Children from Fitzgerald State School rehearsing 'Life is a Song'.

Virginia State School in QLD (and inaugural national winner of the FLAME Awards) is making Thursday August 30th a family and community participation day. Here’s music teacher, Kathryn McLennan’s circular to the school’s network:

“All of our students, staff, parents, grandparents and local community members will be joining forces on Thursday 30 August at 11.00am to sing "Life is a Song". Composed by John Foreman (Australian Idol music director) and backed by Music Play for Life, Channel 10 and the Federal Government, the song will be sung all over Australia by thousands of children on Thursday 30 August at 11.00am, to promote music education in Australian schools. Please learn the words (music and lyrics are on the website) and come and join us on Thursday 30 Aug at 10.45am (for 11.00 performance). Our 360 students would love to see you and sing with you for this very special event.”

Albany State High school students give 'Life is a Song' their treatment. With music teacher, Sheen Prince. Pic. courtesy Laurie Benson, Albany Advertiser

"Life Is truly a song ...
I would like to let you know that the Special Education students and teachers have been participating in your wonderful initiative. We have been enjoying the process and have had some great success. In the early stages of participating many students (and some teachers) were quite resistant, some very nervous, others challenged. Our process began with an overhead projector and a long pointer, verse by verse, day by day. We have been singing along with John every day for 15 minutes every morning! It is obvious now that many of the participants are more comfortable with the activity and some of the students have even built their confidence up enough to competently lead the session.
This initiative has been a joy for us all. We are looking forward to more...."
Cheryl Prout, Ulladulla High School

The orchestra and band are planning to use the piece for their first joint performance - the band was only started 12 months ago. As they're primary school students, it'll take them a while to get it up to a good standard, but the fact that they all know and like the song is helping them.

The whole school (400 students) will be singing it at 9 am (11 am in the east) on Thursday, August 30th, as a whole school assembly song.
Wendy Oliver, Rossmoyne Primary School, WA

Still in QLD, St Hildas School is promoting the project and their part in it, on their terrific website. Go to http://www.sthildas.qld.edu.au/

Here is a photo of our Years 6 and 7 kids rehearsing the song today. We also did a DVD which will be sent ASAP. Tina Ameduri and the kids from Mullaloo Heights PS, WA.

“Our years 2-7 students are enjoying learning the new song, and are excited about performing it on the designated date. We will send you further pictures of their progress in the future!” Cherie Mason, Music Teacher, Tin Can Bay P-10 State School, QLD

“Our school is one of the lowest socio- economic schools in Adelaide and as such only a handful of children learn music privately. I have taught the whole school the song and we intend joining in on the 30th. The kids are really excited about it and each class has taken a verse or chorus and made it their own, with hand movements, steps or untuned percussion. Most of our kids are recent arrivals to Australia so teaching them the words has been a challenge (let alone the tune!!). However, as the weeks go by they're really getting into it and have even become very creative if not melodic. Thanks for the opportunity to get our school involved in something on a large scale at no cost.” Isabelle Roberts, St Brigids, Kilburn, SA

“ All of our 350 Prep to Year students at Kippa Ring Campus will be involved with the song. The students love the song and have come up with some very creative and innovative ways to perform on the day. Many of our students are involved in the Instrumental program and will bring along their instruments to 'pretend' play on the day. We even have a didgeridoo player who will play along and some students will dance while we sing the song. A notice will be sent home to encourage all families and friends to be in attendance for our performance. I have forwarded information to our school's publicity officer who will follow up with publicity in the local and Catholic Education newspapers. The students are very excited at the prospect of being involved in this Australia wide singing event.“ Maureen Davis, Music Teacher, Prep-Year 7, Southern Cross Catholic College

I'm happy to announce that the John Foreman's song has enabled a whole school creative event. Over the last months several 20 students have been writing their own songs and the concert will be a chance to perform them to the school community - along with the school choirs and a xylophone instrumental performance of "Life is a Song". Here at Syndal South music lives! Glenys Ferguson, teacher, Syndal South Primary, VIC

Hi! We plan to cut out big clef and note signs out of fluoro cardboard and tie them to the school fence. Lindy-Anne Abawi, Fairview Heights State School, QLD

Our school, Marryatville Primary, is well into rehearsals and genuinely enjoying the song which our primary years children find really catchy and fun - brilliant! We met at our local high school with some of their Year 8 junior band members (Marryatville High, one of the 4 specialist music high schools in our public school system) and the nearest primary school to us (Rose Park) for a combined workshop which included a rehearsal of "Life is a Song.”

The workshop was a huge success. We have also been rehearsing in our classroom music lessons (each child participates in one hour of classroom music a week and many also attend instrumental private and group lessons), a recorder ensemble and our String Orchestra. We are all looking forward to the big day. Jan O'Connell, Marryatville Primary School, SA

Just thought I'd keep you informed as to what Burleigh Heads State School on the Gold Coast is up to.I have taught every student (540) the song to sing on the day and hopefully we'll add a few instruments to it. I contacted the Gold Coast Bulletin and they sent out a photographer to take a few shots to go in the paper tomorrow. The students are really excited and hoping that John Foreman chooses our school to visit! Ann Newman, Burleigh Heads State School, Gold Coast, QLD