This study, completed in July 2003, collected data for public, Catholic and independent school systems in each of the eight states and territories, in order to ascertain trends in the provision of music education in schools. It has assembled a great deal of information about the provision of music education, but discovered yawning gaps in the data even about current circumstances. Because of the lack of data from past years, it was not possible to illustrate national trends in most aspects of the provision.

Nevertheless, serious issues do arise from the data, such as the lamentably meagre tertiary music training of primary classroom teachers, who in most states bear the responsibility for teaching music to primary school children.

Associate Professor Robin Stevens of Deakin University, and also currently Chair of the Australian Association for Research in Music Education, has been the Principal Investigator in this most important data-collection project.

He was assisted by State Investigators:

ACT: Gavin Findlay

NSW: Dr Pauline Beston and Dr Anne Power

NT: Nora Lewis

QLD: Dr Andrew Brown

SA: Suzanne Rogers

TAS: Wendy Ross

VIC: Christine Oldham

WA: Andrea Stanberg

The project was jointly funded by the Music Board of the Australia Council, the Australian Music Association, Australian Arts Trust and Deakin University.

Click here to see the completed report. Published July 2003.

Click here to see the separate reports from the State Investigators for this project.

Click here to see Professor Stevens address: Why teach music in schools? Changing values since the 1850s