http://www.3mbs.org.au/?q=node/1816

William Barton

William Barton is Australia’s foremost Didjeridu performer and an international cultural ambassador to audiences throughout the world. A musician who seemingly crosses the wide bound from traditional indigenous music to modern day classical presentation with ease.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1RmWo408_CmH4iCdLifzUj9N86nyj9p45IW32oi1sTbw/edit?hl=en_US&authkey=CI7NrPQG

Here are 41 FREE ideas from Scott Watson about ways to use GarageBand software in the music classroom. (You may need to login to Google in order to view this file.)

Enjoy!

http://www.education.gov.uk/inthenews/inthenews/a0074209/education-secretary-pledges-825m-for-music-education

“£82.5m will be given to music services across England next year.

The money will be used to make opportunity more equal in music education and enhance the prestige and esteem of music teaching as a career route for professional musicians.”

ACARA launches Australian Curriculum Wiki to facilitate consultation on the new Australian curriculum.

http://www.mca.org.au/advocacy/2011-papers/17228-review-of-private-sector-support-for-the-arts

A Review of Private Sector Support for the Arts

http://www.bellingencourier.com.au/news/local/news/general/ann-phelan-rewarded-for-music-leadership/2217342.aspx

Congratulations to Ann Phelan, who has just been awarded a national ASME award for excellence in music education. Ann unites her entire community of young people, both public and private school students, along with a broad base of supporters from all reaches of the Bellingen community.

http://ia600505.us.archive.org/20/items/MusicAsIdentityLessonPlan/MusicAsIdentityOnlineLessonPlan.pdf

A free lesson plan from Nick Jaworski designed for Year 9-12 students reflecting on MUSIC & IDENTITY. It involves using Audacity (or other music editing software) to create a 3 minute audio project. This project may suit Challenge-Based-Learning principals.

(from Ensemble: 23 June 2011)

Power of song personified in new Australian documentary

The Hon Peter Garrett MP, Minister for School Education, Early Childhood and Youth, 5 May, 2011

The Minister for School Education, Peter Garrett, today launched the documentary film Seriously Singing – a Cinderella Story at the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music.

Seriously Singing documents the achievements of the choir of Lake Boga Primary School and its conductor, Jessie Carmichael (nee Arnold), in the Jubilee year of Federation, 1951.

Representing Victoria in the Commonwealth Jubilee School Choirs’ festival, Lake Boga Primary was crowned Victoria’s best small primary school choir, singing before Prime Minister Sir Robert Menzies in the Royal Exhibition Buildings in Melbourne.

“The unique historical insights this documentary contains are an inspirational story for all Australian schools,” said Mr Garrett.

“It shows the powerful transformation that making music and singing can have on students’ lives.”

Read more:http://www.deewr.gov.au/Ministers/Garrett/Media/Releases/Pages/Article_110506_083844.aspx

http://www.acer.edu.au/documents/AER-58.pdf

A research project conducted  through ACER with input from John O’Toole, very much advocating the importance of The Arts in education (and part of the National Curriculum).

http://bigmusic.com.au/learn/professional-development

Big Music offers professional development in Music & Multimedia.

A interesting, if comical, pictorial explanation of how to get more money for secondary music AND engage more students.

http://teachingmusic.tumblr.com/post/7034375810/what-we-get-wrong-an-illustrated-guide-to-our-music

http://www.howtopractice.com/

Scroll down for tips on how to practise better. Ideas to share with your students. By Robert Duke.

One recent trend in education is “Challenge-Based Learning” (CBL) … real-life, relevant, project-based learning (often using Apple software). Read more …

http://www.scoop.it/t/challenge-based-learning-resources

http://www.apple.com/education/challenge-based-learning/#cbl-engaging-video

Sydney Morning Herald Article

http://news.smh.com.au/national/choral-singing-makes-you-happy-survey-20080710-3cyg.html

Choral singing makes you happy: survey

The Clarinet and Saxophone Society of Victoria is again holding their
annual VCE masterclass afternoon on Sunday August 7th at 2:30pm at MLC
(Barkers Rd, Kew).

Year 11 and 12 students studying clarinet and saxophone are invited to
apply to play and be workshopped. We are fortunate to have Peter
Rickard, a senior AMEB examiner and Head of Woodwind at Scotch College
as the tutor for the afternoon.

Places will be allocated on a first in, best dressed basis so please
apply soon to avoid disappointment!

