Tomorrow is the big day for MCUI!
https://musicaustralia.org.au/program/countusin/the-song/
Students from around Australia were selected to work with Program Ambassador John Foreman OAM, Program Mentor Marcia Hines and Songwriting Mentor Tom Diesel. They spent an exciting day working together at L5 Studios in Sydney, combining the ideas, melodies and lyrics of their submissions to create a wonderful upbeat tune that uses beautiful imagery and celebrates music. Congratulations to all involved - we can't wait to hear over 2,000 voices Australia wide, singing in unison!!
With a live webcast from Sydney, anyone, anywhere can be involved :-)
Tuesday, October 27, 2015
Sunday, September 27, 2015
sMAG September ENews
Spring
at last – finally! While on break,
members of sMAG continue to work through and make submissions to reviews. We hope that the music education community
benefits from the continued application.
The Education State -
Launch.
The Andrew’s government’s vision and
financial commitments to The Education State within the launch paper asserts
transformational change is ahead. http://www.education.vic.gov.au/Documents/about/educationstate/launch.pdf .
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. This is greatly
welcomed. While we do not yet know the
full implications, a reading of the document provides foundation for great hope
that support for music and The Arts will be extended.
Highlights
for music taken from The Education State Launch document:
- The aspiration “Over the next 10 years, more Victorian students will reach the highest levels of achievement in the arts.”
- The news of a new curriculum, particularly in Music; http://victoriancurriculum.vcaa.vic.edu.au/the-arts/music/curriculum/f-10
- The “$21.6 million to make sure our teachers and schools are supported to implement the new curriculum.” Including Music as a named targeted subject.
- 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
- The implementation of Gonski funding.
- Regional leadership and support structures as well as Principal development programs
- The $18 million Insight Assessment Platform, The “LOOKOUT” initiative and the “NAVIGATOR” initiative
- The 8 new Technical secondary colleges – where we would hope a Music department is designed from inception.
- Community/School partnerships programs – where we believe local Musicians would be keen to get involved.
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.
As
we move towards 2016, we see ways towards furthering
music education provisions against the recommendations from the Victorian
Inquiry into the Extent, Benefits and Potential of Music Education. As such, we continue to engage in all avenues
available to make a case for continued improvement, including writing to the
Education Minister, Mr. Merlino, with a request for a meeting.
VICTORIAN REVIEWS – sMAG Submissions
Programs for Students with Disabilities Review
The sMAG
Teacher Training Working Party submitted a substantial paper to the PSD Review
with a focus on Music Education. A substantive quote from our paper:
“Music seems to provide an outlet
for expression and communication for children
and young people with complex special needs with others in an otherwise
strange and confusing universe. Indeed, some may possess extraordinary musical
gifts and talents despite sometimes severe, profound and multiple limitations
in other domains. Other research, expert input, and
comprehensive analysis that informs the efficacy of music in special and inclusive education
includes Doidge, 2010; Levitin
and Bellugi, 1998; Levitin, 2008; Miller, 1989; Ockelford, 2007; Ockelford,
2008; Ockelford, 2012; Sacks, 2007.
The
position paper respectfully implores members of the PSD Review to carefully
ponder the evidence base to inform potential innovative solutions to the very complex and profound issues as recommendations are
conceptualised. The sMAG (Vic) committee would propose that
every child with a special need would benefit from inclusion of a Music
curriculum delivered by an expertly trained music specialist, with training in
the area of special needs students.”
Our six
final recommendations were based on the above premise, and we hope that the PSD
committee will undertake to include music education to meet the developmental
needs of these students, delivered by teachers substantially trained in both
special needs and music.
Further,
our submission recommended that a professional research occur into the
outstanding piano teaching work of Daphne Proietto.
We thank
Dr. Helen Farrell for her leadership in making this submission, drawing on her
specialized expertise in the area of Students with Disabilities and Music
Education. THANK YOU, HELEN!
