Welcome to the Music in Action website.

On this site we provide you with a profile of our magazine plus a comprehensive set of articles from past issues. Occasionally you will also find activities related to the current issue - a music activity, or a suggestion for use by teachers and students, or an example of student work.

The Seven Sisters of the Dreamtime
	A backing track for this song is available from the composer, Stephen Lalor at: slalor@mcaustralia.com

Music in Action is a magazine developed and produced in Australia for music educators. It aims to enrich, empower, support and inform music teachers in their work.

There are five major topics covered in each issue: advocacy, technology, profile, nitty gritty and project.

Look at Advocacy for information and suggestions on this important topic. We cover aspects such as:

• what makes an effective advocate: working to make a difference

• examples of advocacy for a school music program
• what challenges lie ahead for music educators
• the role of the arts in the curriculum

Technology covers:

• how to start a technology program

• using electronic keyboard to stimulate upper primary students
• integrating language and technology in music
• using technology appropriately in the new classroom environment

In Nitty Gritty we aim for articles that provide practical help for teachers. We try to ensure that material in this section is something that might be used by a classroom teacher in their classes in the immediate future. Articles cover both primary and secondary levels and cover a wide range of topics.

Profile offers the opportunity to take a peek at the lives of teaching colleagues. In this section teachers talk about influences on their work, the issues that face them, how they deal with challenges and set-backs and the joys and tears of music teaching. It’s ‘no-holds-barred’, so you hear it as it really is.

For inspiration, the Project section showcases some interesting activities that take teachers and their students beyond the classroom and often involve the community. Read about:

• an artists in schools project that joined with a local festival to involve students in a major community composition and performance

• a program that provides much needed access to music skills for a community with particular needs
• a project that takes tertiary students out of the palace and into the community—with positive results for all
• accessing the symphony orchestra for a broadening of music making experiences

And, for extras look at our web links, and stories about professional development activities around Australia and occasional articles of assistance in areas such as copyright etc.

All this in Music in Action!

There is a wealth of experience, advice, suggestions, practical help and wisdom to be had by accessing Music in Action. Dip into this site, and then get a copy of the current issue.

Ann Blore
EDITOR