My SchoolSpace 2008
Congratulations and Thank You!!
Our school had a fantastic time. The children absolutely loved the song, and they also appreciated why they were taking part. I contacted our local WIN TV station and they visited us to film our 11:30 Sing. The reporter became so excited and supportive that she arranged for us to appear on the state-wide news report (instead of the regional news). The report featured our hall full of laughing children singing into 'air-microphones', interspersed with interviews of children... oh, and me. I had the chance to explain the reasons behind our simultaneous sing (thank you for the excellent website, which gave me the chance to brush up on what I needed to say!)
Students from Boisdale Primary singing "Sing"!
Next week we will appear in the local paper; I'm to send them a pic or two and the press release.
We are only a little school of 200 students, but all of them what me to tell you that we will be supporting 'Music Count Us In' again next year. In the meantime, it truly is amazing when we sing.
pps... you know what's truly amazing? We have a lot of 'special needs' children at our school (many of them feature in our photostory) and I believer they were the ones who received the most benefit from Thursday - at our school, at least. For once they weren't 'special', they were simply happy, smiling kids joining in with their friends doing something wonderful. And it shows.
Kindest Regards,
Annette Castles, Classroom Music Specialist, Boisdale Consolidated School, Boisdale, VIC
We sang 'Sing, Sing' as a whole school. We had SO MUCH FUN!!!!!!!!! We used the backing track, some kids played the bongo, djembe, clap sticks, maraccas and the xylophone. Mrs. H played the guitar and Mrs. M, Mrs. D and 2 big girls sang with the microphones. Everyone else sang along really loudly. It sounded awesome and magnificent! We hope that the Government will give all the schools in Australia money to get a music teacher and some instruments.
May we please do a whole country sing along song again next year and for all the years after that? Thank you very much for organising this event.
Yours Sincerely,
Grade 1/2D, Murchison Primary School, Murchison, VIC
Just thought you might like to know, St Augustine's Primary School on the Gold Coast QLD sang out hearts out today and yesterday. Kids had a ball and loved to sing the song. To cap it off – we invited the Gold Coast Bulletin newspaper and they ran a photo and story in today's (23/10) paper. And also the Gold Coast TV news (channel 9) came and filmed a story and it will be on tonight's news 5.30 on the Gold coast (QLD time) Kids thought it was great
Kind regards,
Deirdre Pullen, Music teacher, St Augustine's Primary School, QLD
Today was fantastic. I was so proud of my 307 students.
Thanks again,
Freya Egberts, Performing Arts Teacher, St Anne's Primary School, VIC
Watched the later live stream which was terrific. Also went up to my daughter's school at Mortdale where the entire school k to 6 sang the song this morning... The kids loved the la la la la bit of the song. Thanks (saying this as a parent and music tutor) and congrats on another fantastic campaign.
Rachel Hocking, parent
I have included an 'animoto' slideshow of our day at Fairvale.
Feel free to add it to the website.
A Video Version [3 camera angles] is being edited this weekend also. I will let you know when it's done.
You should let all the teachers know that they can apply [2-3 days it takes] for a education pass for ‘animoto' and create their own slideshows without any time limitations. All they need is an education email.
I then emailed it to all my year 7 students through their education emails.
By the way; we had so much fun.
Kind Regards,
Greg Thwaites, Head Teacher Performing Arts & Languages, Fairvale High School, NSW
Just to let you know that New Lambton PS has completed their Sing session and it was amazing thanks so much - can't wait for next year. We had 216 students/teachers joining in although I only registered for 85.
Thanks,
Kim Coates, Assistant Principal, New Lambton PS, NSW
Virginia State School, QLD
Hi Music Count us in! Virginia State School had a fantastic day on Thursday 23rd. We used our song "SING" to celebrate our love of music. Our classes decorated our shed with our "PARTY" theme and everyone of our students (365), teachers and parents came in party mode to sing our song together. It was truly "AMAZING"! I wish you all could have seen 365 + singing, dancing and using the actions that they helped create. Unfortunately, our video players weren't able to cope on the day, so we only got some still photos (attached). If you need to show Australia how much music is loved, send them out to Virginia. We are Amazing!!!!!
Cheers,
Kathryn McLennan, Music Teacher, Virginia State School, QLD
Hi everyone,
Tranby College Junior School, some parents and staff (375) joined together today to sing at 11.30 am WA time. We had to sing inside as the weather wasn't kind to us, and then our PA system broke on the spot, so the kids did very well considering things were against us! Well done Tranby and everyone who made this event happen!