Other students, especially those in Year 9 or 10 and contemplating VCE
music, are encouraged to attend as audience members, as is anybody
else who is interested.

All enquiries to Fiona McKellar (fionakmckellar@gmail.com).

Lesson Idea: Ask Middle School students to create their own way of writing music. Students might work in groups or individually.

Use the book “Notations 21: Visualizing Music Notation” for some interesting examples / inspiration. (Many pages are shown free online.)

Share ideas with the class, explaining how the new notation ‘works’.

THIS IS SO COOL!!

An Orff-inspired plastic cup dance to go with “We’ve Got the Music” MCUI 2011. Thanks to Kristie Fudge (SA) for the free offering. The document also includes lesson plans for teaching the song.

click here for download link

https://www.det.nsw.edu.au/about-us/news-at-det/news/tuning-into-a-new-world

Matraville Soldiers’ Settlement School has seen improvement in NAPLAN results, thanks to Music in school. Read the article (above).

http://crescendo.com.au/index.php?option=com_docman&task=cat_view&gid=48&Itemid=32

Crescendo Music offers a file full of practical ideas for tricky Year 7 Music classes.

http://whatmusicmeans.mypodcast.com/

Dr Scott Watson (US) shares his experiences as a music educator and conductor via a series of free podcasts.

Flame Award applications are due Monday 29th August – be part of the $15 000 prize pool. ALL Australian schools are invited to apply (Primary & Secondary).

Lesson idea: play some laid-back music, hand out paper and pencils, and ask students to write down and/or draw what they love about MUSIC at your school. Display some of the responses on school noticeboards / websites and around your music classroom  Copy some of their ideas into your Flame Award submission

ENTER FLAME AWARDS HERE

FLAME AWARDS: This year’s theme is: ‘creative and engaging ways of delivering music education’. Entries are open to Primary and Secondary schools across Australia in 2011.

Visit the Flame Awards website for entry information

http://www.musicplayforlife.org/index.php/campaigns/flames

Due 22nd August, 2011.

If you are looking for free online resources to help teach the Music Count Us In song, just follow this link.

http://musiccountusin2011.wikispaces.com

Keep checking- more resources added regularly!

www.jozzbeat.com/MCUI2011/home

This is a fun way to learn / teach the Music: Count Us In song for 2011 (We’ve Got the Music). In fact, the song will teach itself, all ready for the massed-music-making MCUI event on 1st September, 2011.

If you don’t yet have a free login, and have registered for Music: Count Us In, please send an email to mcui.admin@mca.org.au requesting a Jozzbeat login.

ENJOY!!!

http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/music4education-podcast/id447641351#

http://cnx.org/content/col10363/latest/ “Understanding Basic Music Theory”

This course includes a review of common notation and an introduction to the physics behind music theory, as well as the basic concepts of music theory and a few slightly advanced but very useful topics, such as transposition.

Care of Crescendo Music’s website:

Funny Answers from Students on Music Exams

The principal singer of nineteenth-century opera was called pre-Madonna.

It is easy to teach anyone to play the maracas. Just grip the neck and shake him in rhythm.

Gregorian chant has no music, just singers singing the same lines. Sherbet composed the Unfinished Symphony.

All female parts were sung by castrati. We don’t know exactly what they sounded like because there are no known descendants.

Music sung by two people at the same time is called a duel; if they sing without music it is called Acapulco.

A virtuoso is a musician with real high morals.

Contralto is a low sort of music that only ladies sing.

A harp is a nude piano.

The main trouble with a French Horn is that it is too tangled up.

An interval in music is the distance from one piano to the next.

The correct way to find the key to a piece of music is to use a pitchfork.

Agitato is a state of mind when one’s finger slips in the middle of playing a piece.

Refrain means don’t do it. A refrain in music is the part you’d better not try to sing.

I know what a sextet is but I’d rather not say.

Most authorities agree that music of antiquity was written long ago.

My favorite composer was Opus. Agnus Dei was a woman composer famous for her church music.

Henry Purcell was a well-known composer few people have ever heard of.

Johann Sebastian Bach wrote a great many musical compositions and had a large number of children. In between he practiced on an old spinster which he kept up in his attic.

There’s a wacky, catchy kids song on YouTube – in English, he is “Gummy Bear” … in French he is “Funny Bear”. The first half of the song is in C major, and the melody uses A, C, D & E, so it suits glockenspiels or beginner keyboards.

