Thank you to Donna Marwick-O’Brien, who has sent us through the below information, about the processes her students through creation to submission of their ACMF National Songwriting Competition songs:

At Bambara Primary School, students are constantly immersed in rhythm, rhyme, and melodic activities so by the time they’ve reached years 6 and 7, song writing is the next logical step.

Steps taken in the Song Writing Course:

1. Lots of brainstorming and collecting of ideas amongst the students.
2. The children look at their own lives and what they would like to write about, for example some students write about home, family, relationships, future, peace, while others prefer to write about controversial subjects (this year one group wrote a song about the dictator, Kony). Others write fun action songs which they get to teach to the junior classes.
3. Identifying popular songs and their chord structures. Recognising that a huge number of these songs consist of only 4 chords. For example,
‘Boulevard of Broken Dreams’ (Green Day) – Am / C/ G/ D &
‘Scar’ (Missy Higgins) – C / G/ Am/ F
4. Look at changes in choruses and bridges.
5. Teacher plays some of these chord structures while students explore vocally or on instruments until they feel they have a melody they are happy with. This can take quite a while as it is important for the students to move out of their ‘heads’ into their feelings.
6. In groups, the students identify and work to their strengths. Some maybe writers and are in charge of the lyrics (although input is encouraged from all). Others work out instrumental parts, lead etc while singers take their role. A non-musical student is assisted by other children or the teacher to play a simple musical pattern or chords to fit with the song.
7. Approximately one term is spent getting these songs to a performance level.
8. Students create their own power point which is played while they perform.
9. Once they have learnt their own songs, many students assist other groups in their performance.
10. Several rehearsals take place in front of other classes.
11. A final concert is held for parents and guests.
12. Songs are recorded and sent to ACMF.

“Broadmeadows Special Developmental School is a school in Melbourne’s northern suburbs, which caters for students aged 5-18 with moderate to severe intellectual disabilities. Students come from diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds and bring with them unique and varied strengths, abilities and personalities. The school encourages each student to access and utilise their own individual voice and to express themselves in clear, meaningful and positive ways.

The song “I’m wonderful”, originally came out of a song-writing process with students in the school choir earlier this year. The song quickly became a hit through the school and was chosen to be performed as the whole-school finale at the annual school concert in September. Students from the early to senior years were dedicated to learning and rehearsing the song-words and key-word signs with teachers and staff in the weeks leading up to the concert. As the clip shows, everyone came together beautifully, stood tall and delivered a wonderful performance to friends and families from the school community.”

Thank you to Imogen V. Rees, for sending the ACMF this information, as well as the video below.

Video filmed and produced by BluePrint.

A moment from a year 5 and 6 drumming class – the first time all three parts fit together perfectly and everyone went onto the ending at the same time!

Rotary Club of Taree on Manning are holding a Premier Movie Night Fundraising Event with a screening of “SKYFALL 007″.

When: Thursday 22 November 2012
Time: 6pm
Where: Fays Twin Cinema, Taree
Cost: $15 (includes sandwiches, Heineken beer on tap/McGuigans Wine)
Purchase: Rex Solomon (02 6552 1236) or Dusty Walkom (02 6551 2674)

ACMF is honoured to be selected as the recipient of funds raised from this night. All funds raised will be used to purchase musical instruments for schools in the Manning Valley.

Class 4B from St Joseph’s Primary School Taree have generously agreed to perform at this event, and will be singing “Music Makes Me Happy”, which they won a prize for, in this year’s ACMF National Songwriting Competition.

Thank you to the Rotary Club of Taree on Manning for their support.

Click here to visit the Rotary Club of Taree on Manning website.

We have just received the exciting news that five school children (between Years 3-5) from one of our ACMF Music programs at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Primary School (Waterloo), have been selected to join the prestigious Gondwana National Indigenous Children’s Choir.

Congratulations to the talented children and their families. You should be very proud of this fantastic honour and achievement!

Check out this great video that we have just received, featuring children from Matraville Soldiers’ Settlement Public School.

These children are in grades 5 and 6 and were very excited to have their 5 part xylophone piece filmed by ACMF Teacher, Rachel Scott. In class, they first learn how to musically read what they play, and then put all the musical layers together. Keep up the great work kids!

ACMF is honoured to again have the invaluable support of Sydney City Rotary for the City of Sydney’s Sydney Christmas events this year. Special thanks to the five Rotary Clubs who supported us last year, and who will again be fundraising for ACMF by running the famous Rotary BBQ Sausage Sizzles stall at the upcoming events. The organisation of five fundraising BBQs within a two week period is a huge undertaking, and includes the involvement of over 45 Rotarians. As well as Rotarians, the Sydney City Rotaractors will also be arriving to support us. Rotaractors are young people of the future who are keen to make a difference in the world.

If any of you would like to know more about Rotary, make sure you visit the Rotary BBQ Sausage Sizzle stall at the various events and talk to the Rotarians and Rotaractors about how you can become involved.

Click here to read more about the Sydney Christmas events.

Click here to visit the Rotary International website.

“Their song Music Makes Me Happy has won the special 10th anniversary category (primary school) of the Australian Children’s Music Foundation (ACMF) national songwriting competition.

It’s the culmination of an incredible journey of music, imagination and creativity for the 27 students who last week had the opportunity to perform their song for ACMF founder Don Spencer, who described it as “absolutely beautiful”.”

Click here to read the full article.

The ACMF has been conducting music programs at Matraville Soldiers’ Settlement School since March 2006. We are delighted that their talented choir is going to be performing with Don Spencer OAM (our Founder) at the City of Sydney’s Sydney Christmas events in late November/early December.

Thank you to Maurice Johnson (Principal), Rachel Scott and the proud parents and teachers of these fabulous children for making this all possible.

They are working very hard and enthusiastically practising and preparing for these special events with ACMF Teacher Rachel Scott. In one of the classes this last week, they wrote down their thoughts and feelings about music and the performances.

Class 4J says: “I’m looking forward to going to the Christmas carols because last time I went it was so fun. We got to sing and sing to a lot of people. I’m also looking forward to going because we have fun and I get to spend time with my friend and the best music teacher ever Miss Scott.”

Click the Read More button below to see all of the quotes from the kids at Matraville Soldier’s Settlement School about the Christmas events.