Sue Storry, Music Teacher, Tranby College, Baldivis, WA
Just to let you know that Music Count Us In was a huge success at Koondoola Primary School in Perth, WA!!
At Koondoola PS we are very focused on embracing multiculturalism. Many students have fled their war-torn countries to Australia and over half of the school's cohort has English as their second language, so we endeavour to support and embrace all cultures; focusing on promoting the value of peace and harmony.
Because of the high number of ESL students, we slightly adapted the original version of ‘Sing' for our school. Ms Drieberg, the IEC Music Specialist played the song on the guitar as we had 5 students playing glockenspiels as well as 3 students drumming the beat on the African Djembe drums. Selected students sang the verse and pre-chorus and the whole school joined in with the choruses and bridge. We extended the end of the song to include 6 more singings of the chorus, however these were in the languages of the students who sung it.
We had Noongar, Arabic, Swahili, Dinka, Vietnamese, Hindi and Indonesian. Each of these students represented their culture by wearing their cultural dress. We finally ended the song with everyone singing the chorus twice in English. To top it off, each student in the school received a crepe paper pom-pom in one of the colours of the rainbow and used it with the actions that were taught during Music lessons. This subsequently created the beautiful and effective ‘Koondoola Harmony Rainbow'. Many teachers expressed how moved they felt by this performance.
The local paper came out and took some photos and will publish an article in the Wanneroo Times on our school's involvement within the next week.
It was an absolute pleasure to have been involved in this wonderful event and we can not wait to organise it again next year!
Stacey Pearce, Music Specialist, Koondoola Primary School, WA
Maryborough Special School, Maryborough, QLD
Last Thursday our school of 57 students and 32 staff joined in the ‘Music. Count Us In' event. The students had been learning the song in their classes and all sang together on the day. One of our teachers: Mrs Celia Watson lead the singing. Celia has performed at musicals and in choirs here in the Maryborough area for a number of years.
It was a great event and we thank the organisers for their work in promoting music throughout schools in Australia.
Beth Devonshire, Principal, Maryborough Special School, Maryborough, QLD
Coolgardie Primary School, WA
Coolgardie Primary School has a small choir comprising of 12 students in Years 2 - 4. They have been learning the song since September and led the school community on the day of the performance. We had a great response from families who came along and joined in on the day. Some of the choir members and senior students joined in with percussion instruments on the day. All students from Kindy to Year 7, the staff and visitors all joined the choir for the chorus. The students loved the song and even though the performance day is over they still want to sing it as part of the choir sessions. Thank you for a song that can inspire the children the way this one has.
Joanne Dooley, Teacher/Choir Leader, Coolgardie Primary School, WA
Dear Music Coordinators Our small isolated school with its full complement of 13 students (P-7) sang with you last Thursday. It was unfortunate that we couldn't access the live streaming, but we were there in spirit, and the children sang beautifully.
Thank you for the opportunity to be part of something so big - we don't get amny opportunities like that.
Joanna Vidler, Principal, Monogorilby State School, Mundubbera, QLD
Red Cliffs, VIC
We had an awesome day Emma. I've attached some of our photos for you to use. Red Cliffs SC, Irymple South PS, Sunny Cliffs, Red Cliffs PS, St Josephs PS, Red Cliffs, Red Cliffs East, Nichols Point, Cardross PS
Cheers,
Kylie Morrish, Music Co-ordinator, Red Cliffs SC, Red Cliffs, VIC
We had the best time singing the song with the whole school – K to Year 6. We listened for the count down on Radio National and felt like absolute stars for the moment. Our local newspaper – The Express, sent a photographer out who took hundreds of photos and posted them onto the paper's web gallery. We have a strong history of singing at our school, being in the choir of the Schools' Spectacular for the past 25 years. Two of the boys from the group Human Nature went to school here and they even wrote our school song!
It was great to be able to sing with 350,000 other students around Australia. I hope we can do it all again next year. (a student from Tower Street PS Panania)
Congratulations John on a great achievement – See you at Spec!
Wendy Tierney, Teacher, Tower St Public School, NSW.
Hi to all at Music. Count Us In,
Thank you so much for a wonderful experience over the past weeks and especially last Thursday. Our little school at Mt Kuring-gai in Sydney's north sang along at 11.30am, all 165 of us. Unfortunately we couldn't link into the countdown due to the traffic so we listened to Radio National and sang along with them. I don't think it was until they heard the radio that the children fully comprehended the enormity of the program.