Lesson idea: Practise alternate hand slapping on thighs: 6 taps starting on left … short rest … 6 taps starting on left … 14 taps starting on right. Play the YouTube clip to Middle School students. Get the kids singing the chorus. Add in the ‘hand slapping on thighs’ pattern during the chorus (it fits with the chorus rhythm). Ask students to figure out the melody, which starts on A.

Extension: see if students can alternate their glockenspiel mallet hands (as per the hand slapping warm-up).

Melody: A A A C A A – - A A A C E E – - E E E D D D D D D D E D C A – -

Further extension: Write the chorus melody on the board as a row of quavers and quaver rests. Ask students to help put in the bar-lines and time signature.

http://www.smh.com.au/national/aboriginal-anthem-a-truly-uplifting-experience-20110706-1h2el.html#ixzz1Rfy25DsN

This article in the Herald Sun describes the process for creating an indigenous translation for Advance Australia Fair (for NAIDOC week). Free teachers’ notes are found HERE.  A kit has also been released ($26) with advice on how to teach the song.

“This is about changing the way we teach and appreciate the language, culture and traditions of Aboriginal people,” Mr Garrett said.

A short example of the video teaching kit is found HERE along with ‘how to purchase the kit’ information.

The 2011 iNTune Music Conference – August and September 2011 – across Darwin and Alice Springs.

http://musicnt.com.au/programs/intune/intune-music-conference-2011/

iNTune attracts some of Australia’s leading music industry figures to the Northern Territory for one-off masterclasses, networking, inspiring panels and showcases of the best bands from the Northern Territory.

http://www.couriermail.com.au/questnews/central/computer-key-to-schools-music-future/story-fn8ygho7-1226088042117

Moorooka State School is using technology (such as iPads & GarageBand) to inspire composition and music education.

New Music Education blog:

jellymusic.tumblr.com
It’s a place to put up posts of interest for music educators … a place to build a community of music teachers … a place where you can post pictures, videos, recordings of any school music event you’d like to tell others about.

VCE Music teachers – do you have a request for a live performance of Australian works?

Fed Square and Patma Music (http://www.patmamusic.org.au/patma.html) will present a new education series in 2012, with a focus on Australian music.

Please e-mail me directly if you would like to hear any particular compositions in live performance (pre-1910 and/or twentieth-century Australian music).
cindy.thomas@fedsquare.com

Concerts will be held in May and September 2012, and will be supported with teacher resources.  Feel free to send me any comments or suggestions for programming to suit your students’ needs.

Regards, Cindy Thomas
Cindy Thomas | Fed Square Pty Ltd
Program Manager – Education

Audio Production and MIDI Sequencing in Logic Pro 9
COURSE CODE: MA3
DURATION: 3hrs per weeknight for 6 Weeks
COST: $410 inc GST
LOCATION: Music Department, Footscray Nicholson Campus (Vic)
COURSE DATES AVAILABLE: 20, 27 July, 3, 19, 17, 24 Aug 2011

This short course will be an introduction to audio recording/editing and MIDI sequencing in Apple’s industry standard Digital Audio Workstation.
Ideal for solo artists, music teachers and anyone interested in creating their own music on a Mac computer. Learn how to record, edit and mix your own professional composition from beginning to end. This course will be based in a computer lab.

The following topics will be covered:
*       Basic audio theory
*       Audio recording
*       Audio editing
*       MIDI sequencing
*       Software AU instruments
*       Synthesis and sampling
*       Mixing skills
The main software used will be Logic Pro 9.

The outcomes will be:
*       basic operation of audio hardware in a recording studio
*       basic knowledge of audio principles
*       basic operation of a Digital Audio Workstation

To register or for more information contact 03 9919 1932 or email ci_shortcourses@vu.edu.au

MARIMBA MUSIC CAMP

(It’s for all instruments, actually.)

Need a winter boost for your teaching?

Looking for classroom instrumental ideas?

Enjoy making music with great players?

Appreciate talking with other teachers?

The second weekend of Term 2 VOSA will hold its 18^th Marimba Camp ( 29^th – 31^st July) at Candlebark Farm near Healesville. It’s great for families, but teachers also find it a great boost and a chance to glean ideas for the music classroom while enjoying making music with others and talking things over with our workshop leaders and fellow teachers.

Come for an afternoon, come for a day, or come for the whole weekend.

Sessions for Teachers:

As always, there are workshops specifically designed to boost your teaching skills. Apart from the Saturday afternoon, where everyone learns pieces with our camp presenters, there is a special Sunday morning workshop with Jon Madin offering marimba pieces and the chance to take home your own instrument – one of Jon’s 3-tone aggy-pipe ‘J-Boppers’ which you will make during the session.

