Animation unveiled for Music Matters’ ’Music: Count Us In’ project

The animation for this year’s Music: Count Us In, Music Australia’s biggest school music initiative, has been created by Academy of Information Technology (AIT) graduate Nikkita Archer.

Archer’s animation complements the official MCUI song, Paint You A Song, which was penned by five school students and Harry Angus from the Cat Empire.

This year marks the third time Music Australia has undertaken the initiative, in partnership with its music community collective Music Matters. Funding has again been provided from the Australian Government, through the Department of Education.

Harry Angus’ involvement follows 2013’s artist mentor Katie Noonan and Josh Pyke, who mentored in 2012.

The track was recorded at Studios 301 in Sydney with students from Newtown High School of the Performing Arts. The students were mentored by MCUI Program Ambassador, composer and musician John Foreman, along with Ed Rodrigues (Drums), Hannah James (Bass), Rex Goh (Acoustic Guitar), Crystal Barreca (uke), Heather Prowse (Trumpet) and Harrison Harding (Sax).

John Foreman told TMN: “I am honoured to be part of a program that has such a wonderful impact on school communities. I am constantly inspired by teachers’ commitment to developing their skills in order to provide students with much needed music education. By offering lesson plans, resources and opportunity for celebration, Music: Count Us In tries to make teachers’ lives a little easier!”

More than 500,000 students from over 2,000 schools nationwide – including primary and secondary, State and independent, metropolitan, regional and remote – participated this year. A performance of the song will be live streamed from midday Thursday October 30 at Parliament House in Canberra, where more than 850 students will sing the track.

You will be able to test the live stream throughout the week here.