Page 25 - The Song Room 2021 Year in Review

Seeing how engaged and excited the children are about music is incredible. The program raised the principal’s awareness and support for music in the curriculum, and knowing expertise is accessible through The Song Room is helpful.” TEACHER, ST ANDREWS PRIMARY SCHOOL, VIC
Research projects in development
Australian Council of Education Research (ACER) continue to examine the long-term effect of Arts Learning on student outcomes and school culture as part of the independent evaluation of our three-year pilot program Transformational Learning through Creativity (TLC).
The evaluation is taking place in 17 schools and includes student, teacher and leadership interviews and surveys to assess the experience across the program indicators. Currently in its second year, the final report is due in 2023.
In 2021 ACER delivered an interim report identifying improvement in students’ skills and knowledge, behaviour management and confidence. Teachers indicated that they have increased capability to incorporate sequential arts learning into their practice. They are highly engaged in the three-year process and are keen to realise the full benefits of their participation. School leaders have shown a commitment to providing time and space for the arts. Both teachers and school leaders believe the program’s design is delivering on expected outcomes.
Australian Society for Music Education (ASME)
On September 29, Elise Hopkins and Katie Hull-Brown presented at the National Australian Society for Music Education (ASME) conference. Expanding on the conference theme ‘Music: Nourish Life’, the duo presented ‘Nourishing to Flourishing,’ exploring how holistic music education programs support students and their communities to thrive. It was an excellent opportunity to share our ambition and work with esteemed colleagues across the country.
Albert’s Music Strategy
The Tony Foundation has been spearheading an ambitious, systemic plan to ensure that instrumental music is a key component of primary school education. The Song Room Board member, Julie Sonnemann and CEO, Alice Gerlach participated
in strategy development and sectoral consultation sessions. The Song Room continues to offer support and collaboration as the plan develops.
Telstra ARIA Music Teacher Award
Co-founded by The Song Room and ARIA in 2017, this award shines a spotlight on Australia’s exceptional music teachers by celebrating their skill, passion and influence to set young people up for a brighter future. For a fifth year we advocated for the transformational change that music can have on children’s educational outcomes.
We were thrilled with the results. Entries and coverage in 2021 grew with entries up 389% from 2020 and news publications coverage growing by an additional 35%, bringing the reach for 2021 to 112,000,000.
Thank you to all of the nominees, especially our 2021 winner Zoe Barry from Sacred Heart School in Fitzroy, Victoria. A huge thank you to the ambassadors Amy Shark, Baker Boy, Morgan Evans and Tones and I, who helped us spread the word about the importance of music education to change students’ lives.
The Song Room: 2021 Year in Review 25