Vol 12 No 3 2006

The words of school children

by

By Dick Letts

Regular readers know that last year, Music. Play for Life teamed up with ABC Radio and the Australian Society for Music Education to run a competition called the Flame Awards. This is a competition to find the most inspiring school music programs in each state, and nationally.

We attempted to make a level playing field so that very well resourced private schools would not automatically have an advantage over less well resourced government or other schools. That seemed to work, because winners came from both sectors.

Along with a description of their music programs, the candidate schools had to submit some statements by their students about what the programs meant to them. Consequently, we have a couple of thousand statements by the kids and we've picked out a few for your enjoyment.

We've chosen statements by students for whom music is important. The issue is: Why, how, is it important to them?

Let's start with Melanie, from a state primary school in Queensland.

The most important things in Virginia State School are learning sport and " music. I love Virginia's music so much that I could kiss and hug it!!! We can play instruments, sing and dance in music lessons! They're so fun and laughable -- plus at Virginia, we have the most cheerful teacher. We have our good times and our bad times, well mostly good times, and bright times and don't forget those good old idiotic times. Music's my life, music's my world, music's my galaxy! Virginia's music means everything to me. My friends love Virginia's music, my teachers love Virginia's music, my family love Virginia's music, EVERYBODY LOVES VIRGINIA'S MUSIC!! So that's why Virginia's music is the coolest thing in the world.

Maybe Melanie is getting a bit carried away. But look at that energy and enthusiasm! Are you supposed to get that from school subjects? If she's enjoying music that much, can it be good for her? Isn't learning supposed to be grim and painful?!

There are some themes that keep popping up. The first is

Life Itself

Here's Michael from Launceston.

· Launceston Grammar brought music to my life. Without it I would probably be really boring"

And some more:

· Without music, life would be boring. No noodling, swinging, hammering, beating, blowing or strumming. Music is everywhere, it's impossible to escape. A car revving is a sliding crescendo. A ball bouncing is a groovy drum beat. Thunder is the earth's bass drum. Stephen.

· Without music, life is dull. In fact life for me would not exist. That's why I appreciate our fantastic music program. Lucy, year 5.

· Music means life to me, whenever I sing I feel so alive

· Music at Redlands has changed my life. I have a passion for it, and it has taught me lessons that are simply invaluable. Stephanie, year 10

· At Marryatville High, music isn't just a subject, it's a way of life. Music adds richness and variety to school life. I have learnt more in 2 years at MHS than I could have ever otherwise. Year 9 boy.

· This is also why I love music. It's because there's more to it than just learning what a few figures on a page sound like if you blow them through an instrument. There is so much more you can learn from it, like the emotion in performance and the value of art in times when the rest of the world can seem so complicated. Bianca, year 10

Here's an interesting one.

· Music is my life and my passion. When I compose it allows me to express my emotions, when listening it sets my mood and when playing I'm adrift into all kinds of atmospheres. I've never been a person who's good with words, for me a piece of music can express 1,000 emotions and that's why I'm so passionate about it. Megan, year 11F

There are many, many reports of music making a bridge back into school work for students who have poor academic skills and may have given up.

The Expression of Emotion, the Challenge for Excellence, the Socialisation

The next one brings in a number of other aspects, including the expression of emotion, the challenge for excellence, the socialisation and more.

· Music plays such a big part of my life. Music helps me to express my innermost feelings through things like performance, composition and even just listening. Music is so much fun, and it has helped me meet new people and see different places. Music helps to challenge me. If I didn't have music, my life would be incomplete. Alisa, year 11.

There is such a thing as emotional intelligence. Our lives are built around emotion. Says Dick Letts, 'I regard my intellect and intuition as guided by emotion – and I have a PhD, the certificate of the rationalist. But where in the curriculum is the place for the acquisition of emotional skills?'

· Music matters to me because it is what I most enjoy doing. It stirs my emotion as well as the challenge of coordinating multiple things and creating a harmonious sound. It gives me the opportunity to play both as part of a team, and by myself.. Doug, year 11.

· I've been inspired by our music program, it has the ability to stimulate your mind and express emotion. Tom, year 8

· Music matters to me because it is a way of escaping reality. I play when I am happy, sad or annoyed and I play my emotions out. It is a kind of non-violent stress relief. I also just love to play music, whether it be in an ensemble or by myself because it gives me a great sense of achievement when I just sit back and listen to what I'm playing and love what I'm hearing. Erin, year 10

· What I like about music is that I can express myself in many ways that I can't in words. I am able to be as abstract or as calm as I like because at this school we have so many opportunities for expression. My friends and I share different music likings but teach each other or help each other. Music makes me feel relaxed at home and like I belong even if I am a world away. Music to me is feelings, life and many emotions. I rather prefer classical music because sometimes modern music makes me feel angry or tense like old leather. Mark, year 6.

