For any music teacher Term 3 is full of performances, workshops,
festivals and examinations. We hope that
your students are flourishing throughout the State.
Inquiry
Implementation Update
Various discussions have occurred between sMAG committee
members, and the VCAA and DEECD representatives. The Co-Chairs and Strategy WP members were
able to meet at 1 Treasury place on August 13th,
to discuss the next stages of the process of implementing the Inquiry recommendations.
We are pleased to inform the music community that the DEECD have
commenced work on several of the recommendations including the lighthouse
schools program (Rec 2) and that the VCAA has
announced the development of a Guide to Music Education (Rec 6). Expressions of
Interest from the music education, parent groups and principals were
sought. We are pleased to report that a
wide representation of contributors have raised their hands to be involved. We believe that further calls around
specialised areas will be issued in the weeks and months ahead. To keep abreast of these announcements sign
up to the VCAA newsletter: http://www.vcaa.vic.edu.au/Pages/correspondence/bulletins/bulletinonlinesubscribe.aspx
This represents a small but worthwhile start to the implementation of
the Inquiry and its 17 recommendations but it also needs to be understood that
not all 17 recommendations will be acted upon this year. Those involving instrumental teaching for
example will be taken up in
Term 1 next year. No doubt there
will be more to report in the coming weeks. Watch this space J.
Victorian election
Without doubt
the big event on the horizon is the Victorian Election, which will be held on
November 30, about 90 days from now.
sMAG of course is an apolitical interest group so we will not be
suggesting who to vote for, yet we will be active in encouraging both sides of
politics (and those in between) to include a set of positive music education
policies as part of the education platform for the election. Our committee will meet in September to
devise our strategies and platform.
By the time we
enter into Caretaker mode in about mid October sMAG hopes to have been able to
present or represent its case for music education to both sides of
Parliament. We hope to be able to brief
and work with other groups engaged in the election process through music or in
education more broadly. sMAG does not
have the resources to influence the community at large but we may be able to
influence, working in partnerships with others, the key decision makers in each
of the political parties as to why a music education policy should be contained
in their education platform and why that policy should be implemented in
government. More on this focus area
soon.
LOCAL LOBBYING
sMAG
would encourage all in the community to discuss the inquiry outcomes with their
local constituents during the upcoming election campaign. Hopeful candidates from both sides of
politics will be knocking on people’s doors as they attempt to win your
vote. Highlight to them the statistics,
arguments and importance of our campaign within the wider community, and
request they respond to the 17 recommendations in the inquiry. http://smag-schoolmusicactiongroup.blogspot.com.au/
Letters to
the editor in your local leader press would also be timely as we highlight the
benefits of music education in our schools during an election campaign. In the next few weeks we will produce some template
materials to assist with this.
THE SONG ROOM:
Channel 7 News highlighted the research that demonstrates how learning
music and an instrument improves learning outcomes in Naplan literacy results
by up to 12 months: https://au.news.yahoo.com/nsw/a/24807190/why-learning-music-makes-kids-smarter/
The Song Room is to be congratulated on their award
for Innovation at the Australia and New Zealand Internet Awards
https://www.facebook.com/anziaawards
for the free online learning platform, ARTS:LIVE! Congratulations to the ARTS:LIVE team and The
Song Room partners who work tirelessly to ensure these resources are worthy of
such recognition. If you're a teacher and you're yet to register, do so today! http://www.artslive.com.au/
SPOTLIGHT
Middle
Kinglake Primary School is spotlighted this month as a school doing great
things in Music Education. There is a trained
specialist music teacher employed as an ongoing staff member delivering 60
minute music lessons to every class. The
allotment includes some hours as teacher librarian making the teacher a vibrant
part of the whole school community as all staff meetings are attended. The School Chaplain is also a trained Music
Teacher, taking on singing group and assisting in all music sessions. There are two instrumental teachers covering.
Guitar, piano, drums, sax, trumpet and singing.
Middle Kinglake Primary participates in The Boite Schools chorus every
year, had 18 choral participants this year.
With a school population of only 80 students, Middle Kinglake primary
school achieve so much in music education and are a shining example with key
characteristics to follow.