I as the music teacher did, so in true choir teacher form, I was seen at 11.33am with tears rolling down my face at the sound of all of my "babies" singing and the concept of what they were a part of. This of course made the littlies think I was a tad odd and it just confirmed what the big ones knew!
Anyway, a huge thank you to everyone who had a part in bringing music and singing to the fore for a few minutes. For five minutes on Thursday I think the world was a happier, smile-ier place and certainly sounded a lot better.
Thanks again,
Jenni Horsburgh, Choir Teacher, Mt Kuring-gai Public School, NSW
What a wonderful performance at Kalkie State School Bundaberg Qld. All 395 students sang the song and performed actions which they created in Classroom Music Lessons. The Kepnock State High School Concert Band once again arrived enthusiastically at our school to provide the backing music with their Teacher Tony Brown who is also our Instrumental Teacher. Kalkie instrumental students joined in and away we went. The magic was in the air. Parents, staff and visitors also joined in. In fact it was so enjoyable, we repeated the performance. We look forward to 2009's performance already.
Yours in music,
Sharlene Peterson, Classroom Music/Drumband Coordinator, Kalkie State School, QLD
Dear Felicity, Thank you for providing such an inspirational idea for our kids. We absolutely loved the song. Our school was involved in our Swimming program this week so the grades who were at school sang the song on their own at 11.30, the Preps used percussion instruments during the chorus. The whole school sang it at our Friday assembly inviting parents to come and join us. We sent a copy of the lyrics home in the newsletter to encourage family participation. As this was our first year of participating we are looking forward to putting in even more of an effort next year. Music is something that many of our teachers feel incompetent with so this is a wonderful first step to encourage them. We are even planning on introducing a new song fortnightly to be performed at assembly due to “Music. Count us in.†Thank you.
Kind regards,
Jackie Kaiser, Classroom Teacher, Portarlington Primary School, Portarlington, VIC
On Thursday the 23rd over 300 ROXBURGH College Students were excited to participate in the nation's biggest school music event. For the past few weeks all of the College's Performing Arts Students have been rehearsing the original track “Singâ€, written by Australian Idol's John Foreman.
On the day of the event the performing arts Teachers involved, Claudia Mameli, Peter Jones, Sonny Ismail and Jason Mill were impressed in the level of importance the students gave to this event, they strongly supported the cause by designing banners, got into the spirit by singing aloud with their fellow students and releasing 300 balloons to show how vital the Performing Arts is too them.
Roxburgh College has a growing Performing Arts Program from VET Music to Dance and Drama and have just commenced Pre-Production for our first Musical that will go on in our NEW Performing Arts Centre in mid 2009.
Jason Mill, Performing Arts Teacher, Roxburgh College, Roxburgh Park, VIC
Kings Baptist Grammar School, Wynn Vale, SA
Thanks for the opportunity to sing together. We at King's Baptist Grammar School in Adelaide had 400 students from Reception – year 5 ‘ s singing and then had a year 10 music class playing the music . It was a great day.
We are looking forwards to next year's song and will be inviting the primary school next to our school to join in with us.
Penny Vandervlag, Music Co-ordinator, Kings Baptist Grammar School, Wynn Vale, SA
Hey "Music: Count Us IN!!".....
GEC students were at their Fun Run last Thursday, raising money for the school, at a local sports park. We still joined in with "Music. Count Us In". At the appropriate time, we huddled around the radio in the bus, and sang our hearts out. It was a lot of fun, and I still hear kids singing the chorus as they walk around the school!!!!!
Listening to the radio and singing together took me back to my own primary school days, when we had the ABC singing programmes over the radio. (In Grade 3, the speaker fell on my teacher's head!!) It was low tech, but it was accessible to thousands across the country, and a lovely community moment. I think we should use the power of radio to unite us in song every week. Let's get a radio singing programme up and running again!!!!!!
Cheers until next year,Liz Ferguson and students of Gordon Education Centre Mt Gambier
The choir will lead Sing! at assembly this Wednesday, and the whole school will join in. The children will have untuned and tuned percussion to use in the chorus section and we are thrilled at the effect. What started off as someone's improvisation to the section in class has become very much a part of the performance. A quartet of children will be singing the Bridge in two parts, and we are inviting parents to come and see the performance. Everyone in the school has learned to sing the song and / or played it in some way using a wide assortment of instruments. We will be sending pictures of us to you next week!