Will your school send you?

Many teachers find schools are happy to fund the Marimba Camp as a Professional Learning experience for teachers – especially when they find this is over a weekend and classes will not need to be covered.

Three experienced and inspiring regular camp leaders will all be leading activities:  Jon Madin, Andy Rigby and Phil Melgaard. Liz Bennett will also offer a String Ensemble for mixed ages/levels this year.

To register for Marimba Camp, go to the website:

www.vosa.org

Or ring Judy Johnson, 0438 839 098.

free viewing of video clips for Music: Count Us In 2011

http://www.musiccountusin.org.au/media/media-2011

Includes a segment from Saturday Disney, extracts from the song-writing workshop, and more …

A FREE online tool to help teachers/parents get MORE music in Australian schools.

http://moremusictoolkit.org.au/

Just launched – check it out!

Includes case studies from award-winning Australian schools, as well as practical advice on overcoming potential hurdles.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U-5HUEa5Zz0

Mrs Carey’s Concert – a film by Bob Connolly & Sophie Raymond. A story about music making and coming of age, about talent and courage, compliance and rebellion. About those prepared to open their minds and hearts to what the world has to offer … and those yet to discover the potential within.

Read about MSO’s Education Week 2011

http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/music/hitting-the-right-note-20110614-1g1qj.html#ixzz1Q5×4PvYR

A resource site explaining the mathematics behind music

http://plus.maths.org/content/os/issue35/features/rosenthal/index

A cute 4 minute video to share with any year level.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MAY1UoQYMHk

After watching the movie, ask your class to create some more musical artwork.

Do you have any students who need extra help or coaching for their theory exam?
… practice written theory exams for grades 1,2,3 and 4 theory students
(Grade 5 students can be accommodated depending on vacancies).

There are sessions available on Saturday 13th and Saturday 20th August 2011 and will be held in Mt Eliza.
Group sessions commence at 10am and 2pm and normal theory exam length will apply.
Papers will be supplied, marked and commented on for improvement
Costs are Grade 1 – $30, Grade 2 – $35, Grade 3 – $40 and Grade 4 – $45c
These sessions have previously been an enormous help for teachers who don’t have the necessary time
They are conducted by fully qualified piano teachers lead by Bev Woodford

If interested please email Bev Woodford on
bev@myacn.net.au

Music therapy

Go behind the scenes with seven Australian music therapists and see how they draw on the many benefits of music in their work with clients in a variety of settings. The case studies look at the role of music therapy in special education, aged care, palliative care, community services and others. As well as the downloadable versions, the case studies have been produced as a booklet which is being mailed to all federal and State/Territory MPs from Music: Play for Life and the Australian Music Therapy Association. The case studies were developed to coincide with the annual celebration of music and wellbeing, Making Music Being Well.

Lesson Idea: In the spirit of “Musical Futures”, give your students access to the MP3 of “We’ve Got the Music” … divide them into groups of 4-6 with drums / guitars / keyboards / ukuleles / percussion, etc  … ask them to come up with their OWN version of “We’ve Got the Music” (about 30 mins) simply by using their ears, playing along with the MP3, experimenting and supporting each other … share their performance attempt with the class.

The key factor is that the student performance SHOULD sound different from the original MP3, reflecting the group’s creative interpretation.

“We’ve Got the Music” is the 2011 program song for MUSIC: COUNT US IN

www.musiccountusin.org.au

Soon to be launched is a wiki for advice and information regarding careers in the music industry – a portal and source of information to help music people, especially artists, develop their careers.

musiccareer.com.au

http://fyiliving.com/research/musicians-brains-stay-sharp-as-they-age/

Research involving 70 senior citizens shows that the serious pursuit of instrumental music during younger years will benefit mental agility as the years advance.

Full article: Neuropsychology, Vol 25(3), May 2011, 378-386.

http://www.abc.net.au/rn/lifematters/stories/2011/3264682.htm

Listen to an interview about “Musicians without borders” and music therapy with Laura Hassler.

http://teachingmusic.tumblr.com/lessons/

A blog about NEW ways to teach Year 6 – 12 classroom music. Includes philosophical discussion AND free lesson plans.

Gove FM, with support from the NT Government, will be hosting Nhulunbuy’s biggest ever festival day on August the 20th at The Hindle Oval.