The review is still open, and you are invited
to participate: Online
survey
Principals,
teachers, parents, students and all other members of the public are also
invited to participate in an online survey about key themes and
preferences. To participate in the survey, see: PSD Review online survey
The
survey closes at 5pm Friday 16 October 2015. For more information or assistance,
email: psd.review@edumail.vic.gov.au
The Education State – Early Childhood
Consultation Paper.
sMAG is currently working on an extensive response to this
process.
The consultation
paper outlines proposals as discussion starters to engage the public and
professionals in the conversation. It
identifies the need to focus on early childhood as the foundation of lifelong
well being and learning.
In the first five years
of children's lives, commitment to their health, education and well-being has
the most profound effects. “Early childhood is the best time to transform a person’s
life. This is the time when a child’s potential – their imagination, curiosity
and creative spark – is first nurtured. Effort and investment well spent during
our children’s early years repay themselves many times over – in better lives
and in fairer, more prosperous societies.”
Jenny
Mikakos MP Minister for Families and Children
The government invites
responses from professionals, parents, caregivers, academics, experts and the
broader Victorian community to develop substantial reforms, to be put into
action year by year over the coming decades.
The paper is well worth a read, and a response, as it provides
the probable direction for Early Childhood Education in general for the next
few years. Music Educators are well
aware of the benefits of using music from birth to age 5, and we outlined many
in the sMAG submission. You can log onto
the website, http://educationstate.education.vic.gov.au/early-years and engage in the online conversation in the
hope of influencing policy.
BRACKS REVIEW – SCHOOL’S FUNDING REVIEW
The Brack's Review into School
Funding has released Emerging Issues & Ideas report:
The
Instrumental Music Program gets a mention on page 19, and the
Victorian Inquiry into the Extent, Benefits and Potential of Music Education is
listed as a reference. I commend everyone that worked on that paper (amongst
other contributors), as these two mentioned items, albeit small, has assisted
in that our voice and subject receiving a mention. Good! Few
curriculum areas received a special mention, so we are on the right
track. Comment can still be made to the
Brack's review via email: schools.funding.review@edumail.vic.gov.au
FEDERAL TEMAG REPORT – AITSL ACTIONS
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.
AITSL
have also published a white paper and is inviting feedback on 3 key questions: http://www.aitsl.edu.au/initial-teacher-education/ite-reform/accreditation/ite-reform-what-is-classroom-ready
The
survey closed on September 11, 5 pm AEST.
The sMAG
Teacher Training Working Party made a concise response with the focus on
pre-service training, accreditation and employer satisfaction with a focus in music education specialization. We believe it is vital that we continue to
engage in any consultation process put forward by AITSL as the quality of
pre-service training in music directly relates to the student outcomes in the
future.
Victorian Curriculum
The
VCAA have published online: http://victoriancurriculum.vcaa.vic.edu.au/the-arts/music/curriculum/f-10 At this early stage, it
would be interesting to hear people’s views and initial thoughts on how to
apply in the classroom.
sMAG Leadership
sMAG
is currently moving through a transition and self review process. At our October, meeting we will consider our
structural format in order to best meet the needs of the community. At this point in our journey, Ian Harvey will
continue on the committee but release his role as Co-Chair. Ian’s commitments across the music sector are
far reaching, creating huge demands on his time and expertise.
I
wish to thank Ian publicly for his generous commitment to sMAG, with consistent
and continuous contributions as Co-Chair over the last 18 months to two
years. His political insights, experience
and expertise have contributed within the team, towards the strong position of music
education in the community at this point in time. Ian’s skills in networking,
relationship building and strategic intelligence have had a significant impact
on our progress.
THANK YOU,
IAN!!!
Further, I would like to publicly thank all the members of the sMAG committee. Each professional has been giving tirelessly of their time and expertise, contributing to the many and varied reviews and submissions open to us at this time. IT is a lot of work, and as such, I genuinely value and appreciate all the time and effort that is put into our collective work.
THANK YOU ONE AND ALL!
