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'Largest' student sing-along conducted

Posted October 23, 2008 15:16:00
Updated October 23, 2008 15:24:00

Australian Idol's John Foreman has conducted what has been dubbed the country's biggest-ever simultaneous sing-along of primary school students.

More than 350,000 children from 1,700 schools across Australia participated in the second annual "Music ... Count Us In" event.

It is aimed at highlighting the need to boost music education in schools.

More than 2,000 children from Canberra-based schools assembled at the front of Parliament House to lead the sing-along, which was coordinated through a weblink between all schools involved.

The song, called Sing, was written by four Victorian high school students.

Last year's inaugural event involved 200,000 students from half of the number of schools taking part this year.

"This is just a tremendous indication of the level of willingness for students to participate in music in their schools," Foreman, who is Australian Idol's music director, told AAP.

"Around the country, teachers have said, 'Who'd like to participate in a music event?' And 350,000 kids have said, 'Yes, I would'.

"It's really raised the status of music in schools across the country and it's just a great celebration of music."

There are many benefits to learning music at school, he says.

"From my own experience, playing in a band or singing in a choir gives the student a great sense of belonging," he said.

"The social benefits from that can be quite profound.

"There's also some studies that indicate that music study helps in areas of numeracy and literacy."

Foreman says the Federal Government's $3.5 million support for the initiative to 2010 is welcomed, but incentives need to be provided for generalist primary school teachers - who teach a range of subjects - to teach music.

"It can be daunting for someone who doesn't really know much about music to try and teach that to their students," he said.

"So, more training in that area would probably be good."

Arts Minister Peter Garrett - the former frontman for Midnight Oil - says music has been a big part of his life, but it isn't for everyone.

"In the school, it's the first place when you're exposed to music," Mr Garrett said.

"It can build into a career, it can build into a life of appreciation, it can build into community.

"But whatever way it builds, music is an important part of being human and the fact that we have these kids here having such fun ... [is] a great sign of things to come."

Research conducted by the Music Council of Australia shows about 23 per cent of government schools conduct music classes, compared with 88 per cent in private schools.

- AAP

Tags: arts-and-entertainment, music, primary-schools, australia, act, canberra-2600