A couple of weeks ago, Kevin O’Mara and I were in Maryborough, Queensland, for the biennial music teachers’ conference, held over 5 days in July. We presented workshops on Music Room and Dance Room. It was our second visit and once again it was a stunning achievement – this time bigger and better.
Congratulations to Ken Hodgkinson for amazing organization. We were treated to great weather, a sublime setting by the Mary River, fabulous guest speakers and presenters from Australia and the world, wonderful performances from local students and delegate’s bands, orchestras and choirs … and keynote speaker James Morrison reminded us all that, outcomes and Essential
Learnings aside, our most important job is to find ways to engage the student at the student’s level – to help the student make a connection to music. I realise it sounds a little trite when written down like that … but it is just so important for us all to remember, when faced with ever-changing planning, evaluation and reporting requirements, that music is still, fundamentally, about making that connection and using it for expression.
The next
Maryborough Music Conference is in 2011 – maybe we’ll see you there.
From the crowded desk of Mark Leehy,
Publisher at Bushfire Press
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