Music in every classroom: Guthrie Street Primary School is on song

The workshop culminated on Thursday, November 25 with a visit from well-known Victorian musician Jon Madin, who builds his own instruments and writes his own music.

Guthrie Street teacher Steph Barber said the introduction of music into the classroom was helping the children engage in their other areas of learning.

“We have done a lot of PD (professional development) in the benefits of music and with kids, especially young kids, and we just think it's very vital that these kids are exposed to it and are receiving the benefits that it can have for literacy skills," she said.

The children played home-made violins with different notes pegged along the string, musical bicycles, home-made tambourines and hand-crafted marimbas.

Mr Madin taught the students how to play the marimba, at one point commenting that “there was a shambles on Guthrie St”.

Some of the home-made instruments, like the musical platforms, made amusing noises. Mr Madin’s expert comedic timing had the children in hysterics — and their attention on the workshop, striking the perfect balance between engaging and silliness.

Eventually, Mr Madin created a slightly disjointed chorus, picking up an accordion and leading the troupe through the classic, The Macarena. The intermittent shouts of “hey macarena” were punctuated with giggles from the children as Ms Barber and some of the students performed the dance at the front of the room.

Greater Shepparton Secondary College music specialist Gabrielle Ryan has been running the weekly workshop for the Guthrie Street kids and teachers as lead mentor. She said Mr Madin was a “living treasure” and a “gift to music”.

This is the fifth year Ms Ryan has organised music workshops for local schools involved in the National Music Teacher Mentor Program.

“Research tells us significant learning occurs in Foundation to Year 2,” she said.

Guthrie Street Primary has lacked a creative arts program for a few years according to Principal Brendan Bicknell. He said the aim of the workshop was to address the lack of “flexibility around creative art” in the classroom.

“It’s trying to prepare teachers to be able to implement some music and drama and those sorts of things,” he said.

Guthrie Street offers the opportunity to learn an instrument, but Ms Barber said this workshop would expose the children to music in an inclusive and fun group setting.

“Next year the school is moving to ensure that music is found in all classrooms during the day,” she said.

The National Music Teacher Mentor Program is funded by the Department of Education and the National Youth Orchestra. Ms Ryan confirmed that funding had been locked in for next year’s workshops.

The program was developed by the late, great musician Richard Gill. According to Ms Ryan, the famous conductor and music educator said “every child deserves to learn music”, and “there should be music in every classroom”.