Media Release
NATIONAL REVIEW OF SCHOOL MUSIC EDUCATION UNDERWAY
23 August 2004 MIN 891/04
I am pleased to announce that Murdoch University’s Centre for Learning, Change and Development (CLCD) will lead an expert team to undertake the National Review of School Music Education after winning the tender for the $315,000 project.
Murdoch University join with the University of Western Australia, the University of Sydney and the University of Queensland, to investigate the quality and status of music education in our schools and how we can improve both for the benefit of all students.
On March 26th, I jointly announced the establishment of the Review with my colleague, Senator the Hon. Rod Kemp, Minister for the Arts and Sport, in response to growing interest in the status of music education in schools.
The team will work in collaboration with key music industry and education organisations represented on the Review’s Steering Committee and ‘Group of Critical Friends’. There will also be the opportunity for the general community to participate in the Review through consultations and a national survey.
A website, hosted by Murdoch University, will also be established to detail progress of the project and to encourage community participation. The Review’s report is expected to be finalised in mid-2005.
The Review will identify:
- The current quality of teaching and learning of music in Australian schools;
- Factors that affect the quality and status of teaching of music in Australian schools; and
- Examples of best practice of teaching and learning of music both in Australian schools and schools overseas.
It will specifically make recommendations on:
- Models for providing opportunities for a quality music education for all Australian school students, whether musically gifted or otherwise;
- Models for identifying and monitoring students with musical talent;
- Models for integrating music with other areas of the curriculum and arts education more broadly to make learning more engaging, particularly for disadvantaged and ‘at-risk’ students; and
- Key principles and priorities to enhance the quality of teaching and learning of music education, specifically; initial teacher education; professional development provision; and curriculum approaches and materials, including the integration of music across the curriculum.
This Review further underlines the Australian Government’s support for the provision of arts education and complements an announcement on 12 August of $250,000 towards a national review of visual communication and visual arts, craft and design in Australian educational institutions.
Media Contacts:
Dr Nelson’s Office: Ross Hampton 0419 484 095
Dept of Education, Science & Training: Laila Lacis 0412 040 034
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