ON FACEBOOK
sMAG ON FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/sMAGVic?fref=ts 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.
Wednesday, September 2, 2015
EARLY YEARS EDUCATION REVIEW
Last week, the Minister for Families and Children Jenny Mikakos launched a two-month state-wide consultation to build a shared vision for the future of early childhood health, development and learning in Victoria.
Parents, teachers, carers and early childhood professionals are all encouraged to get involved and contribute their ideas for how
to create a truly outstanding system. Music education makes a vibrant contribution to early childhood development, yet many children miss out on regular formalised learning in music - so please get on board.
How you can get involved:
Parents, teachers, carers and early childhood professionals are all encouraged to get involved and contribute their ideas for how
to create a truly outstanding system. Music education makes a vibrant contribution to early childhood development, yet many children miss out on regular formalised learning in music - so please get on board.
How you can get involved:
- Head to the Education State website http://educationstate.education.vic.gov.au/early-years/faqs#11370 and download the Early Childhood Consultation Paper: file:///Users/T02384537/Downloads/Early_Childhood_Consultation_Paper_(PDF).pdf
- Register your interest for one of the consultation sessions happening across the state over the next two
- months, including Geelong, Frankston, Bendigo, Broadmeadows, Latrobe Valley and Benalla.
- Take part in the online conversation forums: http://educationstate.education.vic.gov.au/early-years?tool=forum_topic#tool_tab
- Submit a formal paper to educationstate@edumail.vic.gov.au
Sunday, August 30, 2015
sMAG August ENews
Term
3 holds the music education performance calendar. Please remember to take time out for
yourselves and re-energise throughout the winter!
Victorian Inquiry Implementation Update
PREVIOUS PARTNERSHIP
ACTIONS ANNOUNCED AND IMPLEMENTED
Action 1: The VCAA is developing the
Guide and will consult on a regular basis with stakeholders. Inviting
participation, via the Notice to Schools is one consultation strategy that will
be used. Members of the education community are invited to email Helen Champion
directly, as she will hear expressions of interest to participate in
development of the guide: http://www.vcaa.vic.edu.au/Pages/correspondence/notices/2014/81.aspx
Action 2: ONLINE
NING - contributing to the professional conversation. The DET are
engaging in this NING, empowering your public voice in policy development and
are quoted here "Your engagement with, and input into the
discussions in this space will provide guidance and direction to inform the
development of policy, frameworks and advice on music education for Victorian
children and young people." Please click:http://musiceducation.ning.com/main/authorization/signUp and make your
thoughts known.
Action 3: National Music Teacher Mentoring Program - Victoria. The focus -
Singing in the P - 2 space! Teachers already trained with a Bachelor of
Education, some with a music background, some with a music specialisation, a
few from the independent and Catholic school sectors also participated. Of those, 16 will be selected to mentor 2
teachers each. By the end of the year we will see around many teachers
trained to deliver singing curriculum in P- Year 2 levels. Martina
Golding attended, and provided some enthusiastic feedback: http://smag-schoolmusicactiongroup.blogspot.com.au/2015/05/national-music-mentoring-program.html
ACTION 4: Musical Futures Australia – Teacher Professional
Learning Programs 2015 – 2018
ON May 22nd, DET published the bulletin on
Edugate with the opportunity for schools to submit an expression of interest to
the Musical Futures PD: https://edugate.eduweb.vic.gov.au/newsevents/schoolbull/Pages/Musical-Futures-Australia-Teacher-Professional-Learning-Programs-2015-2018.aspx
Expressions
of Interest were garnished from schools to participate in Musical Futures
Australia Teacher Professional Learning Programs to support the delivery of
quality music education in Victorian schools. Around 107 schools and 143 teachers
have enrolled in the program, and the PD is now being rolled out across
Melbourne and various regional centers. http://www.musicalfuturesaustralia.org/victoria.html
Annual Action: DET have taken their
second round of data in the annual schools census, which furthers meeting the
requirements for Recommendation 1 in
the inquiry report.
