READY TO SING: Tintinhull Public School pupils practice singing for Music: Count Us In – a nationwide singing event happening on November 1 whereby schools all sing the same song at the same time. Pictured are, front from left, Kalan Burkett, Shakiya Fletcher, Madison Roe, Violet Miller, Charlie Pollard and Baynen Miller. Photo: Barry Smith 161012BSA06
THE small primary schools are leading the New England and North West charge to sign up for an interesting music event set to happen precisely at 12.30pm on November 1.
Music: Count Us In has so far received registrations from Walcha Central School, Nundle Public, Woolomin Public, Gunnedah South, Kingstown Public, Rocky River Public, Werris Creek Public, Tintinhull Public and Kootingal Public schools but no Tamworth schools had registered yet, DMCPRmedia publicity assistant Kassia Byrnes said.
Woolomin Public School has participated in Music: Count Us In since the initiative's inception six years ago.
Last year, more than 1900 schools public, private, primary and secondary joined the biggest music initiative in Australia, singing the same song at the same time on the same day.
This year fewer than 1800 schools have signed up.
But because you could register up until the day before, organisers were expecting many late entries, Ms Byrnes said.
It's free to register.
Music: Count Us In was a great experience for smaller schools, Tintinhull Public School teacher Sally Thompson said.
"It's a good opportunity for a small school to become involved in something that all the other bigger schools are involved in," Miss Thompson said.
The whole Tintinhull school would have a go, she said all 44 of them.
She said they were inspired to join in the singing extravaganza after they were involved in a dance organised as part of Education Week at the start of last term.
Miss Thompson said the pupils were "excited" about the November 1 performance.
"When are we going to sing this song?" they keep asking her.
Miss Thompson said they'd been rehearsing the song, called Different People (Stand Together), for the past four weeks.
Continuing the tradition of the song being written by and for students, three high school students worked with ARIA-award-winning musician Josh Pyke to come up with this year's tune.
Students are also behind the recorded version of the song, which was produced by award-winning producer John Foreman, who is also the program's ambassador.
"We know that Music: Count Us In has become so popular that it has triggered many more music activities in schools throughout the year," Mr Foreman said.
"That's really pleasing, when you consider that music education has been squeezed out of a lot of schools, especially our primary schools, over the past decades."
The song, behind-the-scenes videos and free resources are available to schools at www.musiccountusin.org.au