The Take Control Youth Festival will be a drug and alcohol free event that combines sport, music, workshops and healthy lifestyle promotions.

Melbourne indie rock band Children Collide and Sydney hip-hop outfit Horrorshow will headline the event. Other acts include a number of great local indigenous bands like Alice Springs desert reggae stars the Tjupi Band, Darwin hip hop crews ADK and Emerald Sun and East Arnhems latest salt water reggae outfit East Journey.

Local high school band comp winners The Sleeveheads will also share the stage with former Gove local Tamika Rose’s new band The Riff. In the week leading up to the event The Indigenous Hip-Hop Project will run dance workshops for local youth.

http://cnx.org/content/col10214/latest/ “Sound Reasoning”

“Sound Reasoning” is a web-based, introductory music appreciation course. It features an explanation, followed by a relevant musical audio quote.

This e-text offers a new approach to music appreciation for adults or 17-18 year old students, focusing on style-independent concepts. While the course concentrates primarily on Western classical and modern music, the concepts that are introduced apply to music of any style or era. The goal of “Sound Reasoning” is to equip you with questions that you may ask of any piece of music, thereby creating a richer and more comprehensive understanding of music both familiar and unfamiliar.

www.orffnsw.org.au

… a brand new ‘Orff NSW’ website! It’s a one-stop-shop for fabulous resources, news, sample lessons, information about our courses in NSW and the ACT – including the Sydney Levels Courses in the September school holidays – and MORE!

All our Professional Development courses in NSW are endorsed by the NSWIT and are designed to strengthen your skills and confidence in teaching music and movement using the creative ‘Orff Schulwerk’ approach. Registrations for the ’Dance as a Creative Art’ workshop (4th August), on the Central Coast, presented by the wonderful Sue Lane, close this week.

Penrith Valley Learning Centre is working through issues with troubled students via music recording and video creation projects.

8 July 2011 = Percy Grainger’s 129th birthday

http://sharedconcernsstage2.com/

Welcome to the web portal for my PhD project. This project seeks to investigate the ways in which instrumental teachers can improve their teaching practice through collaboration with other instrumental teachers by means of a web based forum. It expects that the forum will facilitate the sharing of knowledge and experiences and become a medium for group problem solving thereby allowing teachers to learn from each others’ experiences and improve their own teaching practice.

http://crescendo.com.au/index.php?option=com_docman&task=cat_view&gid=91&Itemid=32

The first powerpoint has some examples of early childhood / lower primary songs and teaching ideas. It starts with a cute tree which illustrates how music fits into the various components of a child.

The second powerpoint on this site is an advocacy presentation for music education in schools.

Please remind your Year 9-12 students (Australia) that ReCount entries are due this week!! (August 1st, 2011)

http://www.musiccountusin.org.au/recount-2011

Re-mix, extend or re-record the song “We’ve Got the Music” during class-time for a fun lesson

A quick heads-up that the Music: Count Us In remix competition, RECOUNT, closes at midnight on Monday 1st August. John Foreman is standing by to pick the winners, so if you know a secondary school student who remixes or rearranges, send them to the website where they can download the stem files from this year’s recording of the program song, ‘We’ve Got the Music’ (Thirsty Merc’s Rai Thistlethwayte is co-writer with three high school students), remix it and send it back to us as an MP3. The competition is only open to students at schools registered in Music: Count Us In. There are great prizes on offer, including some Zoom R24 mixers and the handy Zoom H1 recorders. Entry is free to all registering schools. More here.

http://tedxsydney.com/site/item.cfm?item=17373783BE511B3C5870DE26F37EE989

Free online video – a must watch!

If you’re based in South Australia and writing and performing original music, you should be considering what grants you might be eligible for!

Come along to the ‘band room’ of The Wheatheaf Hotel to talk about how you might be able to access some funds towards your next tour, album, international travels or professional development project.

THURSDAY 21 JULY
5.30PM – 6.30PM
THE WHEATSHEAF HOTEL (Band Room)
George Street, Thebarton

Dear Secondary Classroom Teachers,

The National Review of School Music reports that the standard of singing in Australian secondary schools is patchy, that many teachers are afraid to sing, and that teacher education is needed to improve the standard of singing.  Is this true?  We don’t actually know!

