In the suburb of Brookdale, Western Australia, a remarkable cultural shift is taking place at Gwynne Park Primary School. Through the school and the Australian Children’s Music Foundation’s (ACMF) weekly music program, students are uncovering raw talents, stepping into major leadership roles, and building a profound sense of resilience that is echoing across the entire school campus.
“Music has become a classroom where students feel safe, valued, and happy, regardless of their academic ability or personal circumstances,” says ACMF Teaching Musician Cara Daily. “Many of our students face significant challenges outside of school. The music program provides consistency and belonging. Students know they are welcome, they know what is expected of them, and they know they can achieve success.”
Turning Chords into Confidence and Leadership
The most profound transformation on the ground has been how students view themselves and what they believe they can achieve. Younger students in the choir now look up to their peers, openly declaring their aspirations to become musicians and role models.
Three standout upper-primary boys – Ozias, Jez, and Kahindo – who initially bonded over music at their local church, have discover a powerful sense of identity through the school’s music program.
- Ozias, an incredibly gifted natural pianist with no formal training, intuitively transposes complex melodies and chords. Today, his musical confidence has seen him step up as STEM Captain and Faction Captain, while also managing the school’s assembly tech crew alongside fellow student Kahindo, an outstanding vocalist.
- Jez, exceptionally talented on the drums and cajon, can create stylistically perfect grooves after hearing a track just once. Music has become a highly successful focus anchor and incentive for him to remain on task in the classroom.
“For Ozias, Jez, and Kahindo, music has given them confidence, purpose, and a platform to showcase abilities that may otherwise have remained undiscovered. It has helped them realise that they are talented, that they have something valuable to contribute, and that they are capable of achieving anything.”
This boost in self-esteem is visible right across the school Ariana, a Year 6 student who was initially incredibly shy and timid, was overheard singing beautifully to herself while walking back to class. With gentle encouragement from the ACMF team, she auditioned for a solo at the massive One Big Voice festival and now regularly sings solo parts in front of the entire school assembly.
A Safe Space for Emotional Regulation and Positive Behaviour
Beyond the performance space, the music room serves as a vital sanctuary for emotional regulation and trauma-informed support.
For a one of our students, who has experienced significant trauma, music has quite literally thrown her a lifeline. When she feels overwhelmed or angry, she sits at the piano to regulate her emotions and write her own lyrics – a practice her mother notes has completely transformed her well-being.
Classroom teachers are also noticing the profound ripple effects of the program on student behaviour and school engagement. One of the classroom teachers shared that one of her students with behavioural challenges in his standard class, has a profound love for music and she has used music and choir as a highly successful behavioural incentive program. Because he looks forward to rehearsals so intensely, the opportunity to attend choir is used to keep him focused and driven throughout the week.
Destined for the Big Stage
The sense of pride swelling through Gwynne Park is palpable, especially following a landmark performance at the Telethon weekend broadcast last year, where students returned to school with a completely redefined belief in their own capabilities.
This year promises to take that big-stage momentum to a completely new level. The Gwynne Park choir is currently deep in rehearsals for a massive triple-threat of major external performances: Dale Fest, One Big Voice, and a highly anticipated return to the Telethon stage.
As Cara summarises: “Their stories demonstrate exactly why programs like this are so important. Talent exists in every single community – but opportunity does not always. Music gives these children a platform to realize that they have something incredibly valuable to contribute to the world.”
