Curriculum

In today's busy school day, Music sometimes gets overlooked. Click on the links to discover how real school communities have met some of the key challenges of getting quality music education prioritised for their students.

Common curricular hurdles and attitudes that can be overcome are:

Music is a low priority in a busy curriculum
Music is not part of the 'academic' program
Full timetable
Advice

If you require more information about any of these please contact the This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it at Music. Play for Life.

Music is a low priority in a busy curriculum

Solution	Case Study & Further Reading
Seek your community's support and insistence at School Council meetings
Integrate Music and repertoire with other curriculum areas (eg. Maths, LOTE, quality Literacy, cinema …)	All Saints' College Jnr School, Basket Range Primary School, Dalyellup Primary, Turner School, Bees Creek Primary School, Vermont Primary School, Curran Public School, Henbury School, Harrison School, Girraween Primary School www.songsforteaching.com
Creative students achieve other curriculum outcomes faster - students feel ready to do their 'other work' after a daily sing	New Farm State School, Bees Creek Primary School, Walpole Primary School, Merri Creek Primary School
Self-esteem, leadership, confidence and listening skills (via Music) improve learning outcomes in other KLAs	Basket Range Primary School, Padstow Park Primary School
Assists with truancy, ie. Indigenous students	Neutral Junction School
Music teaches emotional skills / emotional intelligence & social etiquette - where else it that found in the curriculum?	Virginia State School, Killara Primary School
Bring small schools together through music (marimbas) to increase peer groups, self-esteem and school spirit	Deepwater Public School
Students perform in lunchtime concerts	All Saints' College Jnr School
Teach self-esteem, connectedness, belonging, awareness and commitment through studies in music	Footscray City Primary School
Communal singing becomes part of school rituals (assembly, lining up, ceremonies …)	Melbourne High School
Music is part of the NSW Curriculum syllabus - COMPULSORY - and part of a COMPLETE education for all students	Ten Facts About School Music
Create an intranet site where students can share thoughts and ideas on music (in their own time)	Killara Primary School
Research shows that Music boosts student HAPPINESS	Harrison School
Primary students can support literacy and ownership of curriculum by writing their own songs and turning them into 'Big Books'	Spring Gully Primary School

Music is not part of the 'academic' program

Solution	Case Study & Further Reading
Allowing students to write their own songs (aged 6+) supports almost ALL other aspects of their lives	Spring Gully Primary School
Music study boosts and supports academic outcomes eg. memory, group work, reasoning, science of music	New Farm State School, Walpole Primary School, Port Lincoln Primary, Guardian Angels Primary School
Music benefits other subject areas, particularly when there is musical participation EVERY day ... so schedule 20 minutes of music every day in Primary and Middle School	St Aidan's Anglican Girls' School
Embrace Music as being as normal as reading, writing and sport	Launceston Church Grammar School, Bees Creek Primary School
Student leadership of ensembles and peer tutoring boosts self-esteem	Padstow Park Public School, Melbourne High School, South Hobart Primary, Curran Public School
Music provides cross-age friendships and learning opportunities	Virginia State School, Melbourne High School
Integrate a musical playground with Maths, Literacy and Science studies	Basket Range Primary School
More than Words can say: a view of literacy through the Arts (advocating a multiply literate education in Australia)	Dalyellup Primary www.ausdance.org.au/education/naae/publications/more-than-words-can-say.pdf
Negotiated curriculum' - allow students an area to shine (other than numeracy & literacy)	Dominican School
Music is a second language	Merri Creek Primary School, MLC
Music is compulsory in many States for Year 7 and 8, and the standards/outcomes cannot be achieved without primary years preparation
Use Music to introduce emerging technologies (record CDs, music production with GarageBand)	St Christopher's
Music is integral to life - from childhood through to adulthood	Footscray City Primary School

Full timetable

Solution	Case Study & Further Reading
Use one assembly/role call per week plus a lunchtime rehearsal for choir
Schedule 20 mins of 'after lunch reading/drawing' with optional choir at the same time (twice per week)
One weekly choir rehearsal during school time, with an optional lunchtime rehearsal
Integrate music in many and diverse areas - including physiotherapy & positive playground management!	Henbury School
Offer single senester Music classes to Years 8-10 on specific topics such as 'Broadway Music' or 'Technology + Film Music' or 'Women in Music'	Smith's Hill High School
Schedule 20 minutes of music EVERY day for lower Primary students "Every Day Music"	St Aidan's Girls School

Advice

Solution	Case Study & Further Reading
"By challenging the normal practice, it is always an unknown world that you venture into, but we believe that music education is extremely important, not only from a curriculum outlook, but also with social skills and self-esteem."	Virginia State School