Music Education: Right from the Start

We were very fortunate to be invited to join AYO's Music in Me National Mentor Conference last Friday, and to enjoy the positive community atmosphere at Sydney's The Conservatorium High School, on Gadigal Land. It was a privilege to meet and speak with mentors from across Australia, and to share more about the collaborative work we’re doing here at Music Education: Right from the Start. It was also a valuable opportunity to connect the dots between the vital work happening on the ground with primary teachers, and our advocacy and policy efforts to ensure all primary school teachers feel confident and are well-trained to teach music. Thank you to our wonderful collaborators Bernie Heard and Louise Barkl for having us!

Thank you to Ricky Kradolfer for shining a light on why every teacher should be equipped to teach music. We believe music education isn’t just for music specialists – it’s a powerful, versatile tool that belongs in every teacher’s toolbox. Music is a universal language and a transformative force, and when all teachers are well-trained to confidently plan, teach, and assess music, it opens doors to deeper learning, greater engagement, and stronger student well-being. From boosting literacy and numeracy, to supporting inclusion and social development, a quality music education enriches every classroom, every teacher, and every student. #MusicEducation

Did you know it's the Year of the Piano?   In celebration of its new TV series The Piano, Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) has teamed up with Piano Plus Australia to deliver up to 20 pre-loved pianos, donated by organisations and individuals, to towns across Australia.   You can nominate a public space in your area to host a piano, making this iconic instrument more accessible and uniting people through the power of music. Visit: https://lnkd.in/gdPf6SA3

“Spanning the arts, humanities, and science, music is a mirror to the world – and it often reflects the beauty of life or deals with issues of our time," says our new Patron, Her Excellency the Honorable Ms Sam Mostyn AC. "It’s a powerful gift to give our young people.” Watch the Governor-General's video message in support of Music Education: Right from the Start: https://lnkd.in/gA-tsPMn

We’re honoured to welcome Her Excellency, the Honourable Ms Sam Mostyn AC, Governor-General of Australia, as Patron of Music Education: Right from the Start — championing our vision for quality music education for all primary school students. Read more on the Governor-General's support – and watch her video message – here: https://lnkd.in/gtbpmSBa

The NSW Government has responded to the Arts and Music Education and Training Inquiry report by supporting eight of 30 recommendations (and a further eight in principle). Five responses commit the Government to new or partly new actions, including the development of a 10-year Music Education Plan. The door is now open – but further detail is needed to deliver much-needed and substantive change. Read our position: https://lnkd.in/gmuNt3hB Cc: Louise Barkl Rachael Dwyer Anne Frankenberg Jason Goopy Alex Masso Stephen O'Doherty OAM Nicholas Pickard Fiona Higgins Bernie Heard Alice Gerlach Emily Albert Dr Anita Collins Judith Bowtell Alicia Neil (Image courtesy of The Australian Children's Music Foundation (ACMF)

Ed Sheeran has brought together influential voices across the UK music industry to highlight an essential truth: the future of our audiences, artists, and the industry itself depends significantly on robust music education in our schools. Here in Australia, we find ourselves navigating the very same road. The recent report to the House of Representatives "Report on the inquiry into the Australian music industry" underscored this urgency clearly, with Recommendation 11 specifically calling out the critical importance of strengthening music education nationwide. This comes hot on the heals of the "Joint Select Committee on Arts and Music Education and Training in New South Wales" that supported the need for further teacher training and the development of a 10-year music education plan. As we head towards the federal election, many significant and universal issues are understandably at the forefront of our minds. However, let’s not overlook the smaller yet impactful steps we can take—not only to guarantee the best education for every Australian child but to meaningfully enhance music education for the next generation of Australian voters. Tony Burke Jason Clare MP Sarah Henderson Claire Chandler Julia Finn Joe McGirr #MusicEducation #CulturalPolicy #IndustrySupport #FutureAudiences #EdSheeran

We're incredibly grateful to Julie Sonnemann for her invaluable contributions to Music Education: Right from the Start's Knowledge Base Working Group, as she steps back to focus on her many other commitments. Julie's extensive experience in education research and reform, and prior role with the OECD, brought both local and international perspectives to our initiative. We particularly note her expertise in economics and quantitative research and analysis, which played a crucial part in shaping the development of our research over the past few years. Beyond her professional insights, Julie, who is Education Director at Impact Economics and Policy, has been a pleasure to work with, and we truly appreciate all her time, dedication and support towards advancing quality music education. Thank you, Julie!

The NSW Government has now responded to the report recommendations of the Joint Select Committee on Arts and Music Education and Training in NSW, following last year's Parliamentary Inquiry. We’re currently reading through their response and considering what it means for the future of music education in NSW. More to come soon! You can find the response here: https://lnkd.in/gevMpgUH

We’re thrilled to see the 'Am I Ever Gonna See You Live Again?' report, released by an Australian House of Representatives Committee Inquiry into the Live Music Industry, emphasise the critical role of music education. The Committee, which was tasked with identifying opportunities and challenges within the live music industry, calls for greater collaboration between the Federal and state/territory governments to improve music education in primary schools, particularly in disadvantaged communities, and to better integrate music into school curricula – recognising its cognitive, social, and emotional benefits. It also underscores the importance of music education in shaping both a workforce and audience for the live music industry; that without fostering these skills in our youth, we won’t have a vibrant industry or audience of the future. The backing of the Federal Government for what’s already happening at the state level is most welcome, and aligns with our vision to ensure access to quality, sequential, and ongoing music education for all Australian primary school children. Fittingly, the report is titled after "Am I Ever Gonna See Your Face Again?" by The Angels – one of the pioneering Aussie rock bands signed by Albert Productions in the 70s, a reminder of the lasting impact of Australian music! View the report here: https://lnkd.in/gMV9RxnS