School of the Air students star in hit Biggest Classroom music video
Josh Arnold has made a career writing songs about regional schools but a recent tune has strummed the heartstrings of Australia.
Key points:The Toowoomba musician has launched a song called Biggest Classroom in the World featuring Mount Isa School of the Air students.
It has since swept Australia, gaining more than 5,000 shares on Facebook.
Thousands more have commented on social media, reminiscing about their time in distance education or living in remote Australia.
Arnold said it was the most adventurous project he’d undertaken.
"These kids are living in the most remote areas you can think of," he said.
Find more local newsFor students like Breanna Easton, it was an experience to remember.
"I was really nervous about singing my part, but I learnt that if you push forward and give things a go, great things can happen," the grade five student said.
"I was calmed when I was singing because it reminded me of how special our school really is.â€
Rehearsals via a computer screenAs the lyrics suggest, Mount Isa School of the Air spans from Julia Creek Plains to the red, rocky range.
Kids in the video are from as far north as Delta Downs and Stirling Lotus Vale, north of Normanton, to Mount Leonard near Windorah, Malakoff Downs south of Hughenden to Gunbalanya in Arnhem Land and everywhere in between.
Creating the song and music video was a mammoth feat.
Arnold first wrote the chorus that students, many on cattle stations, practised at home using a recording.
Then Arnold and grade four to six students wrote the remaining lyrics in a day.
"These kids live and breathe station life," Arnold said.
"They're like little adults really. It was actually hilarious.
"We had students want to write about how they help mum and dad with the artificial insemination of the cattle."
More than 100 students then met in Mount Isa, most travelling more than 500 kilometres, to film the final clips for the video.
Supplied: Small Town Culture
)Putting School of the Air on the mapIt wasn’t the first song written about School of the Air, but teacher Stephen Reid said it was the first to incorporate local kids.
"The original song was a generic one written for Schools of the Air across Australia and we adopted it as the Mount Isa school song," Mr Reid said.
"But this one reflects the lives of our students and their families and this, coupled with the irresistible imagery of outback Australia, strikes a chord with us all."
Supplied: Small Town Culture
)The recording gave year six student Trent Folker a rare opportunity to meet schoolmates in person.
"Everyone was made to feel important in putting the music video together and that is just what our school is like â€" everyone doing their bit to make our school shine," he said.
"It shows what station life is all about," said grade four student Riley Mourilyan.
300 music videos and countingSupplied: Josh Arnold
)Ten years ago, Arnold created a regional school production project called Small Town Culture and has lost count of how many songs have been created as a result.
"I think it's heading towards 300 music videos at least," he said.
"I don't think I'm a household name by no means, but maybe for primary school students."
A song and music video will usually take a week to complete from start to finish.
"I've visited schools in south-west Queensland, like one which had seven students and it's only taken a couple of days. Others will be an entire school," Arnold said.
The songwriter said he was compelled to keep going because of the songs' legacy for kids.
"I always feel like there is an endless well for music," he said.
"Every school is different, and words and lyrics can shape the way you see it."
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