Pixie Chong, Music Teacher, School of the Good Shepherd, Gladstone Park, VIC
I have emailed you recently but I just wanted to fill you in on a further development. Since introducing the song to my students, I have used this opportunity to integrate music with my technology classes at school, by emailing the lyrics and mp3 song file to all of my Yrs 3-6 students. They were ecstatic. What a great way of reinforcing emailing and other technology skills! Schools today are constantly needing to find ways to connect the various areas of the different curricula and what a great way of promoting the teaching of Music in schools. This project has inspired my students to write their own music. They are now even more keen to seek out song writing competitions that they can enter. We have to embrace this new age and discover how we can engage students more effectively. We'll be on board next year for sure-can hardly wait to hear the 2010 song!
Regards,
Gael Byrnes, Choir Teacher, North Padstow Public School, NSW
This is a great campaign; our school of a very high ESL background have been practising for several weeks now. We are very fortunate to have a very talented, very dedicated, full time performing arts teacher, she has managed to co-ordinate a school of almost seven hundred students to not only sing the song but we have dancing, a group singing in italian and a band to play as well. She really gets behind promoting performing arts in our school's curriculum (as all schools should)and the students love it. It's great to see such a wonderful event taking place looking forward to Thursday. Well done for organising it!!!!
Regards,
Christine Mizis, Teacher, Mackellar Primary School, VIC
The Students at O'Connor Primary in Kalgoorlie WA will be singing on Friday morning at 9am with the WA Symphony Orchestra to add a touch of class to the event (we were unable to organise it for the Thursday).
Jo Talbot, Performing Arts Teacher, O'Connor Primary, Kalgoorlie W.A.
Pimpala Primary School, SA, is participating for the first time. Unfortunately we don't have a music teacher and the only professional music lessons we participate are paid for by the students. Three of our seven teachers attended a few hours of training and have been teaching their classes the song. These classes have then taught the other four classes in the school. We are focusing on the singing at the moment. The teachers were lucky enough to be able to learn the body and cup percussion that is featured on the site and intend to teach the students this as well - although it might not be ready for the 23rd! We are aiming to perform the song at our school's open night on the 6th November. The students are loving the song. Thankyou for inspiring us to take a risk and try teaching music!
Donna O'Leary, Susan Kaye and Elira Dixon, Teachers, Pimpala Primary School, SA
I'm from Musgrave Hill SS on the Gold Coast. We have only started practicing the song this term - because I found out about the event a little late. We are doing our performance of the song at our next general assembly which is in week 5. It is a little later than the date set, but we just couldn't make an earlier time.
In doing the song, the whole school (approx 420 students) will be participating. We are doing the song as is, but for each stage in the school I have composed special accompaniment patterns for. The early stage are doing a body percussion accompaniment; junior stage are doing a stick accompaniment; middle years are doing an accompaniment using plastic cups; senior years are doing an accompaniment using chairs (idea taken from the resources).
We have 2 music lessons in which to practice. Hopefully the performance of the song will go well, which we are also going to record so the students can evaluate their performance.
Cheers,
Katherine Gavranich, Music Teacher, Musgrave Hill SS, QLD
We are all ready for the big day on Thursday. In fact, my other school, Mt Petrie, is also ready to sing along with the rest of Australia!
On Saturday night, at the end of our Choral Fest, the seven schools involved in performing at the Choral Fest sang the song as a group. (You may remember that I asked your permission to sing the song at this event before the "big" day) I am happy to add that a number of those schools have also registered, so that is good, isn't it? The children sang with great enthusiasm and the audience loved the performance. It helped to add to an already great night of singing and sharing in music.
Cheers,
Robbie McManus, Music Teacher, Upper Mt Gravatt Primary School, QLD
Hi, Just to let you know that there will be at least 350 children, staff and parents singing along at our school, Baldivis Primary School, W.A. We will have teachers and children on guitars, bass guitar, keyboard and xylophones along with other non tuned percussion helping to lead us all in song on Thursday at our assembly. The children singing ( Pre- year seven) were inspired after watching the children from Thomas Pattison on the video and have decided to sign the chorus while singing. ( It may not be 'perfect' but certainly lead into some interesting discussions about music and deaf children.)The verses have a little action and some clapping to help us all enjoy the moment. It's been fun incorporating this years song into our music program. I hope everyone enjoys the day.
