Music & Arts Programs

In-School Workshops

Recommendations_Image Workshop Programs include a range of creative and performing arts, run for a minimum of six months and are complemented by other programs including performances, holiday programs and Professional Development.

Workshops are tailored to meet the diverse needs of each school community, and planning is based on local need, demographics and evidence-based exemplary practice. Support materials and activities, advice, and Professional Development are provided to enhance impact and work towards self-sustainability.

"They really gained confidence and I now have some great ideas to incorporate in my class program. A great learning experience for children and I discovered how talented some of them are.” Herbersham Public School, NSW

Holiday Workshops - family & community

Holiday workshops are short course intensive programs that address the broader community needs and is focused on specific children, youth, and families in need. They involve wider community partnerships and collaborations beyond the school system to encourage positive community links and participation.

"One boy who is regularly in conflict at school, behaviour steadily improved throughout the week until the Friday he wasn’t involved in a single incident.” Bettina Leeson, Leading Teacher, Tregear PS, NSW

Performance Events

The Song Room provides free access to a range of professional performances for children involved in its workshop programs. Professional performances provide students and teachers with the inspiration and motivation to engage in further music and performing arts programs and activities.

Where possible a school community performance event as a culmination of the workshop program is produced by the students for the scool and parents. Evidence suggests that a performance event encourages greater participation during the in-school program and provides a forum for connecting the school and students to their parents and families.

“Students’ confidence improved each week. Students who normally wouldn't do things in front of others gained the confidence not only during the song room but even for classroom projects.” Amanda Barker, Berseker State School, QLD

Sustainability Planning

Our programs create sustainable change, rather than simply providing programs where they previously didn’t exist. The Song Room provides resources, skills networks and capacity for a range of disadvantaged school communities in Australia to provide life-changing developmental benefits to children.

The Song Room provides consultation, expert advice, support and resource materials for developing a continued program. Teachers and community leaders attend professional development seminars, individual mentoring and teaching resources to develop their skills, knowledge and practice. The Song Room developes long-term Sustainability Plans that assist schools to build their own music and performing arts capacity.

The Song Room Online

All schools who participate in Song Room programs, as well as many other disadvantaged schools across Australia, are given access to The Song Room Online. Membership provides schools with a range of resources and support to help them more confidently incorporate music and creative arts programs into their curriculum. The Song Room Online includes curriculum and teaching resources, program activities across all artforms, structured Professional Development, links to other websites with creative arts resources, links to arts education organisations and details on how a creative arts program in a school links to relevant Curriculum.

For more details, go to School Members

"A student new to the school this year is extremely quiet in class, but has blossomed in workshop classes! I couldn't believe it when he volunteered to sing - not only did he know all the words but he absolutely belted out the lyrics. He absolutely loved it! During music he is the most animated and active member of class, a great change from his regular classroom demeanor.” Kai Pukarines, Berendale School, VIC

Instrument Donations

Often schools have no music or performing arts programs and few resources or finances to fund the purchase of musical instruments. The Song Room assists in sourcing instrument donations from music companies and private sources, so that schools are left with a lasting resource.

Indigenous Parental & Community Engagement Program

Research shows that high levels of parental and community involvement is strongly related to improved student outcomes and that family and community involvement can have a major impact on student learning, regardless of the social or cultural background of the family.

‘Engaging the local community in the future of Indigenous education is vital if there is to be a significant shift towards equality of educational outcomes’

According to The Ministerial Council for Education, Early Childhood Development and Youth Affairs (MCEECDYA), the development of genuine partnerships between schools and Indigenous communities ‘remains the primary platform to productive, stimulating and responsive highly effective schools servicing Indigenous students’.

The Song Room has been funded by the Commonwealth Department of Employment, Education and Workplace Relations (DEEWR) to pilot the use of arts and music programs as a vehicle to build Indigenous parental and community engagement with local schools and other organizations. DEEWR funding will be supplemented by significant funding by the Song Room to support pilot parental and community engagement programs in Cunnamulla, Mackay and Brisbane.

"Establish effective arrangements for the participation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander parents and community members in decisions regarding the planning, delivery and evaluation of pre‐school, primary and secondary education services for their children." Priority 1, National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education Policy (AEP)

Partnerships and Collaborations

The Song Room has developed a comprehensive range of partnerships and collaborations that involve a range of education, arts, corporate and government organisations, including the National Gallery of Victoria, State Symphony Orchestras, Federation Square, the Children’s Hospitals in Melbourne, Sydney, Newscastle and Brisbane, Local Governments, Wesley Mission and Relationships Australia.

Indigenous arts organisations and community organisations, including Barkly Regional Arts and Winanjjikari Music Centre (NT), Northern Territory School of Music, Awesome Arts Australia and Mandurah Performing Arts Centre in Western Australia, Queensland Performing Arts Centre and Pass Australia in Queensland, Gondwana Voices, Australian Theatre for Young People, The Smith Family, 3 MBS Radio and the Music Industry through the PPCA.

If you or your organisation would like to become a partner, collaborate with or sponsor The Song Room, please go to How You Can Help.

For information about The Song Room programs, please contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

The Song Room Web Site