Australian Curriculum Endorsed

State and Federal Ministers of Education met on Tuesday and endorsed the Australian Curriculum: The Arts - please refer to the media release from Minister Shorten’s office via the following link: http://ministers.deewr.gov.au/shorten/ministers-agree-deliver-national-arts-and-geography-curriculum

Inquiry Transcripts Complete

ALL TRANSCRIPTS FROM THE VIC INQUIRY ARE NOW AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC: http://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/etc/article/1963

Transcripts of Evidence Mar 27 and April 9

Transciprts of evidence provided to the committee on March 27 and April 9th are now available to the public here: http://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/etc/article/1963

Update April 2013

Update: Parliamentary Inquiry into the Extent, Benefits and Potential of Music Education in Victorian Schools 

Thank you so much to those who have contributed to the Parliamentary Inquiry into the Extent, Benefits and Potential of Music Education in Victorian Schools. Two hundred and forty submissions were received and can be viewed on the Victorian Parliament, Committees, Education and Training Music education Website http://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/etc/article/1963 under the TAB 'Hearings and Transcripts'.  A Hansard report will also be placed on this site in due course.

This Review is, without doubt, a response from the Education Minister following sMAGs ongoing lobbying to the department over a period of time. Our lobbying actually commenced when sMAG was formed as a result of the Victorian Music Workshop in 2007. It has taken a long time for action and we are indeed very grateful to be afforded the opportunity by the inquiry to address the Terms of Reference. The Terms of Reference not only measures the benefits of music education to the child, school and community, but also addresses the issues of provision, pre-service training, administrative structure, musical pathways, and inequities in provision.  We believe that without this inquiry, there can be little action in addressing the recommendations from the National Review of Music Education, and the Victorian Workshop Report, and consequently the diminishing state of music education in Victorian schools.

240 submissions have been received from a large range of organizations which include sMAG,  Music Council of Australia, AMUSE, from schools, parents, teachers, universities, external providers, and the Victorian Aboriginal Education Association. Collectively they present a detailed picture of school music education in Victoria at this point in time and alert us to the fact that, apart from a small number of excellent programs which are mostly in independent schools, music education provision and quality continues to decline. Research studies and statistics put the figure of 23 percent of Government schools compared to 88 per cent of independent schools that offer an effective music education. The provision of music in Primary schools is of significant concern, as it the pre-service music training for Primary Teachers.

Impressive were the responses to the Terms of References from the 240 submission relating to the benefits of a music education to individual students, society, and to academic performance.  These are excellent advocacy statements and will be of value to parents and teachers wishing to improve the provision and quality of music programs in schools, or to encourage parents to invest in a music education for their children. After reading these statements, it is hard to believe that music education is indeed being side-lined by schools, and governments.  They include  extraordinary stories of how the school music program has changed the lives of students, school attendance, school culture, and student’s personal confidence, self-esteem, mental health, and academic achievement.

sMAG was invited to appear before the Parliamentary Council at the first hearing on March 27 and presented evidence along with the DEECD, VCAA, AMUSE, The Song Room, Educational Transformations, the Music Council of Australia, Australian College of Educators and the Victorian Music Teachers association.

The crux of the sMAG submission was the need to bridge the gap between the inequalities in the provision and quality of music programs in government schools compared to independent schools, with the need to place a music specialist teacher in every school. Discussions focused firstly on what was happening at primary level, including country Victoria, and on the need to reform university pre-service training for primary teachers.  At secondary level an issue was raised in relation to what appears to be a drift away from music as a core subject to an elective subject in years 7 & 8, the distribution of instrumental music teachers to government schools, and the contentious issue of VIT registration for instrumental music teachers.   The need to increase investment in music education, and the need for transformational reform in the above areas was discussed.

What is revealed in the submission is that we currently have a major problem with the status of music education in schools with up to three quarters of Australian school children missing out. Not to mention an ongoing diminishing of school music education provision.  ACARA appears to be leaving the issue of the provision of music and the arts provision to the States and schools so this inquiry has come at a critical time in Victoria. We have one opportunity to convince our state government that music education is fundamental to the development of the child and is a human right. We must keep working to turn the tide on music education. Pease keep up your support. We still have a way to go.

Thank you again to those who made a response and a special thank you to the writing and inquiry team: Associate Professor Robin Stevens, Professor Gary McPherson, Carl Stevens, Catherine Lyons, Carl Williams, Kevin Kelley, and Jennifer Heinrick.