I am inviting you to complete an online survey which will give you a chance to have your say on this issue.  You can find out more and complete this survey by clicking on the link below: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/secondaryvoices

Thanks, Darren Wicks

http://health.howstuffworks.com/mental-health/human-nature/happiness/singing-happy.htm#mkcpgn=tw1

This article confirms what many of us know – that singing (especially in groups) makes you happy.

http://www.soundthinkingaustralia.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=index

Sound Thinking Australia is a sales point for Music texts and resources.

Melbourne Conservatorium of Music will be holding a new intensive graduate course in September. This subject can be taken as  a single study under the CAP program <http://conservatorium.unimelb.edu.au/future_students/cap>  or for credit towards the Master of Music Studies <http://www.conservatorium.unimelb.edu.au/mmusstud_int>

Strategies for teaching Balinese music <http://conservatorium.unimelb.edu.au/mmusstud_int/balinese>

Lecturer: Dr Made Hood
September 3–4 and 10–11, 2011
Tallis Wing, Melbourne Conservatorium of Music, Parkville

In this subject you will gain hands-on experience rehearsing on the magnificent bronze seven-tone Semar pegulingan ensemble from Bali, Indonesia. You will learn to play the instruments of the gamelan leading to a short dramatic performance related to the ritual life of this famous tourist island; learn aspects of the cultural context of gamelan music; and how to teach short forms of gamelan music (such as baris and bapang) that can be recreated in the classroom.

Course enquiries can be made via our website <http://vcam.unimelb.edu.au/contact>

http://www.intelliware.com.au/Education/Education.aspx

Practical plans and ideas for teaching music with the aid of technology – from Intelliware website.

1) “I’m going to play you a song about my weekend” …

2) Play (live or on YouTube or CD) ‘Hercules’ from the movie ‘Hunchback from Notre Dame’ … asking students to think about what it has to do with the weekend.

3) Afterwards, ask students if they’ve made any connection/s … hopefully they will offer up answers about watching Cadel Evans win the Tour de France (French bike race).

4) Help students to recall the lyrics, song moods, compositional tools, etc which relate to winning a big race.

5) In small groups, ask students to brainstorm other songs that could be used as background music for a ‘highlights segment’ on the 2011 Tour de France.

Resources: free video footage of Cadel Evans after his huge win http://player.sbs.com.au/cycling#/cycling_08/tourdefrance/tdf_interviews/playlist/Cadel-Evans-post-Stage-20/

http://www.ujam.com/

Online song-creation … start by humming a melody into the computer … choose instruments, styles, form … publish a song

A lesson plan of its own – since the webpage guides you through each selection.

NB: You will need to create a login.

Here is a list of recommendations on ways to use the iPad in the music classroom. It includes mentions of special ed. uses as well.

http://midnightmusic.com.au/index.php/2011/07/super-round-up-ipads-in-music-education/

This year’s VMTA Clifford Lecture is to be held at the State Library Theatrette on Sunday August 7, 2.00pm.

It will be presented by Prof Gary McPherson, Ormond Professor and Director,
Melbourne Conservatorium of Music.

The topic is:

“Evidence based approaches to teaching music to children and adolescents”

Every year, thousands of Australian children begin learning a musical
instrument and embark on an aspect of skill acquisition that is not only
complex and time-consuming, but which also requires years of dedicated
practice and commitment in order to achieve success. A major challenge for
research, therefore, is to find better and more efficient ways for
developing the range of skills required to perform proficiently.

With the above as his context, Professor McPherson will describe recent
research that provides new insight into the nature of musical ability,
development and identity.  His presentation will be framed to show how
development is uniquely individual and how various forces act to either
enhance or hinder each learner¹s musical potential. Practical examples will
be included and discussed that teachers may like to consider in their
everyday teaching practice and that have been shown to enhance student
learning and motivation to continue learning and participating well into
adult life.

Tickets: $20 VMTA members/ $25 non-members/ $12 full-time students

To book, simply call 03 9415 1314 or email the office vmta@vmta.org.au.
Booking forms are also downloadable from our website
www.victorianmusicteachersassociation.org.au.

http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/a/-/wa/9776295/more-kids-tune-into-music/

Statistics show that 20% of WA students learn a musical instrument outside of school time.

“North Fremantle community arts development co-ordinator and music teacher Claire Coleman said the rise reflected the growing understanding of the artistic and educational benefits of learning to play an instrument.”

http://simonpurcell.wordpress.com/2010/09/02/robert-duke-why-students-dont-learn-what-we-think-we-teach/

This interesting online lecture is aimed at Tertiary (Music) educators, spoken by US educator Robert Duke.