Thank you,
Di Triscari, Arts Specialist, Baldivis primary School, WA
Just wanted to say thank you for the opportunity to join in such an exciting and unifying project. Our school in the Western suburbs of Melbourne is under-going an enormous and challenging renovation this year and as a result classrooms have been juggled and shared and today is the start of the biggest stage yet. The whole administration block is going to be fenced off and by tomorrow it will be gutted to become new office space, an enlarged library and finally a music room!
So it is wonderful to have this song to keep our spirits up and we are really hoping that we will be given the all-clear by the builders to sing it in our new gym come Thursday morning. Our Indonesian teacher Dewi Soekotjo has taught our year Two and Seven students the chorus of ‘Sing' in Indonesian which the rest of the school is looking forward to hear.
Thank you once again,
Catherine Muller (Early Years Music), Carranballac College, Point Cook, VIC
Hi there!
Just a quick note to let you know that Taree West Public School - Kinder to Year Six, all 489 students have had two "all in" lessons on the song. They have been learning the song in class also. The senior choir are having a few extra practises this week and will actually lead the song on the day. We have also been perfecting a big Mexican wave for the end of the song. We can't wait till Thursday! Thanks for this opportunity to share and have fun as a whole school.
Regards,
Rebecca Bird, Classroom Teacher, Taree West Public School, NSW
I'm Jess Plummer and I take the choir at Katherine School of the Air. We are a distance education school which means our students are spread around the Territory as well as overseas. We conduct our lessons via an IDL (Interactive Distance Learning) system. This system allows us to talk to students and they can see us in our studio in Katherine. as for singing as a group, they can hear me singing, but I'm only able to hear two students at one time. then there is the delay. The students are delayed by at least 10 seconds which can be very confusing at times. Besides that the students love singing in the choir and we have lots of fun. They are excited about participating in Music Count us in and will be filming their performances at home so we can see them all together.
Jess Plummer, Choir Teacher, Katherine School of the Air, NT
CSPS has a vibrant and successful music department with 7 instrumental teachers and more than 50% of students learning an instrument. With 2 Concert Bands, 3 String ensembles, 2 Choirs, 45 students learning guitar, 45 students learning piano/keyboard CSPS looks to develop the musical abilities of the students with every opportunity. Families are an integral part of this process. We firmly believe it is the partnership between home and school that enables the rich development of high student outcomes in music. As such, Soirees are run to allow for families to showcase their pursuits together and share their love of music with the CSPS community.
It is within this context that we celebrate the Music Count Us In Project “Singâ€. The whole school has been taught the song and will join together in a special assembly to celebrate music in Australia. Tomorrow, 25 Concert Band members, 40 Choir students, 35 string ensemble students, one grade 3 child on the piano and 15 guitar students will lead the whole school community to perform ‘Sing' at our special assembly. Some parents have also been rehearsing the tune and may join with us.
Student outcomes in music are very high at CSPS due to the high level of commitment and cooperation from all partners in the process, and as such we would like to encourage all schools across Australia to implement music programs that encourage all stakeholders to make a hands on contribution.
Catherine Lyons, Music Co-ordinator, Camberwell South PS, VIC
We are looking forward to tomorrow's Big Sing 2008. The students from Pre-Primary to Year 6 have all learnt the song and some have put actions to it sing body percussion. The younger children are so enthusiastic about it and the older ones will be on the day! It is such an amazing sound to hear all of them singing together as we don't normally have them altogether for any singing due to a lack of space to put them all in. However this time we will manage it and fingers crossed that the weather holds out as we are going to be singing outside so that the whole of WA can hear us!!!
Sue Storry, Music Specialist, Tranby College, WA
Mullaway Primary School, north of Coffs Harbour in NSW, is a small school of 180 students. The whole school is getting together sitting and standing on the steps to sing. Senior students are playing percussion instruments to add to it. We put a small item in our Newsletter to let parents know and invited them in to watch.
Mrs Joy Richardson, Teacher, Mullaway Primary School, NSW
In Bundaberg Queensland, Kalkie State School's 398 students are looking forward to a whole school performance of the song 'Sing Sing'. All students and staff have been learning the words and actions to the song during classroom music with Mrs Sharlene Peterson.
