At Northern Peninsula Area College senior campus Cape York all classes are rehearsing many songs as part of our Yumpla Festival in week three. Yumpla means 'together'. This Singfest will be on October the 22nd. We intend to warm up with a medley of traditional songs accompanied by drums, and then at 11.30am, "The Music Is Everything". The students totally enjoy singing this song. We will complete the Singfest with a medley of pop songs including "Heal The World", "My Island Home" and "Big Girls Don't Cry".

Because we live so far away from most other places it's harder for us to become involved with other schools.  Our photographer will send you a movie and still photos of our rehearsal performance.  Thank you for this opportunity to be, and feel part of, an Australian wide event.

Joan Martinuzzi, Music Teacher, Northern Peninsula Area State College, Bamaga, QLD

We've suffered a setback with our blockbuster plans for our Park event. The touring Band has cancelled its regional tour, so we don't have the big backing we were hoping for. None the less, we have confirmation of attendance (I check to see that they have registered) from Most of Tingha public (40), all of Gilgai Public (45), some of Ashford Central (20), a slice of Ross Hill Public (one year 90), and a smattering of Macintyre High (40). The other schools are yet to reply but as I'm hand delivering a promo package to their principals soon they should join in...

Our local paper has accepted the promo package as have 3 of the local radio stations, so we might get a bit of community support on the day. The package is a cut and paste from the campaign sight, with some local content added + a CD of the songs. I've added a copy of the ABC radio podcast "Who Stopped The Music" (19-7-09), and a DVD of "STING - My Music Brain" (National Geographic Channel) to the package for some background info.

Our local branch of the New England Conservatorium of Music is looking over the package and intends on using parts of it to lobby our local council for support in one of the "National Partnerships" building projects, so that they can modify their campus building.

It all links in, so we are still going ahead in the park, just with the backing CD and a few guitarists (Fossickers are out too...). I should have an African drumming ensemble (yr 7 project) for a bit of variety though. Sorry for the bad news about our grand plans. It does have some points though, considering the resilience built into the campaign.

P.S. A bunch of us have just filled out a new survey of teaching conditions in music being conducted by a student at one of the bigger universities. I hope it does some good.

Peter Schuhmacher, Music Specialst, McIntyre High School, Inverell, NSW

Gympie West State School Choir.

Woolooga State School - one teacher school with 22 students. Woolooga is situated approx 45 minutes west of Gympie in Queensland. The whole school will be performing the song with approx 400 other students as part of the Choral Fest on Oct 13 in Gympie.

Theebine State School - a two teacher school about 45 minutes north west of Gympie, with a total enrolment of 22 students. The students will also be performing 'The Music is Everything' as part of the Choral Fest.

Sandy Mohyluk, Music Specialist, Gympie West State School, QLD 

We are on our way to participating at Winthrop Primary School.  I mentioned the concept at a staff meeting & offered to provide CD and lyrics to any interested teachers, about six took up the invite and others are accessing the website.  The Principal is supportive and happy that we are involved.  Will keep you updated.

Kerry House, Teacher, Winthrop Primary School, Winthrop, WA

The rehearsals for the campaign are progressing well here in Inverell.

We have some more news on the connections the campaign has opened up for us in music. Instead of having just our FOSSICKERS group backing the singers from the 7 schools in our area for the big day, we now have a full 60 piece Regional Concert Band & some rock musicians for our backing group! The New England region started a Regional Band earlier in the year and it attracts musicians from as far away as Scone, Warrialda and Tenterfield (including Inverell) to rehearse monthly at Tamworth or Gunnedah. They are on a tour of the area playing concerts and have adjusted their dates so that they can be with us in our Campbell Park, back us up and continue with a concert for all the schools, families and the rest of the community that turns up on the day!  This will rival Bun Hur!

Peter Schuhmacher, Music Specialist, McIntyre High School, Inverell, NSW

I’ve already started on the song, and the children are loving it. And, they remember last year’s too and still like singing that one.

Barbara Denholm, Music Specialist, Holy Trinity Primary School, Curtin, ACT

Thanks for the CD - just tried it out with the Year 5s.  We have also set up the drum kit in the music room, so it was lovely for kids (including with no experience) to try it out and join in. 

Heather Hirsch, Music Specialist, Nanango State School, QLD

Love, love, love the song. I started teaching it just last week, with excellent results. The kids love it and a few are really hooked on it! One of my year six students has choreographed it and started teaching the moves yesterday. I am even considering using it as our finale song for this year's school concert.
 
How I teach the song (or any song):
 
1. Learn the song myself.
2. Write words up on a large sheet of paper.
3. Students listen to song.
4. Students learn song line by line by repeating after me.
5. Students sing to vocal backing track one section at a time.
6. Students sing whole song through several times.
7. Students sing whole song with instrumental track.
 
It only takes me about 10 mins to teach a song, but 20 mins gives a more confident result. Many thanks for a great song.

Sharon Start, Performing Arts Instructor, Cranbourne West PS, VIC

I have attached an MP3 recording of my Year 9 class (no teacher playing - 22 students) playing "The Music is Everything" - we got to the end for the first time today and even negotiated the key change!

You can hear many mistakes but as you can see it should be ready in time. Fairvale Primary (whole school 500+ students) are also learning the song through their RFF music staff member and our 200 Year 7s are well underway as part of their class music program. The only issue will be sorting out the logistics of getting hundreds of students together when we visit the Primary School on October 22.

Listen to the recording:

Greg Thwaites, Head Teacher Performing Arts, Fairvale High School, NSW