Grab your Passport

Live music encourages curiosity and exploration, and Music of the World offers students the opportunity to discover new sounds and cultures. We sat down with Mark Turner, one of the musicians behind Musica Viva Australia In School’s latest show, to talk about bringing Eastern European folk tunes, Celtic melodies, and other musical traditions from around the world into the classroom. 

Mark is a multi-instrumentalist and singer/songwriter based on Whadjuk Noongar Boodja in Perth. He plays guitar, saxophone, and piano accordion and leads the ensemble, alongside violinist Teresa Vinci and percussionist Ben Vanderwal. Teresa is known for her work with the Hungarian folk ensemble Hot Paprika, and Ben is, in Mark's words, 'an absolute weapon of a drummer'. The trio delves into the music of Eastern Europe, Ireland, Scotland, and Italy, offering a taster of places that the players love. 

The show came together through creative discovery: 'Once we started hand-picking little pieces, it was like an explosion of options', Mark explains. 'Teresa is Italian, so we had the Tarantella, and I wrote my own song Music of the World that pulls from everywhere as well. The group’s diverse instrumentation helps students find something they connect with.'

Participation is central to Music of the World, inviting students and teachers to sing, dance, or experiment with a loop pedal, which allows the musicians to use pre-recorded sounds alongside live instruments. During their trial shows the loop pedal was a big hit:

'We looped a drone that involves the whole school singing together,' says Mark. 'It was amazing hearing everyone singing in pitch, at different levels. Then four teachers wanted to join in and have a go! They created a vocal drone together, and we turned it into a rock song.

'Those moments of spontaneity are fantastic, especially with a trio—you can just go with the flow. The relaxed and collaborative atmosphere of the show ensures its message resonates clearly. I don’t think anyone left confused about what we were trying to say in the show. All the students seemed to get something from it.'

Musica Viva Australia’s education program supports teachers with professional development webinars and curriculum-aligned resources to bring the lessons into the classroom. For Music of the World, this includes a Stamp Your Passport activity which allows students to log their reflections and impressions as they discover new music from different countries, encouraging curiosity beyond the show. 

'It’s an hour of fun-filled music that will challenge your students, make them ask questions, and hopefully leave them inspired and joyful,' says Mark. 'It’s the kind of show that opens up so many doors.

'I have always loved working with Musica Viva Australia and the joy that it brings to all. I hope more people become curious about music and the joy of sharing with others. I don’t know what the future holds, but as we go on, it’s harder to connect with all the screens in the way. So playing live music and sharing it with people is so important. If we connect with even one student and it changes their life, we’ve done our job.'

In 2025, Music of the World will visit schools in several regions of Australia, starting in Western Australia.

Perth schools can book the program in Term 1 (31 March – 4 April) and Term 2 (3 – 6 June), offering students the chance to explore musical traditions from around the world. For more details on tour dates and bookings, visit Musica Viva Australia's website. 

Grab your passport and take your students on an unforgettable musical journey.