Just a quick hallo from Darwin. I hope all the preparations for the MCUI Big Gig are going well. We are busy as little ants here at Stuart Park Primary School. Both junior (33 voices)and Senior (27 voices)choirs and all 18 classes are learning the song. The song plays over our PA system and invitations have been sent to our community members to take and be part of MCUI. Just for fun I have attached the invitation to parents to also come to our Parliament House in Darwin to raise our voices WITH our pollies, not against - and sing in unison.

Raz de Jongh, Performing Arts Teacher, Stuart Park Primary School, NT

In any case, our school Choir is entertaining the visitors to our Art Show tomorrow evening. Friday 16th October. The Choir is going to invite our guests to sing along to "The Music Is Everything" as part of our program. Unfortunately we are unable to go to Federation Square this year, but we will have a whole school assembly to sing on the 22nd. The Choir will lead the singing and encourage the teaching staff to sing along. Everyone from Prep to Year Six has enjoyed preparing to sing this special song on the 22nd. Some of our Choir members have sung all the songs since ‘Music. Count Us In’ first started and really enjoy the songs. Lookingforward to the great event.

Lorraine Costa, Music Teacher, Saint John the Baptist Primary, Ferntree Gully, VIC

All of Williamstown North Primary School is participating in “Music, count us in 2009.” Our school has 615 students who are all very enthusiastic about this special event.  We both can relate to music very well as we both take Ballet and Jazz lessons and are part of a rock band at school.  So, as it says in the lyrics in the song, for us, The Music really is Everything.

Cassandra and Serena, Age 12, Williamstown North Primary School, VIC

 “I loved the song the first time I heard it” is the catch-cry from our students. The song is so infectious that students from Prep to Year 6 are singing it with so much energy and passion.

Fran McCormick, Performing Arts Teacher, Williamstown North Primary School, VIC

Elspeth teaches in a local primary school which has a unit called ERICUS (Educating Remote Indigenous Children in Urban Settings) in which many of the Indigenous students have learning difficulties including a degree of deafness. I think several of these kids are in the group she wants to bring to Parliament House next week... to sign the song as the rest sing it. 

Nora Lewis, Principal NT Music School 

We have now registered and yes we are keen to participate.  We have 22 students most days and 7 adults.  Our Auslan interpreter has created a version of the song and the students are very enthusiastic about it (especially after watching the signed version on the web site).  I think it will work well. Thank you for your inclusion of us. We are all quite excited about it.

Elspeth Hurse, Millner Primary School, Darwin, NT

We are going well and have added some simple movements -whole school (600)... will be performing in our Hall at precisely 11.30am, Barloa Road Mont Albert.

Ghillie Thompson, Music Teacher, Mont Albert Primary School, VIC

The students at Bellevue Park S.S. have been rehearsing the song from prep to grade 7. Students in the concert band will play along. The choirs will sing the harmony. Keebra Park high music dept will be performing the song with our school. We are currently running a poster comp -posters to be displayed in the hall on 22/10. Students are enjoying the song and related activities!!!!

Delia Chetty, Classroom Music Teacher, Bellevue Park State School, QLD

I am the music teacher at Newbery Park Primary School, situated in Millicent on the Limestone Coast (South Australia). Our school population is 160 students from R-7.  This year we will be delivering our 5th music concert showing off our music learning for the year. Each class learns an arrangement of a well known tune or composes their own original work to present. The range of instruments include; glockenspiel, recorder, simple percussion instruments, bass guitar, classical and electric guitars, drum set, violin, trumpet, trombone and many others.  
 
We eagerly anticipated the release of this year's song "The Music Is Everything" and registered for Music. Count Us In the very next day. The students love it!!  At noon on the 22nd of October, our whole school will be trying something we've never attempted before - performing music as a whole school - combining all our classes and specialist music groups. I'm anticipating a dynamic, co-operative performance that will be wonderful fun and highly satisfying for all involved.
 
Our Rock Band (a specialist 5-piece group) and their lead vocalists will be leading the whole school population to sing this year's song. Our school's choir has been rehearsing together with the Rock Band's vocalists to accomplish a high standard of excellence while our junior and middle primary classes have been singing with great volume and passion in my classes. Many of our older students have opted to learn a classical guitar part to accompany the band.
 
Next year I'm hoping to invite Millicent High School's concert band to join us, which will add further strength to school relationships. What wonderful opportunities this event promises!

Sarah Fewster, Music Teacher, Newbery Park Primary School, SA

All 13 grades have been learning the song with enthusiasm! We have approximately 300 students at our school. Three talented grade 5 students will be leading the singing on the day. These girls have been practising and have been asked by teachers to come in and sing it with their grades. Our parents have been invited to come along and I have been putting information about Music Education and the MCUI project in our school newsletters. We listen to the song every day, as it is our “bell music” for the start of school, end of recess and end of lunch. (It is during our whole school swimming program, so we are singing it on the day, but at 3.10pm instead).

Chrissy Temple, Brunswick South West Primary School, VIC

We are progressing well with our song rehearsals, and will have a performance for students and parents at school on 22 October and another one with the entire instrumental programme at our public end of year concert in the Gympie Civic Centre.  

Cathy Hammann, Music Teacher, Cooloola Christian College, QLD

I’m teaching music at two two-teacher schools in the Wide Bay Region – Harlin State School and Linville State School, each with 26 students.  We are getting together in the hall at Moore for a free concert for the community which will begin with the singing of “The Music is Everything” and end with the song “We absolutely have to have Music”. They are all very excited about their chance to perform.

Felicity Crosato, Music Teacher, Harlin State School and Linville State School, QLD