The centrepiece of Music. Count Us In is ‘Life is a Song’, a specially-penned composition from Foreman, musical director of Australian Idol, award-winning producer and composer for the Sydney Olympics and Melbourne Commonwealth Games.
Students around the nation will learn and rehearse the song, getting ready to perform it in schools and community venues around Australia on the same day, Thursday August 30th. This will be nation’s biggest simultaneous school music performance. Arrangements of ‘Life is a Song’ are available for choirs, bands and school orchestras across a range of abilities. Classroom support activities for teachers have also been developed around the song. All are downloadable at www.musiccountusin.org.au.
‘I see and feel the positive effects of active music making every day. We can do more for our kids by giving each one of them an effective music education at school. We’re all the richer for a society which values music as part of every child’s education,’ said John Foreman.
Music. Count Us In also comprises:
- the establishment of a dedicated website (www.musiccountusin.org.au);
- distribution of materials for schools and parent groups highlighting the value of music in schools;
- a program of publicity around exemplary school music programs
- and the promotion of personal stories from high profile Australians, reinforcing the benefits of a music education.
Visit www.musiccountusin.org.au to download all materials and to hear the song, which was recorded at Sing Sing studios, with John Foreman, students from VCA secondary school (attached pic) and Eltham East Primary School choir.