Music: Count Us In 2020

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Music: Count Us In (MCUI) is Australia’s biggest school initiative, with more than 750,000 participating students from over 3,400 schools nationwide. Growing in reach and impact since 2007, the MCUI program exists to support teachers to deliver music in the classroom, addressing a lack of training and experience in this specialist area. Each year students from all over Australia submit their original songs to MCUI’s songwriting competition, with the winners given the opportunity to professionally write and record an original song. This song is then performed hundreds of thousands of Australian school kids on Celebration Day.

2020 is the 9th year the Why Music Matters campaign has collaborated Music Australia to provide a resource for the MCUI program. We worked with a local animator to bring the song to life through an original short animated film. This year we worked with William Gembitsky to create an animated music video for “You Won’t Bring Us Down”.

William is a Sydney-based animator and editor, specialising in character animation and sleek motion graphics, with a penchant for funky sunglasses. You can find more of William’s work on his website.

Music: Count Us In song for 2020
“You Won’t Bring Us Down” lyrics and score were written by Australian students Eve Cooper, Greta Lynch, Trent May and Ava Sharp. The students received guidance from the program’s ambassador and award-winning producer John Foreman OAM, and this year’s music mentor, Australian artist Lior.

 

Music: Count Us In 2019

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Music: Count Us In (MCUI) is Australia’s biggest school initiative, with more than 750,000 participating students from over 3,400 schools nationwide. Growing in reach and impact since 2007, the MCUI program exists to support teachers to deliver music in the classroom, addressing a lack of training and experience in this specialist area. Each year students from all over Australia submit their original songs to MCUI’s songwriting competition, with the winners given the opportunity to professionally write and record an original song. This song is then performed hundreds of thousands of Australian school kids on Celebration Day (7 November 2019).

2019 is the 8th year the Why Music Matters campaign has collaborated Music Australia to provide a resource for the MCUI program. We worked with a local animator to bring the song to life through an original short animated film. This year we worked with William Gembitsky to create “We Are” Music: Count Us In 2019.

William is a Sydney-based animator and illustrator; his practice varies from sleek advertising and endearing cartoons, all the way to the zany and psychedelic. You can find more of William’s work on his website.

Music: Count Us In song for 2019
“We Are”

Lyrics and score are by Australian students Sawab Mlalh, Amber Farnan, Roan Nair and Brady Cavanagh. The students received expert guidance from the program’s ambassador and award-winning producer John Foreman OAM, and this year’s music mentor, Australian singer and songwriter Jack River.

 

Music: Count Us In 2018

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Music: Count Us In is Australia’s biggest school initiative, with more than 500,000 participating students from over 2,100 schools nationwide. Growing in reach and impact since 2007, MCUI exists to support teachers to deliver music in the classroom, addressing a lack of training and experience in this specialist area. Music Matters has collaborated with MCUI for 7 years now, working with local animators to bring to life the song through animation. This year we worked with Jennifer Quach and Nathan Khamdara to animate “One Song” for Music: Count Us In 2018.

Animation by Jennifer Quach and Nathan Khamdara

Music: Count Us In song for 2018
“One Song”

Lyrics and score are by Australian students Sophia Chesworth, Emma Jones, Abby Keenan and Hazel and Roanna Law, with guidance from Music Mentor Justine Clarke and Program Ambassador John Foreman OAM.

Jennifer and Nathan are animators based in Sydney, Australia. You can find more of their work online Jennifer and Nathan’s websites.

Music: Count Us In 2017

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Music: Count Us In is Australia’s biggest school initiative, with more than 500,000 participating students from over 2,100 schools nationwide. Growing in reach and impact since 2007, MCUI exists to support teachers to deliver music in the classroom, addressing a lack of training and experience in this specialist area. Music Matters has collaborated with MCUI for 6 years now, working with local animators to bring to life the song through animation. This year we worked with 2017 Tropfest finalist Tristan Klein to animate “Shine Together” for Music: Count Us In 2017.

Animation by Tristan Klein

Music: Count Us In song for 2017
“Shine Together”

Writers: Makayla Forbes, Ellena Escott, Sadie Mustoe, Marcus Yeo and Tiffany Yeo with Taylor Henderson (2017 Program Mentor) and John Foreman OAM (Program Ambassador)

Tristan is an animator and digital designer based in Sydney, Australia. You can learn about Tristan’s process and view more of his work on his website Tristan Klein.

Music: Count Us In 2016

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Music: Count Us In is Australia’s biggest school initiative, with more than 500,000 participating students from over 2,100 schools nationwide. Growing in reach and impact since 2007, MCUI exists to support teachers to deliver music in the classroom, addressing a lack of training and experience in this specialist area. Music Matters has collaborated with MCUI for 5 years now, working with local animators to bring to life the song through animation. This year we worked with Small Town Animations to animate “Let It Play” for 2016.

Animation by Small Town Animation
Music: Count Us In song for 2016
“Let It Play”
Writers: Stella Kelly, Tom Meadows, Bonnie Staude and Breanna Truscott with John Foreman OAM (Program Ambassador) and Jay Laga’aia (2016 Program Mentor)

Small Town Animation Pty Ltd is a team of animators and passionate storytellers based in Sydney, Australia who specialise in crafting engaging stories through animation and motion graphics. You can see their work here.

Music: Count Us In 2014

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Music: Count Us In (MCUI) is Australia’s biggest school initiative, with more than 500,000 participating students from over 2,100 schools nationwide. Growing in reach and impact since 2007, MCUI exists to support teachers to deliver music in the classroom, addressing a lack of training and experience in this specialist area. Music Matters has collaborated with MCUI for 3 years now, working with local animators to bring to life the song through animation. This year we worked with Nikkita Archer, an AIT graduate to animate “Paint You A Song” for 2014!

Animation by Nikkita Archer
Music: Count Us In Song for 2014
“Paint You A Song”
Writers: H. Angus, E. Claxton, J. Foreman, A. Gill, K. Girao, W. Kennedy, N. Wendt
Licensed courtesy of MCA

“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!”

Music: Count Us In – Song for 2013

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By John Paine

Every year, Music: Count Us In has hundreds of thousands of school children perform the same song, on the same day, at the same time. Each year’s song is created by high school students in mentored songwriting and recording sessions. In 2013 the mentor for the song, Keep On, was Katie Noonan.

This year’s animation was brought to life by Sydney-based animatior John Paine. To check out more of his work, go here – http://www.kidneyjohn.com/

Have Your Say

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By Andrew Morgan

Andrew Morgan is a filmmaker & videographer with Sydney’s Prorevolution Films. Interested in all facets of art & creativity, he’s especially drawn to music and passionate about supporting local independent artists.

Music: Count Us In – Song for 2012

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Every year, Music: Count Us In has hundreds of thousands of school children perform the same song, on the same day, at the same time. Each year’s song is created by high school students in mentored songwriting and recording sessions. In 2012 the mentor for the song, Different People, was Josh Pyke. “The program is all about raising awareness about the importance of music education in. Australia’s schools.” – Tina Broad, Music: Count Us In, Music Council of Australia www.musiccountusin.org.au

Count Us In 2012 was brought to life by Motionlab, a Sydney-based animation studio led by Luke Heise and Aaron Bartlett. Their passion is for crafting animation that tells stories through rich, illustrative worlds and character-driven narratives. “Being part of this project has been a great experience for the team here at Motionlab. Being lovers of music ourselves, we’re proud to get behind a project that supports the future of young Australian musicians.” – Motionlab

By Motionlab (Luke Heise & Aaron Bartlett)