About the Initiative
Music Education: Right from the Start is a collaborative national initiative, led by Alberts I The Tony Foundation. It is driven by our collective belief in the power of music to change lives. It focuses on the place and purpose of music within a quality education, and how to ensure access for all Australian primary school children. After extensive consultation, the initiative commenced work in July 2021 and was officially launched on 12 September 2022. It has been supported from its inception by individuals and organisations spanning the music industry, education, research and philanthropy.
Background
Australian schooling is confronting greater inequity in access to learning and uneven outcomes; there is deep-seated concern for the health and well-being of a significant number of students as well as the strains on schools and teachers themselves.
There is no silver bullet, but we can say with confidence that there is at least one way – backed by research and experience – to lift the spirits, build collaboration and a sense of belonging, to get the creative juices flowing, and to simulate the brains and lift attainment in literacy and numeracy for our students.
The provision of quality music education for every Australian primary school student ticks all the boxes: educational attainment, equity, student health and well-being, education participation and engagement.
Our People
The Project Team:
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Emily Albert
Executive Director, Alberts
Emily is a social impact and sustainability strategist and member of the 5th generation at Alberts. She was the inaugural Executive Officer for Alberts | The Tony Foundation and is currently Head of Impact across the business and heads the Music Education: Right from the Start initiative.
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Eric Sidoti
Project Lead, Alberts
Eric has a background in public policy and advocacy. He has held senior leadership positions in a number of organisations including as Director of the Whitlam Institute (2007-2017).
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Anita Collins
Senior Advisor
Dr Anita Collins is an award-winning educator, author and researcher in music education and brain development. She advises schools, school systems and departments of education in Australia, UK and US on how to improve their music programs based on neuromusical research. Anita is the expert advisor to the project group for Music Education: Right from the Start.
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Ingrid Albert
Executive Director, Alberts
Communications Lead -
Alicia Neil
Project Support, Alberts
Advisory Group
The Advisory Group advises and guides our development and the implementation of our strategy. Its members bring extremely valuable expertise, experience and passion with them.
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Louise Barkl
Consultant, Education and the Arts
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Dr Rachael Dwyer
Lecturer in Education, University of Southern Queensland
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Anne Frankenberg
CEO Musica Viva Australia
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Dr Jason Goopy
Lecturer in Music Education, Edith Cowan University & President, Australian Society for Music Education
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Alex Masso
Executive Officer, Australian Music Association
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Stephen O’Doherty
Arts advocate & Board director
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Nicholas Pickard
Executive Director, Public Affairs and Government Relations, APRA AMCOS
Advocacy Working Group
The Advocacy Working Group advises on maximising the initiative’s impact through collaboration and strategic advocacy.
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Alice Gerlach
CEO, The Song Room
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Bernie Heard
Manager, National Music Teacher Mentoring Program, Australian Youth Orchestra
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Stephen O’Doherty
Arts advocate & Board director
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Nicholas Pickard
Executive Director, Public Affairs and Government Relations, APRA AMCOS
Knowledge Base Working Group
The Knowledge Base Working Group advises on the research needs in progressing the initiative from design through to analysis.
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Louise Barkl
Consultant, Education and the Arts
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Dr Rachael Dwyer
Lecturer in Education, University of the Sunshine Coast
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Dr Jason Goopy
Lecturer in Music Education, Edith Cowan University & President, Australian Society for Music Education
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Julie Sonnemann
Education Principal, Impact Economics and Policy
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Dr Tanya Vaughn
Education Researcher
With thanks…
We’d like to acknowledge the invaluable contribution made by previous members of our working groups:
Tina Broad, Geoff Day, Associate Professor Neryl Jeanneret, Hywel Sims, and Rob Walker.
Collaborators
Collaboration is at the heart of Music Education: Right from the Start. We thank the many individuals and organisations who have given their time, knowledge and consideration to furthering this work, and acknowledge those who have paved the way before us. Some of our key collaborators to date include:
About Alberts and The Tony Foundation
Alberts is a 5th generation pioneering Australian family business striving to have a positive impact across every aspect of the group. Through its early-stage venture capital fund investing in impact founders, to its historic music catalogues, broader investments, music education initiative and philanthropic foundation, Alberts aims to build a vibrant and sustainable future for all. Founded in 1885, Alberts has played a vital role in the evolution of Australia’s media, popular culture and music landscape, since the early days of sheet music and music publishing through to the birth of commercial radio and television and the founding of the Australian pop and rock music industry. Alberts continues to support a vibrant culture today, alongside other focus areas equality, healthy minds and a sustainable environment.
Alberts through its philanthropic arm, The Tony Foundation, has supported organisations such as The Song Room, Musica Viva and Australian Children’s Music Foundation to provide a range of music programs in schools. Music Education: Right from the Start was born of a realisation from our work and existing research that ending the vast inequity of access to quality music education across Australia is within our reach.