About

Why the Flame Awards?

The Flame Awards run against the backdrop of research which shows:

1. The unique benefits to students’ emotional, social and intellectual development when they learn music, and
2. Despite this, school music education has been in decline for the last few decades, particularly in primary schools.

By highlighting positive and inspirational school communities where music IS front and centre in school life, we build a network of music education heroes and encourage other schools to follow the example of the outstanding ones.

A snapshot of previous winners

Coober Pedy Primary School, SA

“There are huge issues for indigenous kids to stand up, plant their feet and look out to an audience proudly and sing with confidence. We were really impressed with the way in which this Principal has the guts to make demands on these students, setting a standard that the kids are working hard to meet. The music program has already impacted positively on school attendances. It’s benefiting these students’ education because it’s one of the important factors that ensures they’re at school in the first place. Keep up the great work, Coober Pedy!” National Judges, 2009

Ferny Grove High School, QLD

“There are special singing programs for boys here, singing in other languages, singing across all sorts of musical genres and there’s a sense of fun that permeates the entire school and gives the students a really positive sense of place. As one of the students so touchingly puts it; ‘The Music Department is my second home. It would be my first one, but mum won’t let me move out!’”

Neutral Junction School, NT

In this tiny one-teacher school 170kms north of Alice Springs, music is being used as a vehicle to preserve the local Kaytetye language as well as to improve the students’ English literacy. “We feel our school language and music program is having a positive impact on detrimental social issues in the community and building of individuals’ confidence,” says Teaching Principal, Rosemary Kerrison. There have been increased student attendance levels, pride and confidence and the creation of meaningful employment in the community.

Deepwater Public, NSW

Deepwater Public is the home base for the Small Schools Marimba Ensemble which involves 12 schools from four regions around the New England area of NSW - an innovative solution which allows students from tiny isolated schools to participate in musical performance and access a quality music program that their school alone would simply not be able to provide. “In over 25 years’ teaching, I have yet to see a more effective school program that develops school spirit, harmony and an abundance of self-esteem,” says Deepwater Principal, Danny Spillane. Each school engages its parent community to make percussion instruments such as Marimbas and new stringed/bowed inventions called ‘echocellos’, helping retain parents’ involvement through the years.

Bicheno Primary School, TAS

“Our students went from a ‘music sucks’ attitude to each and every child performing at our Final Year Assembly,” says Principal, Andrew Woodard. When he joined the school in 2006, Andrew saw the need to meet the challenge of minimal musical resources and a music ‘unfriendly’ culture, with some drastic action. “I needed to engage the students in a way which didn’t use instruments, so we lived by the musical motto: the best instrument we have is our body and voice.” Today, the lower primary students perform African chants, Latin style pieces and square dance. Children make instruments out of recycled household items – the Rubber Glove Hooters are favourites.  Bicheno has gone from a school without a choir to one where one third of the student population is involved and where there are equal number of girls and boys. Students have learnt and performed pieces in Auslan and Makaton sign language. “Our students have become engaged and interested as they needed no prior musical background to excel in music,” says Andrew Woodard.

Judges

All entries are reviewed by a panel of education experts from ASME, the Australian Society for Music Education. This panel develops the shortlist of no more than 40 entries which go on to be assessed by the National Judges. The National Judges are:

• Dr Richard Letts, Executive Director, Music Council of Australia
• Ms Jane Law, Australian Primary Principals’ Association
• Suzanne Rogers, Australian Society for Music Education
• Grahame Abbott, ABC Classic FM
• ABC Local Radio personality

The 8 State/Territory winners, including one overall National winner, will be announced in early November 2010.

Please note: due to the volume of entries, no correspondence can be entered into about the progress of individual entries.