• Kelly Branch with Romany Bailey Brown (left), Phoebe Cunningham and Ainslie de Vos. Photo supplied

FREMANTLE music teacher Kelly Branch reckons her dad would have been chuffed to discover Fremantle Ports, his employer of more than 20 years, had funded a music program at her North Fremantle school.

Ron Trowbridge ensured his daughter got into music early in life, taking her to clarinet lessons and waiting patiently in the car to take her home.

“He was a passionate Elvis fan and always had music playing in the house or car,” Ms Branch recalls.

The port recently forked out $5000 to Musica Viva for music programs in port city schools.

“We are delighted…that so many young people will experience the excitement of a live music concert by some outstanding musicians,” veteran bugle Ainslie de Vos said.

The program isn’t just about sweet sounds, there’s a sound basis for school education, and beyond, Musica Viva’s Lindsay Lovering says.

“Research…shows children who have  music education perform better in their academic studies, such as maths, science and literacy, and are much more likely to take leadership roles in their various school and community based activities.”

The not-for-profit Musica Viva kicked off in 1945 and is Australia’s oldest independent professional performing arts organisation.

It presents around 200 concerts a year throughout WA, reaching 30,000 kids.

Concerts are preceded by a professional development course for teachers, who are provided with a whiteboard education program to teach students about the group performing, Mr Lovering says, “[along with] the style of music to be performed…and how to read music and compose music”.

by JENNY D’ANGER