Information for applicants
The 2022 Music in Schools DUET Teacher Professional Learning Program supports the delivery of curriculum-aligned classroom music programs for Prep to Grade 6 students. The program is provided by the Department of Education and Training at no cost to schools.
Taking place over terms 1, 2 and 3, 2022, DUET provides mentoring-based professional learning including flexible in-class and online mentoring and coaching delivered by experienced Song Room music educators.
The program also includes workshops for school leaders and teachers to strengthen whole school planning to deliver quality music education and build capacity to implement the Victorian Curriculum F-10: The Arts, Music including assessment and reporting.
Face-to-face elements will be subject to any health restrictions in place at the time.
Participating schools are eligible to be reimbursed for casual relief teacher costs and up to $4,000 to buy or hire musical instruments and related classroom music resources.
Places in DUET are limited to approximately 80 schools.
Two teachers per school can participate.
Key dates
- Applications open: 9 November 2021
- Applications close: 14 December 2021
- The department will notify schools about the outcome of their Expression of Interest by the end of Term 4 2021
- Professional learning workshop 1: Late-Term 1, 2022 (date TBC)
- Mentoring program commences: Term 2, 2022
About the DUET program
Participating schools will receive:
professional learning workshops in Term 1 and Term 3 for teachers and school leaders including:
an overview of Music in Schools/DUET
an overview of the department’s Quality Music Education Framework
sessions to strengthen whole school curriculum planning and implementation of the Victorian Curriculum F-10: The Arts Music including assessment and reporting.
flexible in-classroom mentoring sessions (up to 10 sessions per teacher over Term 2 and 3) delivered by a Song Room Teaching Artist including:
face-to-face in school visits
online sessions for students of Prep to Grade 6 (mentoring commences Term 2, 2022).
flexible one-to-one coaching conversations with a Song Room Teaching Artist (up to 10 sessions of 30 minutes per teacher over two terms)
DET grant funding via a reimbursement process:
up to $4,000 per eligible school to purchase, or hire musical instruments and other classroom music resources for students of Prep to Grade 6 based on a Song Room led audit of school music resources
Note: funding excludes the purchase of iPads/tablets, PA systems (other than small keyboard amplifiers to run keyboards), photography and staging equipment not related to the delivery of music education. For additional information see ‘Grant funding and payments to schools’ in the EOI in SmartyGrants.
funding to hire casual relief teachers to allow two teachers to participate in Song Room professional learning sessions
funding for travel where Song Room workshops are delivered face-to-face aligned to the department’s Travel Policy
access to The Song Room’s ARTS: a LIVE platform for all school members, which includes music lesson plans and resources
12 months follow up support by The Song Room after the program concludes should schools require further assistance
opportunities for networking and collaboration between teachers/schools.
Note: participating teachers and principals will be required to respond to evaluation requests (e.g. pre and post-program surveys) to support the collection of high-quality data to inform future program planning.
Eligibility and school selection
DUET is open to teachers (generalist and specialist) in Victorian government primary, P-12 (primary) and special schools who teach music (Prep to Year 6) but do not have qualifications in music or music education and have not previously participated in DUET in government schools in 2019, 2020 or 2021.
Participating teachers must be employed by the school submitting this application and available to participate in Terms 1, 2 and 3, 2022.
In assessing applications, DET will prioritise:
- schools most likely to benefit from participation given identified challenges in offering quality music education, including schools not delivering a curriculum-aligned classroom music program based on available school survey data
- applications that align with departmental priorities including supporting rural and regional students and students from disadvantaged or low SES backgrounds to access music education
- teachers with no, or limited knowledge and/or skills in music or music education
- teachers nominated as a specialist without qualifications in music or music education
- teachers that have not previously participated in Musical Futures Australia professional learning programs as part of Music in Schools
- schools that have not previously received funding through the Music in Schools initiative.
Schools that have previously participated in Musical Futures Australia professional learning programs delivered between 2015 and 2019 are eligible to submit an Expression of Interest.
The Expressions of Interest should demonstrate how participating in the 2022 program with new teachers will benefit the school.
Funding caps may apply for schools that have received previous funding through the Music in Schools initiative including Musical Instrumental Grants and Quality Music Education Fund rounds.
Applying for the program
Schools with one or two interested teachers with no or limited skills or experience in music education should read the online guidelines before submitting one expression of interest form due 14 December 2021.
More information
For more information see the Music in Schools webpage, or contact Andrew McMillan, Project Officer, Arts, Assessment and Reporting Unit on (03) 7022 0795 or via email: music.education@education.vic.gov.au.
For more information on music teaching and learning resources visit Literacy Teaching Toolkit - Music, and
Teaching and Curriculum – The Arts – Music.