Music in schools

Music education in Australian schools can be a bit of a lottery, especially in state schools where as little as 23% are able to provide students with a music education that is more than an introduction to the basics. There are few shortcuts to learning music.

It takes time and practice, which means access to tuition and instruments. So it’s no surprise that in the private school system this figure rises to nearly 88%.

In state schools, the availability of music education can come down to whether or not there are teachers on staff who happen to have music skills or a personal interest in music. Few schools can afford to appoint a dedicated music teacher, especially in smaller primary schools where teachers are already more likely to have to teach a range of subjects.

Musica Viva has been presenting concerts in schools for 26 years. Their schools concert program gives children a real experience of live ensemble music in an interactive environment where they can get close to professional musicians, their instruments and experience the sound, not just with their ears, but with all their senses. When it comes to engaging an audience and eliciting an emotional response, there is little substitute for live music. It can switch on a child’s interest, hatch a hidden talent, and light a fire that can burn through to old age.

Musica Viva In Schools (MVIS) is also Australia’s largest provider of mus…