Released today, 19 May, a survey of public primary school teachers across New South Wales has revealed widespread concern over the delivery of music education, with many teachers calling for more training, resources and specialist support.

The survey, conducted by the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER), garnered opinion from 706 teachers from 95 NSW public schools. It found that while most teachers value music’s role in education, significant barriers limit their ability to teach it effectively.

Commissioned by Alberts’ Music Education: Right from the Start initiative and funded by Sound NSW and The Tony Foundation, the research provides the first detailed snapshot of music education delivery across NSW primary schools.

Photo © Taylor Foss/Unsplash

National vision, local gaps

The study supports a national vision that every Australian child should have access to quality, sequential, and ongoing music education. Yet, only 17 percent of surveyed teachers consider themselves “musical,” and a striking 82 percent say their initial teacher education (ITE) did not adequately prepare them to teach music.

Executive Director of Alberts | The Tony Foundation’s Music Education: Right from the Start, Emily Albert, said, “This study provides a timely picture of...