Music does all that, and boosts Alexandra's confidence

· Music matters to me a lot. It gives me the ability to do whatever I want, and to express my feelings as I play. Once you pick up an instrument, music will be with you for life, whether you choose a musical career, or if you simply want to be always able to sit down at the piano and play a tune. I love music in all its forms, and hearing it played well is one of the best things in the world. Playing a musical instrument has boosted my confidence and hopefully inspired others to do the same. Alexandra, year 11

Self-confidence

Other kids also talk about the confidence they build through music making.

· I've learnt heaps while playing music. Before I started I couldn't even read music and now I can! It has also helped my confidence, because we play in front of all the people that come to our concerts. Louise, year 7.

· I am facing the big scary city next year. I will be attending a large school and I will be saying goodbye to my South Gippsland Secondary College that I know so well. I wonder how it is that I've got the guts to leave home at such an age, and then I realise something. I realise that in a way, it is the music program that has helped me see that the world is my oyster. This is why I will always appreciate the music program and the people that hold it together " because they have taught me to seize my opportunities and tackle life with my head up. Bianca, year 10

Discipline

It isn't all about fun and expressing yourself. Quite a number of kids talked of the self-discipline involved. Here's Alexander of year 7.

· With my instrument (a trombone), I practise for 15 minutes nearly every night. I do admit I can occasionally get tired of practising but I do it anyway. It is also a bit of trouble getting up real early for band practise every single Thursday morning before school, however I still do it. One thing I like about band and music practice is the challenge of learning and playing new songs, it takes a fair bit of practice and persistence to complete it perfectly.

But it's really satisfying when the whole band plays a new song all together in correct timing, and when we do one that's long and complicated, my chest swells a little with pride like when I played in my first concert at the local hall.

· Blackburn provides the opportunity to gain life skills that become invaluable. Many of the rehearsals are student-driven and a history of excellence is a result of a culture of self-motivation. Morris, year 11

· Music is important to me because it is one of the things I enjoy the most. Whether it is the precision of practising until you get your piece exactly right, the spontaneous joy of improvisation, the humility of being in the midst of a mass orchestra or the glory of being the soloist. Each part of music offers new joys and new challenges. Through all parts of the different facets of music – composition, analysis, listening, practising and performance – we can learn new parts of ourself we never thought possible – and have fun at the same time.

Making Friends, Building a Team Spirit

Kids write about their music making as a special way of making friends, and of building a team spirit. Here's Sophie, year 10.

· As soon as we (the 50 students that make up the Symphonic Band) walk through the music centre doors ready for rehearsal on a Tuesday afternoon, or step aboard a bus that will take us on another exciting music tour, we all become one, with a great team spirit.

· The music program has provided me with so many opportunities. All levels of our school are brought together and friendships are formed that would not have been thought of outside the program. Being part of a band that goes on successful, exciting tours and wins eisteddfods year after year is an amazing experience, as is seeing the happiness on people's faces when we perform. That's what makes all the practice worthwhile and the reason for my love of playing music.

The next couple are beautiful.

· From the moment you walk into the music centre, everything changes. It's different from being out in the schoolyard, in the locker bays, even in class, there's a sense of belonging. It's like all the students, whether they are in year 7 or 12, respect each other for different reasons. You're all on one level, there might be people who are more experienced on their instruments and are older but nobody is considered better than anyone else. People that you wouldn't usually talk to say hello and ask you how you're going. For many kids this is something that is very special to them.

They might not be the best at sport, or the smartest kids in their grade, and might even get bullied somewhat, but when they walk into the music centre, they know that people are going to talk to them and nobody is going to judge them. Stacey, year 11

· The music centre provides a sanctuary for me. I enjoy being around passionate musicians who understand and inspire me. We are like a close community: the teachers are friendly and the students actually want to learn. The teachers have an unbelievable depth of knowledge on all aspects of music and a never-ending enthusiasm for teaching music. No other subject compares to this. Year 11 girl.

Happiness

Kids talk about music making them happy, but in a lot of cases they are happy because their playing makes other people happy.

· It makes me feel happy when I sing, even though I am not the best singer. I enjoy it so it doesn't matter. We get to sing cool songs. Our group has given pleasure to many people and that makes me feel great. Halle, year 6

· I love to see the huge grins on people's faces when I have just finished playing or singing a piece. It makes me happy to know that I have made someone else happy by playing my music. I think that I am really lucky to have access to so many musical things. I have improved so much this year and I think that everyone should have music in his or her life. Yvette, year 5

Achievement

There is of course, the basic fact of musical achievement. A year 11 boy writes:

· When I auditioned for MHS on the double bass, I played a piece consisting mostly of the G major scale. I was learning everything from scratch. Today, just 4 years later, I can play jazz, sight read, compose, sing and perform with other musicians beyond anything I could ever have imagined. Year 11 boy

· I love music at Virginia because it involves skills, talent and extra effort and gives you a chance to prove yourself towards music. Music is my great, music is my goal – and so it should. David.

Music didn't do a lot for David's syntax – nor for Zachary's spelling. Back at Virginia State School, Zachary gets the last word:

· I also like that Virginia State School hosts the Musical Morning of Madness. You start moving and grooving and tapping to the beat, you start raping and taping and singing to the tune.

MCA MUSIC FORUM MAGAZINE May 2006