Ongoing Action in
consultation:
·
DET Music Education expert reference group: Consultation for invited stakeholders.
MUSIC EDUCATION SYMPOSIUMS
The
fourth DET sponsored Music Education Twilight Seminar offered a presentation from
Richard Gill OAM “Quality music
education for all” on August 6, 2015.
The inspiring hour was filmed and is available on the Music Education
Ning. To view the video, please login or
request membership to join the Ning and go to the ‘Seminars’ page.
Music
Education Ning
Planning for symposiums for Term 4 and into 2016 have commenced. We look forward to many and varied free PD
offerings supported by DET over the next 12 months.
VICTORIAN REVIEWS – sMAG Submissions
VET Funding Review
The sMAG
Teacher Training Working Party submitted a substantial paper to the VET Funding
Review with a focus on Music Education. 27
initial recommendations have been published for discussion in an issues paper –
see page 3: http://vetfundingreview.vic.gov.au/docs/vetissuespaper_WEB.pdf .
PROGRAMS FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES
REVIEW
The
Education Minister, Mr Merlino is calling for all Victorians to have their say
on the Program for Students with Disabilities (PSD).http://www.premier.vic.gov.au/have-your-say-on-supporting-s… Parents, carers, students, principals,
teachers, support and specialist staff and advocates are encouraged to submit
their solution-focused ideas in writing to the PSD Review team by Friday 11
September. Many music teachers are keenly interested in students with special
needs, as music engages so many with positive outcomes.
Email your ideas to:
psd.review@edumail.vic.gov.au before Friday 11 September and you can also
register your interest in taking part in the online survey in September. To
register, please see: PSD Review - Education Victoria.
The Education State –
Consultation paper
The thesis aligned various positions from previous reviews to
the consultation paper. It is well worth
a read, as it provides the probable direction for Education in general for the
next few years.
In summary the consultation paper proposes:
· Primary
schools reduce generalist teaching time, and increase specialist teaching times
similar to the Singapore model of delivery.
Our submission supported this proposal as it aligns with our vision to
see expert specialist trained music teachers provided protected time on the
timetable.
· Secondary
school ‘lighthouse’ models in geographically appropriate locations. Our submission supported this in alignment
with the Victorian inquiry findings.
· Subject
mentoring support structures aligned to a new Institute. We supported this notion.
A direct quote from our submission around The Education State’s
vision to address equity and inequity in the system:
“We agree that schools with a
lower socio economic catchment, high levels of disengagement, and a high intake
of special needs students need added funding. Given that music can meet the
needs of the disadvantaged, the disengaged and the special needs student we
argue that further funding to employing, training and maintaining a specialist
teacher workforce would assist greatly in achieving the aspirations of the new
Andrews Labor government. To achieve this, structural change to pre-service
training, mentoring programs and remuneration to teacher leadership structures
need to be examined.“
We also raised concerns against the Terms of Reference in regard
to funding structures, Human Resourcing (Classroom and IMT) and Special Needs
students.
We made 8 recommendations to improve in all areas mentioned.
SOUNDS GREAT - VICTORIAN MUSIC EDUCATION CONFERENCE
Sounds Great 2015 was held in the
outstanding facilities of Arts Centre Melbourne.
sMAG held an Open Forum at Sounds Great. The Plaza room was full!! Many and varied
questions came forward.
We reported verbally what we have been reporting in our ENews over the
last few months. We still have a long
road ahead of us. Music Education needs
a considerable time, investment, and collective effort from everyone in the
Music Education community to ensure our agreed vision becomes reality and makes
significant difference for generations to come. We have a real opportunity at
this point in time. The Andrew’s
government is clear on its commitment: “An Andrews Labor Government will help bring music lessons to every
Victorian school. so all Victorian government schools get the chance to refresh
or commence music education in their
classrooms.” (Labor media release
and policy announcement November 12th, 2014. So let’s ride the wave
while the surf is up! Let’s all find
something we can contribute to the vision and make a real difference for
generations to come.