Once again the Kepnock State High School Concert Band led by Kalkie Instrumental Teacher Tony Brown will visit our school and play the backing music. Kalkie Brass and String students will also join the High School Band on the day. Parents and friends of the wider community will be invited to attend through the school's newsletter and by invitation from students.
Cheers
Sharlene Peterson, Kalkie Classroom Music Teacher, QLD
Just thought I'd let you know that on the 23rd some of our classes will either be on a bus going to swimming lessons or at the pool doing their lesson. The bus travellers intend singing Sing at the designated time while those swimming are thinking of singing Swim Swim!!
Derek Scotney, Middle School Co-ordinator, Mount Dandenong Primary School, VIC
An update from Broadmeadows SDS: we are learning the "makaton signs" (key word signing) to help us sing the song. The whole school of 95 students will be involved in either signing, singing and signing, or just playing percussion instruments along with the backing track. We are having a lot of fun. We will also be making an encore performance of the song at our school concert the week after the event as the closing act.
Louise Docherty, Music Therapist, Broadmeadows SDS, VIC
One of my preppies came back to school and showed me what he'd done on the holidays. His dad downloaded the song from your website and videotaped him singing it...it's very cute! See Nathaniel sing "Sing"!
Cheers!
Ginger Martin, Arts Coordinator, Mackellar Primary School, Delahey, VIC
Hi
At Meadow Heights Primary School over 700 student and 70 staff will be singing this groovy song on the 23 October. Each teacher has a copy of the song lyrics to assist in teaching their class and the song is played over the loudspeaker before school and at the end of recess and lunch breaks. A couple of classes will be performing the song at Assembly to show the whole school how easy it is to learn it.
Kind Regards
Mary-Anne Pontikis, Performing Arts Teacher, Meadow Heights Primary School, VIC
Hi there,
My name is Julie Hollow and I am the music teacher at Porepunkah Primary School in north-east Victoria. I registered us last week for the ‘Music. Count Us In' event, after just stumbling upon your site, and was just thrilled with the whole concept. I began teaching the song today so it will be a bit of a challenge in the short time frame we now have. But lots of fun. The kids loved the song, and the few musicians in the school want to learn their bits as well. I have downloaded all the required stuff. I am just really writing to congratulate you on this great idea, and to hope that you soon update your list of participating schools to include us in your long list. We hope to do our performance in the middle of the school oval, with students, teachers, parents and others all joining in. Should be loads of fun and just a really inspiring experience for us all.
Thanks again.
Julie Hollow, Music Teacher, Porepunkah Primary School, VIC
Hi,
Hawthorndene Primary School, SA, will sing the song all together at assembly, with just over 300 students singing, with students from R to year 7 participating. The upper students in year 6/7 will create their own rap versions of the song during class time, incorporating their choice of instruments, movement and costume to show as a performance. We will video the students work to share with the class. The best from each class will perform it at this assembly. Also, 26 students from our school will soon go to New Zealand on a sister city choir exchange and we will share the song with our South Hornby – Christchurch choir students.
Cheers,
Zita Sankauskas, Performing Arts Specialist, Hawthorndene Primary School, SA
I thought you might like to know that I filled in the media release form with our schools details and emailed it to two local papers on Sunday night. Today (Monday) I received a call from Cranbourne Leader saying they would like to run a story prior to the event and would come out and take a photo. Needless to say, the excitement is building!
With regard to rehearsals for 'Sing' I have found a student who is good on bongo drums and is happy to join our ever-expanding group of musicians. I also had a beginners' recorder group for their first lesson today and taught them a simple 4 note harmony for the chorus by rote. By the end of the lesson they were starting to sound reasonable and were playing along with the music. With ten days to go I am confident most of them will master it. Well, that's all for now.
Yours in music,
Sharon Start, Performing Arts Instructor, Cranbourne West PS, VIC
Excitement is mounting as THE day draws near! I had not anticipated the interest the event would attract. I registered St Joseph's school in Port Lincoln SA thinking the two choirs (possibly 100) would join in but interest is spreading and ALL primary classes want to be involved which is fantastic!!!! Just the kind of outcome we were looking for........so that's 450 students to coordinate! FUN! Not sure how to change my numbers on line for stats once registered so will leave that to you if you dont mind. You sent me some stickers which I had hoped to give to all participants but I will not have enough now and wonder if you have a chance to send some more please. With what youve already sent me I think 300 will cover it if that's manageable. I also have Poonindie Primary School all participating - a small school of 55. It's going to be a fun and busy day! The students are really enjoying the song!
