A new music mentoring program for primary school teachers is now available to schools in Western Australia.
The introductory, eight-session taster model is a ‘taster’, designed by the Australian Youth Orchestra’s Music In Me program. It aims to help teachers gain the confidence to use music in the classroom as part of their everyday curriculum.
Manager of the Music in Me program, Bernie Heard, says music in learning has delivers a positive, lifelong impact to children.
“It’s been proven that music in primary education results in better cognitive, social and well-being outcomes for young people,” Heard told EducationDaily.
“While teachers inherently understand the value of music and creativity in their classroom, they are often stretched and too time-poor to be able to seek out in-person professional learning in music.
“We believe this is a golden opportunity for every principal, parent and teacher. When the mentor leaves, you get to keep that knowledge, skills and practice within your school.”
“A music mentor teacher can enhance skills and practice or introduce music education into your school where there is little or no music program.”
About Music in Me
Established in 2015 by Richard Gill AO, the National Music Teacher Mentoring Program – now known as AYO Music in Me – is built on the foundational belief that every child should have the opportunity to learn, participate in, and express themselves through music. This is made possible by improving access to high quality music teaching and learning in primary schools, through teacher mentoring.
To date, 440 schools have participated in the Music In Me program, with 808 teachers mentored and more than 14,000 students directly impacted by their teacher’s participation in the program.
In 2022, Professor Margaret Barrett and Dr Katie Zhukov from Monash University conducted an evaluation of the program from 2017-2020, through 286 national surveys of teachers, mentors, and principals.
The analysis of the cumulative impact of the program revealed positive effects on students’ emotional, psychological, behavioural, and learning outcomes, both in music and other subjects.
Introductory course offers affordable entry
The ‘Welcome to Mentoring‘ program is available for half the cost of the standard Music in Me program and requires half the commitment of time to deliver.
Heard says it can be tailored to cater to the unique needs of each individual school.
For remote schools without a local mentor, a mentor would travel and visit intermittently, for several days of intensive mentoring. In between these visits, the mentor would maintain online contact to support the teacher.
To date, 35 schools across WA have participated in the full Music in Me program, with six currently involved.
Selena Sandoz is a teacher at Poynter Primary School who recently participated in the unique program and says the experience was “incredibly positive, supportive and educative”.
“My mentor affirmed what I am doing in my current practice and provided me with ideas to enhance learning experiences for my students. My students are getting a better music education, and I am becoming a better educator because of this amazing program
Heard says the program is also searching for skilled WA music teachers to apply to become mentors and help deliver the Music in Me program.
“Supporting teachers to deliver music to students has a flow-on impact across other subjects too,” she told EducationDaily.
“Every Australian student deserves access to music education.”
