The Music in Me Summit took place on Monday 22 July at Walsh Bay. This event brought together hundreds of primary educators, music specialists and leading artists to try and solve a problem: how do we ensure all children – not only the lucky ones – have access to quality music education?
For the first time, we gathered expert music educators and artists from across the sector together in one day to share their music education professional learning expertise, we heard clever ways teachers are weaving music into their program and how just 10 minutes of music provides the perfect cognitive shift, preparing young brains for deep learning experiences in literacy – not to mention the added benefit of improved attendance. Schools that understand the transformative power of music have melodic school bells, outdoor music ‘rooms’ and singing in every classroom. But to achieve “quality, sequential and on-going music education” (Dr Anita Collins) for everyone we need music to be recognised for its role in developing the ‘whole human’.
We were delighted to be joined by The Hon Jacqui Monro MP and Ms Julia Finn MP from the Joint Select Committee on Arts and Music Education and Training in New South Wales.
Special guest speakers include Dr Anita Collins; writer and broadcaster Genevieve Lang; Emily Albert, Head of Music Education: Right from the Start program; Luke Wallace, The Arts Unit; Brett Weymark OAM, Artistic Director of Sydney Philharmonia Choirs; our own Music in Me colleague Louise Barkl; Kate Robertson presenting for Musica Viva Australia; Timothy Constable from the Sydney Symphony Orchestra; Jacob Williams and Margie Moore from Moorambilla Voices, James Pensini and a wonderful string quartet from the Sydney Youth Orchestras, and esteemed Orff Schulwerk practitioners, Dr Sue Lane and Katie Hull-Brown.
Thank you to our presenting partner Australian Chamber Orchestra, and our workshop partners Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Sydney Youth Orchestras, Musica Viva Australia in Schools, Moorambilla Voices, Orff Schulwerk Association of NSW, Sydney Children’s Choir, Australian Theatre for Young People (atyp) and the NSW Government
Special thanks to all the teachers who dedicated their time to the Summit to nurturing the music in all of us.
The Music in Me team received some lovely feedback from teachers who attended:
‘Music in schools should not be negotiable – it provides the kids with the foundations for learning, setting them up to achieve in life.’
‘Music education is about building a human, not just a musician.’
‘Music can be isolating in a primary school setting, so these events make us feel empowered and inspired to keep going as it validates what we are already doing for the kids.’
‘Keep fighting for and valuing music education, by being the best music educator that you can be in your context, by continuing to access whatever professional learning that you can and by enjoying what you do.’