Dr Anne Lierse

Chair of sMAG

Vic Inquiry Hearings

We are pleased to announce that some members of the writing team of sMAG's submission to the Vic Parliamentary Music Inquiry will be attending a scheduled hearing.  The listing can be found here http://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/etc/article/1963 under the TAB 'Hearings and Transcripts', and are open to the public.  The sMAG members will do their best to represent the Music Education Community.
Brian Caldwell will also be heard on Wednesday.  The Age March 24th carries a story that also discusses the MSO's 'The Pizzicato Effect' program operating at Meadows PS.

April 5th update: Hearings will continue on Tuesday April 9th and Monday April 15th at the Victorian Parliament House. Supplementary submissions have also been requested, all indicating that the committee are dedicated to achieving positive outcomes.  The listing can be found here http://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/etc/article/1963 under the TAB 'Hearings and Transcripts'

sMAG committee submission

In response to the VICTORIAN INQUIRY INTO THE EXTENT, BENEFITS AND POTENTIAL OF MUSIC EDUCATION IN VICTORIAN SCHOOLS, the sMAG committee has made a submission. 
sMAG SUBMISSION:  sMAG_Submission_to_Parliamentary_ETC_Inquiry-4

Approximately 230 submissions are published here:  We have a building snapshot of 'this time and place' in our collective history!

Following the closing date, the parliamentary committee will commence reading the submissions. Hearings will occur where individuals may be called to attend.  People that have submitted may be contacted with a request to visit their school.  sMAG will go before the parliamentary committee in mid March.  Other music organizations may also be contacted by the committee to clarify some information.  When all the information has been analyzed, a report will go to the Vic parliament in September with recommendations.  There has been a bi partisan mandate from both sides of politics provided for this inquiry.
In the meantime, you may like to reflect on what you could do in your 'neck of the woods'.  Can you open a conversation with your principal; share ideas with neighbouring schools; start a 'Friends of The Arts' parent group; or invite local players to the school?  You will know what is best for your context :-)
Paul Keeting (Former PM) sharing his thoughts on The Arts
Sat March 16th 2013 - Simon Crean has addressed the National Press Club with announcements of $Millions for the ARTS and education!!
http://www.abc.net.au/news/programs/national-press-club

NOTICE OF AN INQUIRY INTO MUSIC EDUCATION

PARLIAMENT OF VICTORIA

EDUCATION AND TRAINING COMMITTEE

INQUIRY INTO THE EXTENT, BENEFITS AND POTENTIAL OF MUSIC EDUCATION IN VICTORIAN SCHOOLS

Chair of committee is David Southward MP

Closing date for submissions 15 Feb 2013

http://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/etc/inquiry/351

The Age Dec 4, 2012              3RRR Jan 23                   Richard Gill OAM - TEDx Sydney 2011

Press Release from David Southwick MP  The Parliament supports the notion of quality music education for all, it is up to each person to let the committee know what is happening on the ground so that areas for improvement can be identified.

Support materials are currently being developed to assist people with making their submissions.  Extra links to studies have been uploaded on the side bar.   

How you do your submission is really up to you. There are no set rules about this. In the past schools have often included unattributed comments from parents or students and the govenrment always finds this material valuable in forming general impressions of issues and potential solutions etc.  Survey monkey to gather parent feedback within individual school submissions is acceptable, although open text fields (where they have the chance to provide comments and detail) is probably the most useful to the committee. If you are going to use survey monkey results as part of your submission, it would be useful to let the committee know information such as the sample size/participation rate and to include a copy of the questions you asked.

Please email smag.schoolmusicactiongroup@gmail.com for support materials or Download here: =

THE VIC GOVERNMENT’S TERMS OF REFERENCE PDF: 
SPREADING THE WORD:  Let your principal know about the inquiry – try and have a chat with them shortly, they will be back at work soon.  Seek permission to make a note in your school newsletter, on your blogs, to send a PRESS RELEASE Press Release SMAG  Press Release SMAG  to your local papers, radio stations and rural TV reporters    Just edit a few things with your details and include the Vic Gov’t Press release.

