musical fable 'The Ugly Sound' for a chance to win a Musica Viva concert at their school. 

AMUSE events

Free Professional Learning around the new Quality Framework for Music Education will be held by AMUSE.  Check out the information on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pg/Association-of-Music-Educators-130383587059/events/?ref=page_internal
The 2018 inaugural Women In Music Awards presented Dr. Anita Collins with the Educator Gong last week.  Congratulations Anita!
Sign up to the ABC TV Media Unit to receive their ENews.
Send an email to Teri: calder.teri@abc.net.au
https://musicaustralia.org.au/program/countusin/
"One Song" - Uniting Australia in Music on November 1.