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MUSIC EDUCATION AND THE AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL CURRICULUM |
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| SEPTEMBER 2009 - Vol 1 | |
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WELCOME TO MUSIC ENEWSThis is an E Newsletter for Australian music educators designed to keep people informed about the development of the National Curriculum in music an incentive of the Sydney based NSW Independents Schools Heads of Music Group. Whether it's a 'cuppa' or a 'nice red', grab one and make yourself sit down to read and digest this information. It's important to get to the end of this bulletin where advice on what steps to take is provided! Focus of this E-NEWS1. Familiarize Music Educators with the events surrounding the development of a National Curriculum in Music. 2. Encourage Music Educators to act to contribute positively to an informed debate. 3. Provide links to relevant information. NEWSFLASHApril 17 Media Release – "Peter Garrett said he was thrilled that arts subjects – including the visual and performing arts – would sit beside English, maths, history, sciences, geography and languages in the national curriculum". Music curricula "should form part of the second stage of national curriculum development" [implementation June/July 2011]. Fact FileNational Curricula are being developed by Australian Curriculum Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA). ACARA's curriculum development processes provide opportunities for music educators to contribute to consultation, at a number of points in the development process. State governments will determine how national curriculum will be adopted and implemented. NSW currently has a mandated status in Music from kindergarten to early high school. The NSW government may decide to maintain this in the future. National Review of School Music Education (Seares' Report) contains significant recommendations for improving approaches to school music education. |
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EVENT TIMELINE:2005 National Review of School Music Education (Seares Report)commissioned by Howard govt containing a comprehensive list of recommendations for improvements to School Music Education It attracted about 6,000 submissions - an unprecedented response to a government enquiry. There was obviously a lot of passion among the public about giving all school students access to quality music teaching. In her introduction she wrote: "Raising the quality and status of music education will have a positive impact on the breadth and depth of aesthetic, cognitive, social and experiential learning for all Australian students and, ultimately, for our society at large." The broad thrust of the report was summarised thus:
For substantial reform along these lines to occur, Seares pointed out, required "collaborative action and a leadership role for the Australian government". The report made 99 recommendations in all. The Seares' Report led to a national summit convention of music educators and organisations. The result was a blueprint for government action. August 2006 National Music Workshop - Melbourne Brought together key people and organisations involved with music education to come up with action plan for implementing Seares' Report recommendations.
August 2007 National Advocates for Arts Education (NAAE) "slams proposed 'back to basics' plan for schools" NAAE criticises proposal for a new charter for key curriculum areas (core English, Math, History and Science) NAAE critical of proposal that 'non-core' curriculum areas be left to the discretion of individual schools. January 2009 Coalition of arts organisations (National Advocates for Arts Education – NAAE) calls on Federal Govt. to include visual art, dance, drama and music in national curriculum. April 2009 NAAE's successfully lobbies for inclusion of the Arts in Phase 2 of National Curriculum Development. Media Release – "Peter Garrett said he was thrilled that arts subjects – including the visual and performing arts – would sit beside English, maths, history, sciences, geography and languages in the national curriculum". 2009 June Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA) investigating and identifying key issues in school Music Education. National Review of School Music Education being used as a reference. July 2009 ASME Conference statement re Music in the National Curriculum September 2009 ACARA in early stages of formulating broad outline of curriculum K-12 for 5 Arts subjects, including Music. The Shape Paper provides advice on curriculum design which will guide curriculum writers. October 2009 ACARA Report on issues in writing of Music Curriculum being presented to ACARA board. Curriculum Development ProcessWhat is ACARA?Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (replaces the Interim National Curriculum Board). (see website link below) Chair: Prof. Barry McGaw who reviewed HSC in NSW in 1996 and made recommendations for reform by which current Stage 6 Music syllabi are framed. Schools and individual teachers should register with ACARA to receive regular updates on progress of curriculum development. ACARA Curriculum Development Process
The are four phases:
Curriculum shaping Step One – identification of key issues in music education and development of position paper. Step Two – preparation of initial Shape Paper outlining proposal for Music, to be subject of national consultation. Step Three – preparation and publication of Shape Paper. What will happen with Curriculum Development in the Arts?ACARA will write K-10 curricula in each of the following arts areas: Visual art, Media, Music, Dance and Drama. Music Curriculum Development is in the Curriculum Shaping phase Step One is in process – key issues in Music Education are being identified in preparation for the writing of a position paper to be presented to ACARA board in October, 2009. What then? Step Two – preparation and development of the initial Music curriculum Shape Paper proposing the framework for Music learning will be the subject of national consultation. National Consultation Forums for Music proposed for February 2010. |
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WHAT TO DO NOW?1) Register with ACARA
2) Become familiar with the issues for School Music Educators as highlighted by the findings of the National Review of School Music Education
3) Subscribe to Music Forum (Journal of the Music Council of Australia) to be further informed re developments in the curricular 4) Consider sending a letter to ACARA soon containing concise statements pertaining to your schools', or personal, views on key issues in school music education. Remember views expressed in your letter can contribute to the process of identifying key issues to be considered in the development of a position paper for music curriculum. 5) Read Richard Gill's arguments regarding the value of music in every child's education
6) Share this ENews with other music educators around Australia The next E-NEWS will report on issues of: |
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| The ACARA website | ASME website | MCA site |
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Status of Music in the National Curriculum Compiled by Dr. Felicia Chadwick and Kim Waldock For NSW Independent Schools' Heads of Music Group – September 11, 2009. You have received this email because you have indicated your interest in being updated on the development of the National Curriculum and the consideration of music within this process. To ensure delivery to your inbox (not junk folders), please add nationalcurriculumandmusic@sydneysymphony.com to your address book or safe list. Music Education in the Australian National Curriculum NSW Independent Schools Heads of Music Group GPO Box 4972, Sydney, 2000 Unsubscribe | Subscribe | Forward to a Friend |