Thank you
Nola Williams, Choir Trainer, St Joseph's School and Poonindie Primary School, Port Lincoln, SA
The children are enjoying learning the song (my class often request it when we have a few spare minutes). Our whole school will have an assembly where we will sing together, then our band will entertain us with some other musical items. At our end of year concert we are all going to sing the song again so that our whole school community can hear it too.
Anne Hawking, Dawes Rd PS, Kyabram, VIC
An ensemble group at The Essington School, Darwin,
practice for the big day with conductor Merrilyn Watson
Hi,
Red Cliffs Secondary college are holding a combined event with all of our feeder schools! As the transition coordinator and also the music coordinator, I have combined my roles and been into all of the schools listed below to teach them the song. Some of the schools are bringing their entire student body and others are bringing grades 2-6 or other combinations. We are planning a big Sing! in our gym on the day with a link up to another school via the web.
Schools involved are:
1.St Josephs Primary School Red Cliffs
2.Red Cliffs PS
3.Red Cliffs East PS
4.Cardross PS
5.SunnyCliffs PS
6.Irymple South PS
7.Nichols Point PS
Should be awesome!
Kylie Morrish, Junior School Coordinator, Red Cliffs Secondary College, VIC
The Royal Institute for Deaf and Blind Children's Alice Betteridge School is going to take part in "Music. Count Us In" for the first time this year. Our school provides a range of educational, specialist and therapy services to students with high support needs. We have 67 students in our school and we are planning this as a whole school event. Not all our students will be able to sing the song, but all will be involved. Our plans for the day are:
Many thanks for all exciting information and your support, Paul Borkowski, Senior Teacher, Royal Institute for Deaf and Blind Children, Alice Betteridge School, NSW
... just thought we would let you know what we are doing for ‘Music. Count Us In' in the Northern suburbs of Geelong.
Our school participated last year in Music Count Us In and were keen to do so again as we felt it promoted an enthusiastic response to Music and an opportunity to "make music" as a school community. As well as learning Sing! in all Primary Music classes, we are using the arrangements supplied on the website for our Instrumental Programme. All of our 120 instrumental students from Year 1 to Year 12 are rehearsing the song for a second public performance in our annual concert at the Gympie Civic Centre on 4 November. Congratulations to all at "Music Play for Life" for the great work in promoting music education. We have over 350 children and 15 teachers embracing "Sing" and lots of parents regularly asking how to get a copy of the song to play at home. It's a really unifying experience and all love the song. At Fairvale High, Currently the whole of year 7 [250 kids] are learning the song on glockenspiel and we are adding the singing in coming weeks. They have all learnt the Verse, prechorus and chorus and are working on the bridge. This has become a core part of the term 3 year 7 music curriculum. Hello. Coolum High School has registered for Music. Count us in again this year. The date of the performance (October 23rd) coincides with our Band Tour. We will be combining with Hervey Bay High School Band and we will be in Sydney. Would it be possible to put me in touch with a participating school in Sydney so that we could join in on the day with other students, or is there any public place that the song will be performed in Sydney on the day that perhaps we could join in on. The students really enjoyed the music last year and this would be a fun inclusion to our trip. Taught our grade 2/3 choir Sing, Sing today and the response was just amazing. They love it! Cheers of delight. So thought I'd let you know. I just HAVE to give you some feedback about the song - which I hope you will pass on to the fabulous writers and of course, John and Kate. I attended the PD in Melbourne in the weekend and have already begun to introduce the song to my students; 380 of them from Prep to grade 6. The song is a huge success. I've spoken to our LOTE teacher...she and I are going to sit down and see if we can translate the lyrics into Italian for our 5/6 students...just to give it a real whole school feel. I'll pass on what ever we come up with in case anyone else would like it...stay tuned!! Here's the Italian version of "Sing!"
We are really enjoying the song and will have a music room packed full of parents and students singing in October. Our Concert Band is getting prepared as well. Mr Max Coulson from Tumby Bay Area School, SA, was interviewed by his local radio station, Eyre Peninsula Radio, about his school's involvement in 'Music. Count Us In'. Mr Coulson is involving the whole community in their performance of "Sing" on 23rd October!
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Find out why 'Music: Count Us In' is important and how it helps get more music making in our schools.
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Big or small, musically-active or just starting out, rural or city: there's a part for your school in this nationwide celebration.
