Crescendo
Creating a brighter future through music education
Play-based learning programs for young children, such as Crescendo, provide a strong basis for future success at school. Students engaging with and playing music have improved school attendance, accelerated learning, and more confidence to face challenges and create solutions. They are generally happier young people who are more connected with their community. And, happier young people grow up to be more resilient adults with brighter futures.
The only program of its kind in WA, Crescendo is currently being delivered at two Kwinana schools - Medina Primary School and North Parmelia Primary School. The award-winning project was piloted in 2014 for a single year level in the two schools. Today, Crescendo offers free music education every week to every student at these schools, primary to year six, delivering almost 2000 music lessons to students throughout the school year. Students in Years 4 - 6 also receive Violin or Cello lessons and are able to additionally participate in the choral lessons.
‘The biggest impact I have seen has been on the students.
It really is the development of their confidence… The music lessons are very scaffolded and supported, the kids are happy to take a risk with their learning and if they make a mistake it is not a big deal in the WASO classroom. They are supported all the way… that confidence has transferred over into other learning areas.’ Karen Davey, Principal, Medina Primary School
A recent report created by analysts at Culture Counts and commissioned by WASO with six years of student, parent and community feedback confirms:
- That the socio-economic disadvantage of the participating schools demonstrates a strong social need for programs like Crescendo that provide access to unique opportunities early in life that can meaningfully improve people’s lives in the long term.
- That the program is able to generate a sense of inclusion and belonging to the community-at-large, beyond those directly participating in the program.
- The program gives individual students confidence to speak up, define goals and take an active role in decision-making (personal agency), and this was likely to lead to greater academic performance.
- The WASO Theory of Change and Logic Model applied for the program clearly demonstrates links between music engagement / music performance and personal agency for participants.
Download the Crescendo Case Study here.
In addition to their weekly lesson, students also have the opportunity to attend WASO performances at Perth Concert Hall as part of Education Week, and enjoy a number of in-school performances from WASO musicians including our Education Chamber Orchestra (EChO) and local and international guest artists.
In 2023, WASO announced a new initiative to the program for 2024. Every year, an eligible Year 4 student from each school (learning the cello or violin) will be awarded a Crescendo Scholarship following an application process. The Bunning Crescendo Scholarship (Medina Primary) and The Rosalin and Joy Durbin Sadler Crescendo Scholarship (North Parmelia Primary) will support a student in their final three years at primary school; offering additional opportunities through extra-curricular lessons, guidance through Australian Music Education Board (AMEB) exam preparation, practice technique and what it means to be a 21st Century musician. The specialised tuition will offer these talented emerging musicians the best possible pathway through to further studies, with an aim to secure a career in the field.
To find out more about Crescendo, please contact Alena Tompkins ph +61 8 9326 0088.
