Resources
A key hurdle facing schools is a lack of easily-accessible resources to adequately provide effective learning opportunities for students. This is particularly pronounced in Music Education. Use these links to find out how real schools are meeting some of the common challenges in resourcing music education.
Searchable database of free Music Education resources, lesson plans, websites, etc
Common resourcing hurdles which can be overcome are:
- Lack of funds for specialist music teachers & resources
- Lack of instruments/piano
- No teaching space for music/ensembles
- Lack of curriculum support for music
- Limited computers and music software
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.
Lack of funds for specialist music teachers & resources
| Solution | Case Study & Further Reading |
|---|---|
| Shuffle staffing to allow for a specialist music teacher | Boggabilla Central School |
| Enquire about NSW DET Priority Schools Programs funding - or equivalent extra funding for low socio-economic schools | |
| Search for free lesson ideas and free music resources on www.musiceducation.edu.au | www.musiceducation.edu.au |
| Apply to The Song Room to fund an in-school performer or composer | |
| Introducing music to improve student confidence, numeracy and literacy is a relatively inexpensive approach | |
| Ask School Council/P&C committee to fundraise | |
| Seek community volunteers (including retirees) with musical training and passion | Dalyellup Primary, Basket Range Primary School |
| Invite local ensembles to have open-rehearsals in your school Hall (free) | |
| Create a Christmas CD as a fundraiser | Bicheno Primary |
| Apply for grants | The Patch Primary School |
| "Find a way to make it happen" | Virginia State School |
| Ignore disadavantage and make the most of what you've got! | Walpole Primary School |
| Bring in a 'musician-in-residence' to compose and record a new school song | Virginia State School |
| Student-run ensembles and choirs | Melbourne High School |
| Apply for a grant from Music Outback | Neutral Junction School Music Outback |
| Apply for NAB Schools First funding/grant | |
| Charge a levy (Government, Catholic and Private Schools) | Blackburn High School, Melbourne High School |
| Students (and ex-students) write songs to perform | |
| Approach a group of parents to form a volunteer Musical help committee - doing paperwork, timetables, emails, newsletters and follow-up | |
| Joining a Professional Learning Network is FREE | |
| Students write their own musical, united by an annual theme | |
| Staff write their own simplified material to suit specific groups / students AND create online videos for students to use at home (ie. guitar tutorial video) |
Lack of instruments/piano
| Solution | Case Study & Further Reading |
|---|---|
| SING, as a class and as a choir | Bees Creek Primary School, Bicheno Primary, Melbourne High School |
| Steve Langton's $7000 Musical Playground, 'Musical Ship' Moranbah Queensland, Sound Playground near Jamestown in Bundaleer Forest | Basket Range Primary School Musical Ship' Moranbah Queensland, Sound Playground near Jamestown in Bundaleer Forest, |
| Bring in whatever instruments you have at home | |
| Community fundraising | Boneo Primary School |
| eBay a keyboard | |
| Make wacky instruments, such as 'boings' from ag-pipe (see Jon Madin's book of Whacky Instruments) | |
| Ask a local instrumentalist to source bargain instruments on eBay | Bellingen High School |
| Combine recorders, didges, laptops, drums and home-made instruments from recycled materials | Padstow Park Public School, Bicheno Primary |
| Student invent their own 'junkyard challenge' and wacky instruments from unwanted farm and recycled materials | Basket Range Primary School, Deepwater Public School, Murrumburrah Public School |
| In-school fundraising (cake stall, mufti day, Zumba classes) | Toormina High School - Zumba |
| Instrument hire | New Farm State School |
| Ask for instrument donations via local radio station or newspaper | Bicheno Primary |
| Ask parents and community members to make Marimbas | Bicheno Primary, Deepwater Public School Jon Madin |
| Invite parents/family to perform at a 'Stars' Night' to fundraise for Music facilities/instruments | Glencoe Primary School |
| "Make do" with a few old guitars and start with a few chords | |
| Run talent nights or 'idol' competitions to raise instrument funds - entry by donation |
No teaching space for music/ensembles
| Solution | Case Study & Further Reading |
|---|---|
| Rehearse in a COLA (covered outdoor area) | |
| Rehearse in a library | |
| Rehearse in a local Community Hall or church | |
| Sing under a tree | |
| Rehearse in an outdoor classroom | |
| Lobby school and local government for new building | Bellingen High School |
| Virginia State School has one of the best Music programs in Australia, without a Hall or Music block | Virginia State School |
Lack of curriculum support for music
| Solution | Case Study & Further Reading |
|---|---|
| MUSIC. PLAY FOR LIFE offers lots of free resources and assistance | www.musicplayforlife.org |
| Contact your SED or local peak education body | |
| Create a partnership with local Conservatorium or University Education Dept | ANU - Ainslie Primary School, Gordon Primary School, Moil Primary School |
| Refer to www.musiceducation.edu.au for lesson ideas, and free resources to support your Music curriculum and content | www.musiceducation.edu.au |
Limited computers and Music software
| Solution | Case Study & Further Reading |
|---|---|
| Talk to IT staff and source slower, older computers | |
| Free software (Audacity) | |
| Very cheap but high-standard software (Reaper) | www.reaper.fm |
| Ask school community for donations of old computer hardware | |
| Set up a small scale recording room | Virginia State School |
| (NSW State Secondary only) Approach laptop coordinator regarding use of the pool DER laptops in the Music Department | Bellingen High School |
| Encourage multi-media projects in conjunction with other subject areas | Launceston Church Grammar School |
| Set up a school radio station (consider asking a local community radio station to assist) | Resurrection Primary School |
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.