Musica Viva In Schools launches 2020 program
Musica Viva has finalised the Musica Viva In Schools 2020 season, the 75th year of the organisation bringing live music to children and educators all over Australia
Musica Viva In Schools travels to rural and metropolitan regions in every state and territory, bringing high quality live music and educational resources to more than 300,000 students and teachers and 900 schools regardless of location or economic circumstance.
“Through our live performances and resources, students are able to forge their own unique path of creativity and discovery,” says Musica Viva’s Artistic Director, Education, Michael Sollis. “Music is one of the most engaging ways for children to develop vital creative skills.”
15 ensembles will travel thousands of kilometres throughout Australia in 2020, with two new groups joining this line-up for the first time.
“Taking Shape gives primary school teachers easy-to-use tools for students to write their own pieces of music, which are performed in their school by outstanding Australian ensemble, Topology.” explains Sollis. ‘Similarly, Music in my Suitcase creates performances that include all the languages spoken by students in that school.’
Students in NSW and the Northern Territory will be the first to experience award-winning world music group Mara! in Music in my Suitcase. The ensemble encourages students to engage with Australia’s multicultural history by integrating music and dance into a program that allows children to share their own languages and cultural stories.
“We’ve travelled the globe collecting music,” says musician Mara Kiek. “But we’re most excited to share what we learned right here over the back fence.”
Acclaimed ensemble Topology will begin by touring Queensland and NSW in 2020. The musicians, who are equally at home with pop, jazz, chamber music and progressive rock, work with students to demystify the process of creating new music. Their show, Taking Shape, teaches students to listen, generate ideas and explore the way melodies are ‘shaped’. Guiding students and teachers through music making, each performance is itself shaped by the children’s unique contributions.
With almost four decade’s experience in music education, Musica Viva In Schools provides extensive support to teachers with curriculum-aligned resources and accredited professional development. All materials tie in with the Music and Creative Arts Curriculum and provide cross-curriculum links to sciences, technology, languages and more, aligned to state and national guidelines.
‘To be curious, problem solve, think outside the box, develop emotional literacy, learn how to learn and live joyously are all among the myriad benefits that a program like Musica Viva In Schools provides,’ Sollis concludes. ‘All whilst engaging a child in the wonderful world of music and artistic creation!’
Visit www.musicaviva.com.au/education or call 1300 663 608.
2020 ensembles from A to Z
Adam Hall and the Velvet Players – Classic rhythm & blues from singer/trumpeter Adam Hall and his foot-stomping, hip-wiggling, shoulder-shaking ‘little big band’, exploring how call and response are used in music. Touring WA, ACT and NSW.
Adventures in Antarctica – A journey of discovery with acclaimed harpists, Alice Giles and Liena Lacey. With footage from Alice’s own Antarctic expedition and music written especially to be performed on the continent (the odd sea shanty included), every student is invited to discover the sound of the harp with their own hands. Touring VIC, WA, TAS and NSW.
Da Vinci’s Apprentice – Every child is an inventor in this musical drama based in 16th century Italy exploring the weird and wonderful instruments and inventions of Da Vinci’s time with Roberta, a talented girl who dreams of becoming an apprentice to the man himself. Touring NSW and VIC.
Doctor Stovepipe – This rollicking, old-time gypsy swing band teaches students how songs evolve – and that when it comes to making music, no road map is required. Touring ACT and NSW.
Eastwinds – Four musicians from diverse cultural and musical backgrounds show students how to harness their creativity by expressing and sharing their personal experiences through music. Touring WA, QLD and NSW.
Makukuhan – A dynamic mini-Gamelan orchestra whose colourful performances include pitch-bending drums and mesmerising masked dances to produce the fascinating interlocking patterns from Indonesian music. Touring NSW, SA and QLD.
March of the Fire Ants – Clarinet, cello, voice and keyboard produce songs from the backyard in a fantastic musical world brought to life by Australian composer Paul Kopetz. Explore music inspired by the environment around us, from jet fighter lorikeets to machine-like cicadas. Touring NSW and SA.
NEW IN 2020: Music in my Suitcase – Integrating music and dance, iconic world music group Mara! inspire students to listen to and understand each other by sharing their own languages and exploring Australia’s rich multicultural history. Touring NSW & NT.
Rhythm Works – A dynamic percussion duo who teach students to create images with instruments ranging from African djembes and marimbas to electronic loop machines and PVC pipes. Touring VIC, ACT and NSW.
Taikoz – In demand worldwide, Taikoz are delighted to bring their Japanese Taiko drums to Australian schools. Their shows are so engrossing because they are seen, heard and felt: students literally become sounding boards. Touring NSW and QLD.
NEW IN 2020: Taking Shape – Acclaimed ensemble Topology guides students through creating their own musical compositions, exploring the way melodies are ‘shaped’. Each performance is itself shaped by the children’s unique contributions. Touring QLD and NSW.
The Air I Breathe – In a dazzling display of virtuosity, the three woodwind playing ensemble members teach students to master their own breath and use it as a creative, joyful and life affirming force. Touring VIC, WA and NSW.
Timmy and the Breakfast Band – Timmy is a normal boy on the outside. Inside, he hears music in his head all the time. Discover how music can influence actions in this display of performance and circus arts. Touring NSW and WA.
Water, Water, Everywhere – Based on music by Grammy-winning composer Tan Dun, this program evokes a childhood in the waterlogged fields of China and invites students to make their own music with water. Touring VIC, QLD and WA.
Wyniss – By comparing their own childhood games to those from the remote Torres Strait, students come to understand the importance of traditions, and to be thankful to those who teach them. Touring NSW, VIC and SA.