Dear KMEIA members,

As you are no doubt aware, the deadline of September 23rd 2012 is fast approaching for submitting our responses to the ACARA Draft Australian Curriculum: The Arts Foundation to Year 10. Many of our members have stated that they would like to view our organisations response to this document to help inform their own responses.

Official response from the Kodaly Music Education Institute of Australia:

I would like to acknowledge the help and support of the following people in devising KMEIA’s response: Maree Hennessy, Jason Goopy, Jason Boron, Ann Carroll, along with myself.

I would also like to thank the following for freely providing their own responses for our reference: Dr Richard Letts and the MCA, Dr James Cuskelly and Sarah Landis of St Aidan’s Anglican Girls’ School, Deborah Smith of Carey Grammar School, Melinda Sawyers of the Canberra Girls’ Grammar School, and Adam Yee of The King David School.

Evidence suggests that the number of common responses received in these instances bears much weight on the eventual formulation of curricula. It is our view that this draft needs significant elaboration in order to fully meet the needs of Australian students, not only in developing skills that enable them to feel confident in musical expression, but to move towards senior syllabus and tertiary entrance requirements.

I strongly encourage you to submit your own personal responses to ACARA. There are a number of ways in which you can do this:

Complete the Online Questionnaire. It appears that this is the format which will carry the most weight with ACARA, therefore we strongly encourage you to do this. You only have to complete the sections you wish to.

Additional Written Comments may be provided as well. ACARA requests that written comments are organised under section headings used in the questionnaire where relevant to assist in the analysis of all responses.

Please email any additional comments or submissions to TheArts@acara.edu.au; In the email please include the relevant subject heading “draft Australian Curriculum: The Arts Foundation to Year 10” and attach the Written Feedback Cover Sheet (sometimes referred to as the essential cover sheet).

Alternatively, the Written Feedback Cover Sheet, along with your additional written comments, can be sent to Level 10, 255 Pitt Street, Sydney, NSW 2000 or faxed to 02 8003 2894.

It is highly recommended that any submission you make to ACARA be also sent to your local, state and federal members of parliament. Apparently, any ACARA feedback received by a Member of Parliament MUST be addressed by ACARA.

There is a significant need for music educators to respond to this document in a timely and detailed manner.

It is hoped that the strength of our membership and their convictions will provide a powerful catalyst to improve upon this draft curriculum. Please encourage all of your parents, colleagues and friends to respond accordingly. It is essential that we inspire the writers to formulate more comprehensive guidelines with which to educate Australian students in the value and beauty of the Arts.

Best wishes,

Tess Laird

National President
Kodaly Music Education Institute of Australia, Inc