Australian Youth Orchestra
Music in Me Summit 2024
The AYO Music in Me Summit took place on 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?
We’ve heard clever ways teachers are weaving music into their program and how just 10 minutes of music provides the perfect warm-up for a literacy lesson – 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 recognized 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. Submissions to the NSW Parliamentary committee inquiry close this Thursday 25 July for anyone with a perspective to share.
Special guest speakers include Dr Anita Collins; writer and broadcaster Genevieve Lang; Head of Music Education: Right from the Start program, Emily Albert; Luke Wallace, The Arts Unit; Brett Weymark OAM; Sydney Philharmonia Choirs; Louise Barkl; Kate Robertson, Musica Viva Australia; Timothy Constable, Sydney Symphony Orchestra; Jacob Williams and Margie Moore, Moorambilla Voices, Dr Sue Lane and Katie Hull-Brown.
Thank you to our partners Australian Chamber Orchestra, Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Musica Viva, 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.’
Joint Select Committee on Arts and Music Education and Training in New South Wales
On 30 July, Bernie Heard (Music in Me National Manager) and Louise Barkl (Music in Me National Education Advisor) were invited to give evidence today to the Joint Select Committee on Arts and Music Education and Training in New South Wales. We welcome the NSW parliamentary inquiry into arts and music education and training in NSW and made submissions both in relation to Music in Me and AYO as a national performing arts training organization.