THE OXFORD HANDBOOK TO MUSIC
EDUCATION
Gary
McPherson and Graham Welch worked as editors on these comprehensive
volumes. Many Australians have
contributed, including Neryl Jeanneret, to the Oxford Handbook to Music
Education Volumes 1 and 2. Key research, data and case studies are covered in
these volumes providing advice, ideas and deep discussions around the key
issues that affect all members of the music education community. Available
internationally: http://www.amazon.com/Oxford-Handbook-Education-Volume-Handbooks/dp/0199730814
Ambassador honoured
sMAG
ambassador, Richard Gill OAM has been honored! APRA AMCOS and the Australian
Music Centre (AMC) have announced Richard as this year’s recipient of the Award
for Distinguished Services for Australian Music: http://www.australianmusiccentre.com.au/article/art-music-awards-2014-distinguished-services-award-to-richard-gill. Widely admired for his
outstanding work towards the musical development of young musicians, he has
appeared with all the major Australian orchestras and conducted many premieres
of new Australian works. Read more here: http://www.limelightmagazine.com.au/news/richard-gill-honoured-2014-art-music-awards.
WHAT YOU CAN DO
LOCAL MUSIC EDUCATION
NETWORKS
The
DEECD divides every municipality of Melbourne into Network regions. Every
network region has the framework in place for Music educators to form a
professional group. The groups are expected to meet and support one another in
a collegial environment. The Boroondarra
Municipality framework postpones school level staff meetings at week 5 every
term, to allow all staff members to attend an advertised professional network
meeting. Your municipality may have a music education network - talk to your
principal and get along. If there isn't one established in your region,
consider if you might be in a position to start and lead that music education
network. Approach your principal and get their support for such a venture. The
networks allow for all educators to be involved; from early childhood
throughout to VCE; from classroom through to instrumentalist. Some networks
provide a platform on Scootle https://www.scootle.edu.au/ec/p/home where ongoing dialogue and
sharing may occur. The professional networks provide vital professional
sharing/mentoring/PD support for everyone involved, and can really go a long
way towards improving professional music education delivery. Should there be a
music network in every area listed here: http://www.education.vic.gov.au/.../structure/regionsmap.pdf, it would go a long way
towards strengthening our profession.
THE FLIPPED CLASSROOM
Occasionally
online videos make a real difference in music education. This series of videos
go a long way to making elements of music theory easy and accessible for
students to understand, and enable the music professional to implement the
'flipped classroom'. https://www.youtube.com/user/musictheoryguy
THE ART OF PERSUASION
Anita
Collins has put together this great video for TedTalks. In easy to understand language, the
neurological benefits of playing an instrument are conveyed - convincing many
young people to take up lessons. Share
it with your students and Principals: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R0JKCYZ8hng
PROFESSIONAL INTSTRUMENTAL FACEBOOK GROUPS
The
global saxophone teaching community has set up a collegial Facebook page
"Saxophone Teachers": https://www.facebook.com/groups/170466869792024/?fref=ts The global professional piano teaching community has set
up a collegial Facebook page 'The Art Of Piano Pedagogy'. https://www.facebook.com/groups/123963944408115/?fref=ts. The
resources allow instrumentalists to discuss, inform and share highlights and
strategies that empower their pedagogical practice in the instrumental
studio. Becoming a part of this vital
community adds a wealth of development and support from an international
community. Such pages from other
instrumental sectors are sought and needed as we build and grow our music
community.
ONLINE PORTAL
TesAustralia
is an online portal for curriculum sharing: http://www.tesaustralia.com/home.aspx As with many portals, there
is a time saving element, and then there are resources that don't suit your
setting. There are recommendation and review buttons that assist. The best way
to sort is to develop a recommendation system within your local network.
ASSOCIATIONS
Graduate
teachers may be unaware of the many associations or interest groups that they
can join. The benefits of which are far
reaching. Any of the associations and
professional music bodies are legitimate costs to the classroom music teacher
expenditure budget. It is well worth
joining at least one or two, subscribing to the newsletters and attending any
public meetings.
Australian Band and Orchestra Directors
Association (Victorian Branch) Website:
vic.aboda.org.au
SOCIAL MEDIA CONNECTIONS
Please
pass these connections to colleagues that use these platforms – particularly
graduate teachers! Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sMAGVic Twitter: @sMAG_Vic
Thank you for your continued support. We hope
to make significant progress over the next 12 months. Please
share the news with
colleagues you believe would be interested in supporting sMAG.
