“Music… should be the right of all children to develop beautiful hearts and minds.” Principals go back to school for music education workshop

Local school principals were given a hands-on lesson on the value of musical education last week, with Orange Regional Conservatorium staff leading them through a morning of moving, drumming, singing, and music-making.

Presenting at a professional learning session for local school leaders, Director of the Orange Regional Conservatorium, Donna Riles and the Con’s music education specialist, Philippa Waters had the district’s school principals banging on djembe drums, blowing kazoos and tapping xylophones and tambourines as they demonstrated a variety of musical activities showing how accessible a curriculum music program can be for classroom teachers.

"After the interruptions that Covid delivered school music programs, it is encouraging to see that our principals are committed to delivering high-quality extra-curricular and syllabus music programs within Orange schools,” Donna said.

Research in neuroscience has shown music can improve children’s executive brain functioning by seven IQ points, she said.

“And we know first-hand that music instruction from a young age leads to happier, healthier, smarter adults,” Donna said.

“Music education helps brain development, assists focus, builds confidence, allows self-expression, relieves stress... and is fun!”

The Conservatorium works closely with district schools to deliver high-quality individual and group music tuition, band and choir programs and professional development workshops for classroom teachers.

And it’s a relationship they want to see grow in the future, Phillipa said.

“We sincerely thank all our principals for diving wholeheartedly into exploring the metacognitive, therapeutic and magical value of music education in a child’s life,” she said. “Here’s hoping all our school leaders across Bathurst, Blayney, Cabonne and Orange make specialised classroom music, instrumental tuition and co-curricular ensembles a priority in every school.”

“Music should not be a rich man’s subject,” added Donna, “it should be the right of all children to develop beautiful hearts and minds.”