Isingonthecake at The Rocks on Australia Day

We will be at the Festival of the Voice in the Rocks - more info here.  Fingers crossed for decent weather!

Update: what a day.  Highlights included: all our soloists, seeing the Spooky Men's Chorale up close, getting some extra help from the group Stairwell to Heaven for "Throw Your Arms Around Me", watching everyone go for it at the karaoke stand, performing during the air force flyover (we just kept on singing!) and of course Ian racing from the airport to the gig in time for the second set, and increasing our bass section by 50%.  It was very very hot, and we all melted a bit by 3.30 but everyone was still smiling.

Well, surprise surprise, the arts are important for academic success

Robyn Ewing, an academic from Sydney University, has recently been quoted in  the Sydney Morning Herald.  She says research shows that school-children benefit in many different ways from exposure to the arts.

It improves their academic performance, increases their level of engagement and heightens their self esteem.  Yet in many schools around the country, the arts are treated as an afterthought in the curriculum.  NAPLAN is focusing our attention towards "the basics" of literacy and maths, but encouraging a very narrow view of education.

The choir at my son's school is a great example of the value of the arts in the curriculum for everyone, not just a select few.  This year, instead of holding rehearsals at lunch-time, we offered them during class time.  Instantly the choir went from about 25 children to about 100 children, and many more boys turned up.  Some of the kids who came were regarded as "troublemakers" in their class.  Others had learning difficulties.

These are kids who would not usually be willing to participate in group singing, and certainly wouldn't spend their lunch-time in this way. When they first arrived I was pretty daunted by the behaviour issues.  Then a teacher commented that she had never seen a certain group of boys so focused and engaged with the learning process.  Music was a 'way in' to learning that had not yet been explored.

Creative arts can offer a new perspective from which to begin other learning.

Really useful song collections

Taking your young child to music classes?  Do the songs and rhymes go out of your head when you walk out the door?  I remember the same problem. 

There are loads of great resources to help remind you of the words and music.   Three of my favourite books containing early childhood repertoire are:

1. Catch a Song - Deanna Hoermann & Dooreen Bridges

A beautifully organised collection of mostly traditional songs, with words, music, analysis and suggestions for activities.  Fantastic for teachers and parents.

2. Merrily Merrily - Nursing Mothers' Association of Australia (now the Australian Breastfeeding Association)  

In 1976 the Association's newsletter asked members to submit suggestions for children's songs and rhymes, to be included in an Australian collection, and this is the result.  There was also a record produced (now a CD) to go with the collection.

3. First Steps in Music (and many other titles) - Dr John Feierabend.

John Feierabend's collection is based on research in America.  It is brilliant and well worth having.  He's produced a large number of books.  One series of books relates to different stages in child development.  Another slices things a different way, with a book for tickle rhymes and songs, one for circle games, etc.  Dr Feierabend is continually adapting his materials in response to the latest research, so look for recent editions.

These resources are available online through many retailers including Amazon, VOSA,  John Feierabend's website and the Music Works Magic website. You can sometimes also find these titles on Ebay.

Picture: 'Jen Reads' by Jen Waller, http://www.flickr.com/photos/jenwaller/2741703385/