Canberra Schools Sing for Music Education

More than 800 students from 12 schools around Canberra will sing in support of music education at the national Music: Count Us In event at Parliament House on Thursday.

The event in the Great Hall of Parliament House will be live-streamed to schools across the country, with students around the country to join in and sing along.

Live-streaming begins at 12 noon. This year’s special song, “Paint You a Song”, will be sung at exactly 12.30pm.

The Canberra students will be supported by the Telopea School Senior Band. They have been brought together by Dr Susan West and Georgia Pike from the Australian National University’s Music Engagement Program.

"Aside from the social benefits of music, there has been much positive research into music's educational and cognitive benefits," Dr West said.

“Music is incredibly important not only for the wellbeing of students and teachers, but for the wellbeing of the community as a whole.”

The annual Music: Count Us In event is the biggest coordinated singing event in Australia, involving thousands of children across the nation singing together to advocate for the importance of music education. It is an initiative of Music Australia.

The Canberra schools taking part are: St Peter and Paul Primary School, O’Connor Cooperative School, Sacred Heart Primary School, Chapman Primary School, Hughes Primary School, Gold Creek School, Namadgi School, St Joseph’s School, Mawson Primary School, North Ainslie Primary School, Mt Rogers Primary School, Trinity Christian School, and visiting from South Australia, students from Marryatville School.