Music: Count Us In (MCUI) is Australia’s largest school initiative. It is the education program of Music Australia, working with partners around the country to support music in schools. Its genesis was in the 2005 Australian Government National Review of School Music Education which found a lack of music education in schools. MCUI is supported by the Australian Government up until the end of 2020, funded through the Department of Education, Skills and Employment.

MCUI plays a vital role in fostering music education in schools, with a presence in every state and territory in the country.  It is internationally recognised as the world’s largest school music initiative, and an important part of the Australian school calendar.  It offers students music participation and skill development, delivers much needed resources and training to teachers, accesses and supports regional and remote locations and special needs areas and provides a whole-of-school engagement activity.

The program culminates in the National Celebration Day when more than half a million students sing the same song, on the same day, at the same time – the annual Program Song. It is a song written by students, for students. The 2020 Program Song is called ‘You Won’t Bring Us Down‘ , and was written by four students from around Australia in collaboration with the MCUI Ambassador John Foreman and the 2020 program Mentor Lior.