Every child deserves a music education
Queensland Teachers' Journal, Vol 127 No number 4, 3 June 2022, page no. 23
The Primary Music Teachers’ Special Interest Group has launched the Music for Every Child, Every Week campaign, to ensure that all students receive the benefits of music education.
Since the 1970s, Queensland has led the way in providing an in-depth study of music for children in classrooms and world-class instrumental music programs. With increasing evidence that some of these programs were being eliminated or diminished, the special interest group was formed.
We are a group of music educators working to preserve these programs for the children in our care - EVERY child, not just the privileged or the musically talented. The research proves that continuous music education delivered by qualified music educators has unique positive effects on students’ cognitive, social and emotional development.
This is not about special instrumental programs for our talented students (though, of course, they are important too). This is not about creating professional musicians (though that is a positive outcome as well). This is about giving EVERY child a sequential, developmentally appropriate music education that creates musically literate, innovative, creative, and engaged children. It is about preserving our world leading music education programs here in Queensland. Did you know we have long been the envy of other states and held up as best practice?
These exceptional, comprehensive programs can only be provided if music education is continuous - every week of the year for every student.
If you would like more information, it can be found in the pinned documents on the Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/MusicForEveryChildEveryWeek). There is even more information at https://www.change.org/p/music-for-every-child-every-week-in-queensland-state-schools, along with a petition created by a concerned parent.
If, after reading this information, you want to jump on board and support the campaign, you can sign the pledge (the Facebook page) or the petition.
The pledges are designed to increase the profile of our campaign and give people a chance to show their support for music education and the great value it gives to young people. By asking more well-known people to sign the pledge, we hope for increased social exposure and credibility. These pledges also add social and political pressure.
We have an amazing, strong network of passionate professionals. These are people who have dedicated many years to honing both their musical and pedagogical skills in order to equip children to develop their own music ability. The Queensland Teachers’ Union has given us the vehicle through which we can stand in solidarity.