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The voices of thousands of Aussie kids came together today as part of the Music: Count Us In program. At 11 am, students from more than 800 schools around the country sang the uplifting tune “Life is a Song.”
Music: Count Us In was developed to raise awareness of the importance of school music programs. Australian Idol musical director John Foreman has become the program’s public face after writing “Life is a Song” for the event.
“It’s amazing to be part of,” John said on the Australian Idol website.
“Kids from right around the country will be performing the song in their own way, in their own school. Some of them singing in a choir, some of them playing percussion instruments along with the record.”
In recent years, music has been squeezed out of schools as teachers face budget cuts and a crowded curriculum. Yet studies show music education is important as it actually helps students’ academic performance and social skills.
“We think that music should be available to every kid in an Australian school, regardless of ability, in the same way that maths and English and science are offered to all kids,” John explained.
Image source: Music Count Us In website