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.
FEDERAL TEMAG REPORT ACTIONS
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.
AITSL
have also published a white paper and is inviting feedback on 3 key questions: http://www.aitsl.edu.au/initial-teacher-education/ite-reform-strengthened-accreditation/ite-reform-what-is-classroom-ready?utm_source=AITSL+eNews+Updates&utm_campaign=ac507b8f90-AITSL_eNews_update_August8_26_2015&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_72de9f2d1b-ac507b8f90-82859681&mc_cid=ac507b8f90&mc_eid=273c485092.
The
survey closes on September 11, 5 pm AEST.
WHAT CAN YOU DO?
Mentor
relationships are rewarding for both mentor and mentee. Across the field there are numerous graduates
coming into the music education classroom with new energy and vivacity. Some of us are closer to retirement and have
a wealth of knowledge to share! Why not
speak to your principal and/or networks and see if there is a relationship that
can be established in your local area?
The intrinsic rewards are far reaching, and may blossom to have high
impact at this exciting time in music education. We don’t need to be employed or appointed to
take on such an endeavour – it can just be a matter of finding the right
relationship for your circumstances.
Become your own marketing manager.
Music
Play For Life offer significant online resources to equip the local music
teacher to speak out on behalf of their own programs, and the need for Music
Education in Schools. Have a look at the
website: http://www.musicplayforlife.org/pdf/mpfl_lobby_kit.pdf and display some of the
posters, and notices throughout your school, both in print and online.
Music Count Us In
Music: Count Us in (MCUI) is a great way to encourage participation in your music
programs. To register or for more information visit the MCUI website: https://musicaustralia.org.au/program/countusin/register/ OCTOBER 29 – Mark your calendars!
LOCAL MUSIC EDUCATION NETWORKS
News of music teachers forming DET
professional networks has come through to us. Congratulations on the
Moreland Municipal Council music
teachers getting started - Great news! Your initiative to do
this off your own steam shows great leadership.
We hope to hear of more such networks being developed through Melbourne
municipalities and regional Victoria, as it will bring such strength to our
community.
ON FACEBOOK
sMAG ON FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/sMAGVic?fref=ts Yet another way to network, and share your
ideas and new finds in the music education area!
Please share our news with your
friends, and post your ideas to our Facebook page – we love hearing from the
whole community.
FEDERAL TEMAG REPORT ACTIONS
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.
AITSL
have also published a white paper and is inviting feedback on 3 key questions: http://www.aitsl.edu.au/initial-teacher-education/ite-reform-strengthened-accreditation/ite-reform-what-is-classroom-ready?utm_source=AITSL+eNews+Updates&utm_campaign=ac507b8f90-AITSL_eNews_update_August8_26_2015&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_72de9f2d1b-ac507b8f90-82859681&mc_cid=ac507b8f90&mc_eid=273c485092.
This paper is intended to stimulate discussion on how teacher
education programs in Australia can demonstrate their impact
on school student learning. Evidence of impact is central to the
approach to accreditation outlined in the Action Now: Classroom
Ready Teachers (Action Now) report, and the Australian
Government’s response to it. The response highlights that better
quality assurance of teacher education programs is essential to
ensure every program is preparing classroom ready teachers with
the skills they need to make a positive impact on school student
learning.
This paper builds on the strengths of the current national approach
to accreditation of initial teacher education, and the work of states
and territories in an effort to help Australia’s teachers be their best.
It proposes three questions for consideration:
1. Which of the proposed components of evidence of impact
would convince you about the quality of initial teacher education
programs?
2. What components of evidence of impact should be mandatory,
and which should be optional?
3. What evidence of impact could initial teacher education
providers feasibly collect?
The paper is intended to promote discussion of these important
questions as a basis for developing an approach to accrediting
initial teacher education programs that is based on an assessment
of their impact.
Have your say. You can submit your answers to the questions
here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/DRRQYQZ
The
survey closes on September 11, 5 pm AEST.
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