Professional Development
For the majority of teachers, access to Professional Development and on-going Professional Learning are essential ingredients to providing engaging Music Education in schools. The following case studies highlight the ways in which real schools are meeting the challenge of improving their teachers’ access to music training.
Common issues to be overcome include:
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.
Generalist teachers lack confidence and training
| Solution | Case Study & Further Reading |
|---|---|
| Start with MUSIC. COUNT US IN, its resources and free teacher PD | Music: Count Us In Teachers Page |
| Be inspired by free ideas on the Australian Music Education Portal | www.musiceducation.edu.au |
| Staff peer coaching re. music skills and knowledge | |
| Role model 'positive risk-taking' to your students - learn together! | |
| 70/7 singing programme - guide students to do the work and have fun! | Music Education Program - ANU |
| Musical INTENT is as valuable is musical skill | Ainslie Primary School |
| "Empower them to be creative, and (students) take charge of their own learning" | All Saints' College Jnr School |
| aMuse PD | www.amuse.vic.edu.au |
| Purchase kits with DVDs/CDs | Ramp-Up by Jozzbeat |
| Teachers learn a new instrument in school band / Bell choir, sitting among their students | Virginia State School, Turner School |
| Incursions | |
| Musica Viva PD | Musica Viva website |
| NSW DET PD | |
| Older and more capable students teach others; peer teaching; musical buddy system | Padstow Park Public School, Glencoe Primary School |
| Gen. teachers take turns to attend specialist Music lessons/rehearsals (personal development) | Port Lincoln |
| SoundHouse | soundhouse.org.au/pd |
| Midnight Music | midnightmusic.com.au/ |
| Big Music | bigmusic.com.au/learn/professional-development |
| Music Career wiki | www.aymc.org.au/musiccareer |
| Crescendo Music Education | crescendo.com.au/ |
| Futura Music Education | www.futuramusiceducation.com.au |
| Solavoce Choral Conducting and Musicianship Courses | www.solavoce.com.au |
No access to PD for generalists
| Solution | Case Study & Further Reading |
|---|---|
| MUSIC. COUNT US IN PD is free | www.musiccountusin.org.au |
| Watch the Music Education Portal for Professional Learning / Development - some are free and/or online | |
| Include Music PD in next year's budget | |
| Sing Up (UK) | |
| Use a music teaching system with built-in instructional videos and online community for support | |
| 70/7 | Music Education Program - ANU |
| New online PD & PL - coming soon thanks to the National Broadband Network |
Music: Play for Life is the Music Council of Australia's grassroots campaign to get more Australians making music: in schools, communities, everywhere.
The More Music Toolkit was produced with the kind assistance of the Ian Potter Foundation.