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Xstrata Community Partnership Program Queensland – The Song Room Community Rhythm Project

The Xstrata Community Partnership Program Queensland has been generously supporting The Song Room’s Community Rhythm Project in disadvantaged primary schools in Mt Isa /Cloncurry and Townsville/Charters Towers regions of North Queensland since 2008. The Community Rhythm Project uses music and performing arts to engage socio-economically disadvantaged children, especially Indigenous children, who may have become disengaged from school and learning and who are at risk of early school-leaving.

Workshops

The workshops have included intensive singing and drama workshops and intensive music and music IT workshops in the Mt Isa/Cloncurry Schools, whilst the programs in Charters Towers and Townsville have focused on dance and creative movement workshops delivered by The Song Room’s highly-regarded Teaching Artist, Barbra Adjei. The programs have also included school and community performances at the school or at the local performing arts hall or community centre.

Teaching Artist

Barbra Adjei is part Ghanaian, part Torres Strait Islander with an additional mix of Malay, Samoan and Aboriginal ancestry. After graduating from the National Aboriginal Islander Skills Association, Barbra joined the Bangarra Dance Company for two years touring internationally before joining Descendance as a performer and beginning her teaching career.

Having an Indigenous Teaching Artist running the Townsville and Charters Towers programs has provided a positive role model for the Indigenous Students, with Sandra Perrett, Principal, Central State School, commenting: “Having someone like Barbra run the program is outstanding. Having an indigenous person (who comes from the Townsville area) as a role model is the icing on the cake. This is doing wonders for the students - 50% of our students are indigenous.”

Response from Schools Teachers

Teachers have also noted the very positive impact of the program on their students. A Teacher from Charters Towers State School told of the impact on one her students. “One student, a 13 year old aboriginal student who was at risk of disengaging from learning, found he had dance skills, which allowed him to excel in the program. Dance allowed this student to succeed, unlike in class where he struggles with the literacy and numeracy tasks for his year level. This new confidence allowed him to become more confident in the classroom. He was more willing to ask and answer questions. This led to an improvement in both literacy and numeracy,” she said.

Another Teacher from Sunset State School commented, “All children had an opportunity to participate and experience success. The students were all engaged with the activities and learnt a lot. A significant impact of the program was seeing that students were more likely to have a go with unknown activities and be involved.”

The program evaluations have demonstrated strong learning, personal development and social skills outcomes for the participating students with over 80% of Teachers reporting enhanced team work in class and that students were more engaged and enthusiastic in the classroom.

Performances

Students have had a number of opportunities to perform for parents and friends, such as the one held at the World Theatre in Charters Towers in December 2009. According to audiences, a highlight of the performances was the Michael Jackson tribute from Central State School where students performed their version of Michael Jackson’s Thriller as well as Heal The World lead by three student soloists backed by the school choir.

2010 Community Rhythm Project Plans

With continuing support from Xstrata’s Community Partnership Program, the Community Rhythm Program will be concentrating on local schools and the indigenous communities of Cloncurry and Charters Towers in 2010. Students, staff and families will have a fantastic opportunity to prepare and come together for two community events: The Big Dance in Cloncurry and The Big Sing in Charters Towers.