Ukulele strikes chord

Secret Harbour Primary School students are strumming on a new high-quality ukulele, which was recently donated to the school through the Act-Belong-Commit New Life Instrument program and Musica Viva WA.

The instrument will form part of the school’s grow-ing ukulele group for Year 1-5 students, who perform at assemblies and community fairs.

SHPS music teacher Katherine Anson said the ukulele would strike a chord with students. “This instrument will give more students the opportunity to play on an instrument during lessons and would be used daily,” she said.

“It makes a wonderful addition to the instrument program at our school.”

Musica Viva WA manager Lindsay Lovering said Healthway’s support had enabled many students in schools throughout WA to enjoy classical music.

Healthway acting executive director Maree De Lacey said: “Promoting positive mental health in the WA community is one of Healthway’s priorities and we know that involvement in artistic activities can be a great way of staying mentally healthy.”

“Healthway-funded research by Dr Christina Davies at the University of WA has found that people who engage with artistic activities for just two or more hours per week were much more likely to have better mental health than those who do not engage in artistic activities.”