COUNTDOWN: Werris Creek Public School Year 5 student Shay Flett singing with her musical colleagues during the Music: Count Us In event yesterday. Photo: Barry Smith 011112BSD10
Primary schools across the region gathered yesterday at 12.30pm to sing in unison for this year’s Music: Count Us In event.
With a focus on the importance of music in schools, the nation’s biggest music initiative is now in its sixth year.
The kids at Werris Creek Public School sang loud and proud to the song, Different People (Stand Together), which was written by three high school students with the help of musician Josh Pyke.
Assistant principal Tim Munday said the kids had been practising quite a bit in the lead-up, but school musical rehearsals may have prevented them from knowing the words off by heart.
“We started learning these for the first couple of terms but then our musical, Oliver took over,” he said.
“We also participated in it last year and we were a bit better prepared. But we wanted to be involved again because it’s a great initiative, especially since we are a school involved in performing arts – we couldn’t pass it up.
“There are also very well-known people involved, like Josh Pyke, who was this year’s mentor.
“I’d certainly like to do it again next year.”
Mr Munday said the school prided itself on its dedication to music and performance.
“Students are involved with music from Kindergarten. When we get them to audition it’s nothing to just grab a kid and get them up on the stage and they’ll happily sing. We find if we get a new student from another school, they get a little nervous,” Mr Munday said.
Other local schools involved were Walcha Central School, Nundle Public, Woolomin Public, Gunnedah South, Kingstown Public, Rocky River Public, Werris Creek Public, Tintinhull Public and Kootingal Public schools.
A recorded version of the song was created by program ambassador and renowned producer John Foreman.
