The Malinauskas Labor Government has announced it will commit $7.5 million in funding towards expanding music education in schools over the next three years.

There will be funding of $2.5 million each year for the next three years to help ensure every child and young person has access to quality music education from the early years.

The announcement follows the release of a new report this week Setting the tempo a research initiative supported by Alberts The Tony Foundation’s Music Education: Right from the Start and the South Australian Department for Education.

The report featured a survey of teachers and representatives from 115 public primary schools, th at identified the benefits of music learning in the classroom.

Almost all teachers agree it improves students' educational experience 97 per cent with s imilar responses seen for positive impact on literacy and numeracy skills (94per cent and reduced stress and anxiety among students (94 per cent).

The study shows th at t eachers from South Australia’s primary schools universally back the student benefits of music learning, but many agree that teacher training, dedicated facilities and appropriate resources are lacking.

The extended investment in the program will go to wards buying more musical instruments for schools, extra training, u pskilling non specialist teachers to become music teachers and making music more accessible by having music spaces and rooms available at schools.

Music education includes singing, playing a musical instrument, songwriting or composing. Under the Music Education Strategy, music should be part of students’ regular learning, rather than a special activity.

Quotes

Attributable to Blair Boyer

Music education helps to develop thinking and learning skills, lifts literacy and numeracy standards and enhances wellbeing.

This latest research shows that 67 per cent of participants said music education led to approved attention span, persistence and resilience schools should be a place of inclusion and belonging with music playing a significant role in the wellbeing of students.

Starting quality music education early and continuing to deliver music learning opportunities provides benefits throughout a child’s school life and beyond.

Attributable to Executive Director of Alberts The Tony Foundation’s Music Education: Right from the Start Emily Albert

While most teachers graduate without the skills to deliver music learning to all levels of curriculum expectations, South Australian teachers have strong access to support and a clear willingness to advance their capabilities.

That’s good news for students. This research adds to the body of evidence linking music learning and students’ educational, developmental, and personal wellbeing outcomes.

Now, we must ensure access to resources and the good practices adopted by many schools are equally applied to all in the state, so no student is left behind in their learning journey.

Attributable to Research Project Lead, Dr Anita Collins

This research shows strong foundations for music learning delivery across South Australian schools, particularly support for teachers, which aligns with the focus of the SA Music Education Strategy.

While positive, every student deserves the full benefit music education can bring.

Achieving it relies on both the more equitable delivery of music education and giving every teacher the resources to deliver it.

Attributable to Assistant Principal, The Pines School Toula Girgolas,

At our school music education is delivered in a variety of ways. All preschool junior primary staff are mentored in teaching music through the National Music Teacher Mentoring Program.

We have a permanent arts teacher who teaches music across the school, and a leader who coordinates our music program and teaches music to individual students and groups. An instrumental teacher also visits once a week to teach students.

Currently we have five classrooms being used for music education as we have 150 students from Year 3 6 playing 15 different instruments.

I have seen many benefits of music education in my time as a teacher. At The Pines I have seen a marked improvement in the emotional and social well being of our students as well as an increase in their self esteem and focus through experiencing challenge and success.