Symposium 2024

Day 1 – Friday, 29 November 2024

Musical Welcome 

Opening Session 1: Harnessing Technology to Expand Access in Music Education 

This session examined how new technologies are transforming music education by broadening access and engagement while raising important considerations. Highlighting innovative educational tools, presenters discussed how these technologies democratise music education and creation and offer students more interactive learning opportunities. The session also addressed challenges, for example with Artificial Intelligence's role in personalising music education, offering adaptive feedback while sparking ethical concerns about potential over-reliance on technology and its impact on traditional learning. Presenters weighed whether increased technology usage truly improves outcomes, urging educators to balance these innovations with music education's cultural and pedagogical goals, ultimately guiding attendees on integrating technology thoughtfully.

• Haakon Kvidal, Head of team for technology in learning and teaching, Senior lecturer in music technology, Norwegian Academy of Music (online)

• Tom Gale, Founder, Solfeg.io

• Mari Pritchard, Director, National Music Service, Wales   & representative, Charanga (moderator)

• Lauri Väkeva, Professor of arts didactics, University of Education, Helsinki

Day 2 – Saturday, 30 November 2024

Session 2: Providing Access to Music Education: Inspiring Country Profiles

• Yukiko Tsubonou, Professor and Director of Institute of Creativity in Music Education, Japan  (online)

• Mari Pritchard, Director, National Music Services, Wales

• Bridget Whyte, Director, Music Mark, England

• Mae Murray, Music Education Partnership Group, Scotland

• Marja-Leena Juntunen, Professor of Music Education, Sibelius Academy, Finland

• Annika Mylläri, Head of Music, Centria University of Applied Sciences, Finland

Session 3: Keynote: From Access to Outcomes: Evidence-Based Insights into the Transfer Effects of Music Education

This keynote explored the current limitations and possibilities of what empirical research in music can reveal about the benefits of music education. It provided insights into how to critically evaluate the evidence, helping advocates distinguish between genuine findings and overhyped claims. By addressing some common misconceptions, it aimed to foster a nuanced understanding of research findings, highlighting both their promise and the importance of careful interpretation for future discussions.

• Mari Tervaniemi, Research Director, Department of Education, Centre of Excellence in Music, Mind, Body and Brain, University of Helsinki 

LUNCH - Cafe at Oodi - Helsinki Central Library

Session 4: Access to Music Education in Creative Cities

This session explored cities' unique policies, approaches and challenges in providing access to music education, including the integral role of music schools within cities' broader arts and music education strategies. With a focus on the "Culture Kids" programme in Helsinki, it highlighted creative solutions, the obstacles encountered and the lessons learned in striving for more equitable access. This session aimed to inspire new ideas and collaborations among policymakers, educators and cultural leaders, underscoring the importance of music in building vibrant, inclusive urban communities.

• Verena Tschira, Director, Music School, Hannover, Germany

• Ulla Laurio, Senior Planning Officer, Arts & Culture Promotion, Helsinki, Finland

• Annika Kukkonen, Education Manager, Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra

Session 5: Updates on Developments and their Policy Implications 

In this series of presentations, MEP Group members and other experts provided insights into new developments in their countries and/or organisations and outlined what makes these innovations unique, and the impact are they designed to have. They also highlighted why these innovations are relevant to policymakers, and how can they influence policies, including funding policies, in different contexts.

Part 1: 

• Kirsten MacLaine, Board Chair, Canada Coalition of Music Education (online)

• Maria Helena Vieira - APEM and CIEC Research Center/University of Minho, Portugal, Public music education in Portugal in general and specialized schools: what does the future hold?

Part 2:

• Maria Olga Piñeros, Columbia, President, FLADEM (online) 

• Kārlis Jēkabsons, Department of Cultural Education, Leading expert of music education, Latvian National Center of Culture

• Adriana Didier, Brazilian Conservatory of Music, Federal University of the State of Rio de Janeiro (UNIRIO), Fladem Brasil