There is currently a great deal of discussion around music education in Australia, much of it focused on how music appears to have fallen by the wayside in terms of priorities for formal schooling. It is all too often regarded as not being a fundamental part of the curriculum, nor as being a critical part of a child's development.
However, we are also aware that music education in this country is kept going by the efforts of dedicated teachers, determined principals, students eager to incorporate music into their education and parents who recognise the value of music in their children's lives.
On this page, we will record and make available some of the many, many positive experiences that communities have had and continue to have around music in a school setting. We do this in the knowledge that these experiences may just provide an inspiration that helps put music education back into the frontline of curriculum-based teaching.
Each short description below links to a more detailed account, wherever possible in contributiors' own words.
We welcome submissions from schools, communities and individuals relating their experiences. Digital photographs and illustrations, audio files, video files, plain or formatted text are all welcome. To find out more, or contribute your experiences, please click here info@ensemble.org.au to email us.
The Victorian College of the Arts Secondary School (VCASS) is a leading state government secondary school of talented young dancers and musicians. 
While the Melbourne International Arts Festival was buzzing around town, Carlton North Primary School joined the performance spirit and conducted a three-day extravaganza of their own: The Lee St 'Rhythm of Life' Performing Arts Festival. As well as diverse performances from students and teachers, local High Schools and student teachers joined in. more » 
The 2007 National winner of the Flame Awards is New Farm State School, Fortitude Valley, Queenland. "This is a school that understands that studying music helps literacy and numeracy and other academic achievement", said Awards judge Dr Richard Letts." more » 
"The geographical characteristics of the Upper Yarra district create barriers that isolate families and impede community connectedness. 
This South Australian school took out out the 2006 FLAME Award for its extensive and imaginative music program. The 900-student K-12 school has established itself as the hub of musical life in its community of McLaren Vale, near Adelaide. more » 
