Photo: heraldsun.com.au

Minister for Education James Merlino, Member for Bendigo East Jacinta Allan and Member for Bendigo West Maree Edwards today visited Lightning Reef Primary School in Bendigo to announce that the school is one of the 44 recipients of the second and final round of the Musical Instruments Grants program.

Lightning Reef, along with Bendigo Special Development School, are among 44 schools – 25 regional and 19 metropolitan – that will now have up to $5,000 to purchase a range of musical instruments for their students.

Lightning Reef Primary School will use the grant funding to purchase eight keyboards, 25 guitars, 25 ukuleles, a drum kit, a digital wireless system and various musical accessories such as guitar picks and keyboard stands.

Bendigo Special Development School will use its grant funding to purchase 83 percussion instruments, including xylophones tambourines and chime bars, as well as musical accessories, books and resources.

In total, this round of funding will see schools purchase 95 keyboards and pianos, 479 string instruments, 18 brass instruments, 155 woodwind instruments, 1,040 percussion instruments, 75 cultural instruments and 99 pieces of electronic equipment.

The Labor Government’s $2 million Music in Schools initiative also provides professional training for hundreds of Victorian teachers so that schools can establish quality music programs.