Harristown State School students find the right pitch

HARRISTOWN State School music teacher Denise Muller was proud of the students’ efforts in participating in a nation-wide singing event yesterday.

HARRISTOWN State School music teacher Denise Muller was proud of the students' efforts in participating in a nation-wide singing event yesterday.

More than 450 students filled the hall to be part of the annual Music: Count Us In event.

Mrs Muller said the annual event involved more than 3500 schools from around Australia singing the same song at 11.30am.

Harristown State School choir members lead the school in Music: Count Us In, the national synchronised singing of One Song, Thursday, November 1, 2018. Picture: Kevin Farmer

"It was exciting in the lead-up to the performance. All the students had been running around saying 'today is the day'," Mrs Muller said.

Music: Count Us In is Australia's largest school initiative to support music in schools.

"The song performed was called One Song which was written by a group of high school students from various states," Mrs Muller said.

"The song was mentored by Justine Clarke from Play School and produced by John Foreman.

"All the students can then get access to the song and the idea is to have as many children as possible sing the same song at the same time, all around Australia to celebrate having music in schools."

Harristown State School music teacher Denise Muller leads students in Music: Count Us In, the national the national synchronised singing of One Song, Thursday, November 1, 2018. Picture: Kevin Farmer

Harristown State School Year 5 student Allahna Clarke said she and her friends practised the song on their lunch breaks.

Allahna said One Song was a fun song to sing with the school.

Mrs Muller said music and singing were important for children's development.

"Research has shown that music has been beneficial to the development of the left side and the right side of the brain," Mrs Muller said.

Harristown State School choir members (back row, from left) Indi Richards, Andrea Martinito, Tahlia Wyatt, Shayla Niez, Maddison Coleman and (front row) Bella Lampey (left) and Allahna Clarke get ready for Music: Count Us In, the national synchronised singing of One Song, Thursday, November 1, 2018. Picture: Kevin Farmer

"The emotive quality of music is also needed by everyone, we are capable of emotion, which children can learn to express through music.

"Many children don't get the opportunity to enjoy singing, people don't even sing nursery rhymes often any more.

"So, today's performance is a way to get everybody involved with music because the voice is the one instrument that everyone has."

Originally published as Harristown State School students find the right pitch