PRINCIPALS WITH NO MUSIC OR LITTLE MUSIC IN THEIR SCHOOL’S PROFILE  Principals Submission Guide  Principals Submission Guide
PRIMARY SCHOOL CLASSROOM MUSIC TEACHER MATERIALS: 

Primary School Classroom Music Teacher Submission Guide   Primary School Classroom Music Teacher Submission Guide

INSTRUMENTALISTS:  This is a major opportunity to improve the State of music education in Victoria.  It is vital your voice is heard.
Instrumental Submission Guide Only   Instrumental Submission Guide Only

PARENT SUPPORT MATERIALS:  

PARENT SUBMISSION GUIDE              INFO SHEETS:    English  Chinese (simple)  Russian

sMAG now has a community Facebook page :)   Please pass it around…… J

The Parliament of Victoria’s Education and Training Committee invites submissions to its inquiry into the extent, benefits and potential of music education in Victorian Schools.

The Committee has also been asked to consider:

v The benefits to students and the broader society of music education in schools

v The extent and quality of music education in Victorian schools

v The optimum funding and governance arrangements for music education in Victorian schools.

The announcement of this inquiry into music education in Victorian schools is a positive outcome resulting from a number of meetings initiated by members of the School Music Action Group (sMAG) with the Premiers Office, the Minister for Education, and the Directors of both Curriculum and Students Outcomes from VCAA.  Key concerns included the provision and quality of music education in Victorian schools as revealed in research findings, and the implementation of the Australian Curriculum for music. Among the main issues (sMAG) have been lobbying for is that:

 ‘EVERY CHILD IN VICTORIAN SCHOOLS HAS ACCESS TO A QUALITY MUSIC EDUCATION TAUGHT BY PROFESSIONALLY TRAINED TEACHERS WITH MUSICAL EXPERTISE’.

sMAG would like to strongly encourage all stakeholders to make a personal response to this enquiry and also encourage your school community to respond. In this time of economic rationalism where many education programs have already been slashed, we response is paramount if we are to achieve positive reforms to music education in schools. 

Shine and showcase!  This is our chance for us not only to substantiate the provision of school music programs, but to argue for better funding and a sequential, assessable  P – 12 curriculum.   The Victorian parliamentary inquiry is a significant opportunity to contribute to the improvement of the quality delivery of music programs throughout Victoria.  As the inquiry covers the potential of investment in music education, we are in a unique position to have a strong positive voice to the future developments.  sMAG strongly encourages all members of the music community to make a submission.  Information on how to make a submission can be found below.

In order to support the music community in this effort and recognising that the timeline is short to Feb 15, the sMAG committee will: 

•   upload examples and outlines of possible submissions in order to support the music community in any individual effort – Jan 2013

•   Upload an online survey to allow for broad based consultation in a time effective way – Jan 2013

•   Create a substantial collective submission, and seek signatory support – early Feb 2013

sMAG will upload all steps to the blog, so please use this online tool to continue the conversation.  People can subscribe to the blog, and comments can be made and published.

These support mechanisms are not to discourage individual submissions – the more submissions that are made in this unique and rare opportunity, the better our case.

Despite the short timeline (which has already been extended to encompass the first weeks of term 1), sMAG would strongly suggest you seek submissions from your own school community including staff, students and very importantly parent groups.

Please also forward this information to any people you think may have an interest in the provision of Music education within Victoria.

This enquiry follows one conducted by the same committee on Gifted and Talented Children which has come up with some very positive outcomes.  

The Review's Terms of Reference include:

-      The current extent and quality of music education in Victorian schools

-      The status of music education in Victorian schools

-      The current funding arrangements for music education in Victorian schools

-      What factors affect the quality of music education in Victorian schools

-      The support available in Victorian schools

-      Key benefits and issues surrounding music education in schools, including any identified gaps in existing educational opportunities

-      And music education programs considered best practice

Submissions may also include CDs. programs, an invitation to visit your school, etc.  With quality programs on show to our Victorian parliamentarians, positive outcomes are sure to flow through.

After receiving submissions, the Vic Parliamentary Committee will hold public hearings next year before tabling a report in Parliament in September 2013.  Get involved!

This is our chance to be heard, and for significant support to come through.  Please take the time over January to join us as we make a significant difference to music education for some time to come.

(Victorian Parliament education and training committees). Submissions can be made on-line or can be forwarded by post to

Executive officer

Education and Training Committee

Parliament House, Spring Street

East Melbourne Vic 3002

Enquiries: 03 8682 2823 or from www.parliament.vic.gov.au/etc

DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS IS 15 FEB 2013

For questions and any other ideas for promoting this cause please contact anne@annelierse.com.au.