Don’t Stop The Music

Synopsis

What happens when you give young kids from a disadvantaged suburb access to a state of the art music program?  The results will excite, shock, and surprise as lives are transformed through the power of music.

The science is undisputed – children who play a musical instrument do better academically and socially.  But in Australia, most of our kids are missing out on this vital part of their education – especially those who need it the most.

At Challis School in Armadale, a tough outer suburb of Perth with high rates of violence, drug use, and unemployment, one school principal wants to change that. Lee Musumeci is determined to bring a top notch singing and instrument program to her school and mega performer Guy Sebastian wants to help.

Although music is a core curriculum subject, Challis, like most public schools, has few instruments  and virtually no money.  Lee has no choice but to rely on donations.  She also has a seriously underqualified music teacher – Simon.  Through no fault of his own, Simon’s teacher training has simply not prepared him to teach music competently.  Aided by some of Australia’s top musical educators, Simon is put through a music boot camp and the dramatic results begin to infiltrate the school.

80 students are offered the chance to learn a musical instrument and kids who thought playing an instrument was something others did on television, are now being mentored by some of the finest musicians in the country.   The effect is electric.  Talent is unleashed, absentee rates plummet, morale soars and that’s only the beginning.