More money for a sound education
Music education in schools will be expanded over the next three years with a $7.5 million commitment by the State Government.
There will be funding of $2.5 million each year for the next three years to help ensure every child and young person has access to quality music education from the early years.
The announcement follows the release of a new report: ‘Setting the tempo’ – a research initiative supported by Alberts | The Tony Foundation’s Music Education: Right from the Start, and the ϳԹn Department for Education.
The report featured a survey of teachers and representatives from 115 public primary schools that identified the benefits of music learning in the classroom.
Almost all teachers agree it improves students' educational experiences (97%), with similar responses seen for positive impact on literacy and numeracy skills (94%) and reduced stress and anxiety among students (94%).
The study shows that teachers from ϳԹn primary schools universally back the student benefits of music learning, but many agree that teacher training, dedicated facilities and appropriate resources are lacking.
Emily Albert, Executive Director of Alberts | The Tony Foundation’s Music Education: Right from the Start said, while most teachers graduate without the skills to deliver music learning to all levels of curriculum expectations, ϳԹn teachers have strong access to support and a clear willingness to advance their capabilities.
“That’s good news for students. This research adds to the body of evidence linking music learning and students’ educational, developmental, and personal wellbeing outcomes”.
“Now, we must ensure access to resources and the good practices adopted by many schools are equally applied to all in the state, so no student is left behind in their learning journey”.
Research Project Lead, Dr Anita Collins said this research shows strong foundations for music learning delivery across ϳԹn schools, particularly support for teachers, which aligns with the focus of the SA Music Education Strategy.
“While positive, every student deserves the full benefit music education can bring. Achieving it relies on both the more equitable delivery of music education and giving every teacher the resources to deliver it”.
The extended investment in the program will go towards buying more musical instruments for schools, extra training, upskilling non-specialist teachers to become music teachers and making music more accessible by having music spaces and rooms available at schools.
Music education includes singing, playing a musical instrument, songwriting or composing. Under the Music Education Strategy, music should be part of students’ regular learning, rather than a special activity.
The Pines School Assistant Principal Toula Girgolas said, at our school, music education is delivered in a variety of ways.
“All preschool junior primary staff are mentored in teaching music through the National Music Teacher Mentoring Program”.
“We have a permanent arts teacher who teaches music across the school, and a leader who coordinates our music program and teaches music to individual students and groups. An instrumental teacher also visits once a week to teach students”.
“Currently we have five classrooms being used for music education as we have 150 students from years 3 to 6 playing 15 different instruments”.
“I have seen many benefits of music education in my time as a teacher. At the Pines, I have seen a marked improvement in the emotional and social wellbeing of our students as well as an increase in their self-esteem and focus through experiencing challenges and successes”.
Read more about the department’s Music Education Strategy.
