New music strategy for public school students

Thursday, 23 November 2017

The University of Adelaide will play a key role in the development of a state-wide strategy to support education and careers in music for South Australian public school students.

The State Government has announced it will invest $5.12m over the next four years into improving the delivery of music education in public schools and providing greater pathways for students to pursue further study and careers in the music industry.

Working in partnership with instrumental music and classroom teachers, the University of Adelaide's Elder Conservatorium of Music, the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra and various state music bodies, the State Government will set out a strategy to support public school students to pursue careers in music-related fields within the state.

The strategy will link in with the instrumental music program, which provides music tuition free of charge to students from years 3 to 12.

Education and Child Development Minister Susan Close says: "Music provides a myriad of positive benefits within education settings. It helps develop basic cognitive and learning skills, lifts literacy and numeracy standards and is also used to build social inclusion and reduce disadvantage.

"Insight from educators and music professionals will help us to map out ways to further build on our schools’ capacity to teach music, and encourage students to identify employment pathways to confidently pursue careers in music.

"Our state’s vibrant creative industries are continuing to emerge and it’s important we are providing our students with opportunities and a platform to be part of this without having to seek these prospects interstate.

"With Adelaide being home to a thriving live music industry, a UNESCO City of Music, and a leading performance and creative industries hub in Australia, training the next generations of creators and performers is essential."

The Director of the University of Adelaide's Elder Conservatorium of Music, Professor Graeme Koehne, AO, says: "As the premier music education institution in the state, we welcome this initiative to further develop excellence in music education and to drive opportunities for careers in music and related industries.

"We recognise the proven benefits of music as part of a well-rounded education, and the correlation of students' high academic attainment with studying music in school.

"This partnership also helps to celebrate Adelaide’s UNESCO City of Music status, and affirms the role that creative industries play in modern economies and future vocational opportunities."

Vincent Ciccarello, Managing Director of the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra, says: "In 2014 we established the Music Education Roundtable in an effort to identify the needs of, and opportunities for, music in the state’s education system and the broader community. The creation of this strategy will go hand-in-hand with this.

"We are pleased with the enthusiastic contribution of the stakeholders and look forward to working together to progress the great opportunities that music provides to the wider community and South Australian economy."

 

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Mr David Ellis
Email: david.ellis@adelaide.edu.au
Website: https://www.adelaide.edu.au/newsroom/
Deputy Director, Media and Corporate Relations
External Relations
The University of Adelaide
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