Let’s Paint Cultural Unity This ANZAC Day
This is the second post in the ANZAC Day activities series. The last post explored ANZAC Day activities based around the picture book “Alfred’s War”.
This post has some different ANZAC Day ideas derived from song by a duo from northern Queensland released in 2017 called “Paint This Land”. The duo are Busby Marou and they are hot property in the current Australian indie music scene.
BUSBY MAROU – WHO ARE THEY?
Tom Busby and Jeremy Marou are the duo and they came together musicially in their home town of Rockhampton. Jeremy is of Torres Strait Islander heritage, and both performers come from musical families. With similar musical interests, the two combined to perform and write music.
Much of their music highlights the Torres Strait Island culture of the importance of country, the environment, relationships and respect.
The Australian newspaper in reviewing their first album described the overwhelming feeling that emanates from BUSBY MAROU as “joy”. The Australian went on to say the “voices and close harmonies are as clear as Queensland sunshine, and the acoustic guitar playing of both men is both accomplished and expressive”. I agree.
Busby Marou have been around since 2009 when they won a “’Breakthrough’ grant. This Federal Government initiative supported the emerging indigenous contemporary musicians. The award assisted in the production of the band’s debut album.
They have since been signed by Warner and released two more albums. These albums have seen them nominated five times for Australasia Performing Rights (APRA) awards for Blues and Roots ‘Work of the Year’. These awards recognise song-writing skills, sales and air-play performance. Busby Marou has won twice, one in 2012 for ‘Biding My Time’ and then in 2018 ‘Best Of Me’.
‘PAINT THIS LAND’ SONG
This information comes from https://musicfeeds.com.au/tv/busby-marou-paint-land/
Australian duo Busby Marou have unveiled the official video for their track ‘Paint This Land’, a clip that acknowledges the role Indigenous soldiers have played, and continue to play, in Australia’s Defence Force.
The clip features actor Tony Barry and director Wayne Blair’s father, Bob Blair, a Vietnam War veteran and the first Aboriginal Regimental Sergeant Major in Australia. The video also features the mural artwork of Sydney street artist Hego, who will soon launch a documentary on black Anzacs. His contribution to this clip is the first time he’s created a mural that features both an Indigenous & a non-Indigenous soldier together.
By focussing on themes of solidarity, reconciliation and hope, Busby Marou hope to pay homage to the past and look forward with a united and respectful vision.
“‘Paint This Land’ is our song about the Australian spirit,” says Busby Marou’s Tom Busby. “It’s everywhere, it’s beautiful and it’s alive! The song acknowledges our powerful indigenous culture and celebrates our future. Working with Wayne Blair and watching the song and its message come to life through the power of film is without a doubt, our finest moment as a band.” huge privilege to work alongside Wayne, Jeremy, Thomas and the formidable cast and crew.
Read more at https://musicfeeds.com.au/tv/busby-marou-paint-land/#DK4qKZuHhU3DeBCq.99
SUGGESTED ACTIVITIES
K to 3
- Watch the video clip and discuss what the song and the video are about?
- Students to explore the song through movement. As a class decide on movements for the chorus
“Arms above
Together we are one
With our hearts in our hands
You and I will paint this land
From the red desert beat
To the city streets
Where the ocean meets the sand
You and I will paint this land”
- The students could have free movement choices for the remainder of the song.
- After the movement activities discuss with students, rhythm, pitch, dynamics, timbre, texture or what element of music you need to focus on at the time.
- Repeat the movement activity again to reinforce teaching concept.
- I would use coloured scarves or streamers for this activity. The colours would help bring the lyrics of the song to life and add to the creative experience for the children.
Year 4-6
- Watch the video clip and discuss what the video and the song are about
- Echo teach the lyrics and melody of the chorus (see above in K-3 section)
- Use the Orff Schulwerk mantra of ‘sing say move then play’. Teach some speech patterns to solidify rhythmic patterns vocally. Transfer the speech patterns to body percussion and then percussive instruments.
- Students form small groups, sing the chorus and design and perform their own accompaniment arrangement. Allow students to choose from a range of percussion instruments so they can explore different timbres and textures. The aim is for them to produce their best accompaniment to share with the rest of the class.
- Have students notate the rhythms using standard notation.
Rhythmic Accompaniment Suggestions
Paint this land (x2) ta ta ta za
From our hearts to our hands (x2) tete ta tete ta
From the ocean to the sea za za za tete tete tete ta
Choir
- Sing the song along with the duo as a warm up.
- Perform the song with the video as part of your ANZAC Day services.
Instrumental and Secondary
- Watch the video and have students respond to the musical elements and as a cultural statement
- There are chords available for the song on Chordify which would be useful for students learning to accompany the piece as part of their individual or group lesson on their instrument of choice.
- Students could develop their aural skills by encouraging them to accurately play the melody of the verse, chorus or bridge, or all three, for next week.
- If developing expression is a key part of your instruction, have them work on different dynamics, articulation or tempo to tell different ‘stories’ of ‘Paint This Land’.
- Create their own accompaniment on garage band or similar
ngs in the book (includes CD) range in difficulty. They are suitable for different situations and ages. Many incorporate Noongar language of SW Australia. Schools are loving this book as there are so few resources of this kind available. The positive effect on kids as they sing these songs at school (and take them home) is remarkable. Orders can be taken online by emailing either personally or for your school. The contact is 
