MIX Erasmus Project

Project Title

MIX

Project Key Action

This project related with these key action: Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices

Project Action Type

This project related with this action type : Strategic Partnerships for school education

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2018

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: Creativity and culture; Inclusion – equity; New innovative curricula/educational methods/development of training courses

Project Summary

• Children and music
European children doesn’t play enough music. Yet music enhances children social inclusion, cognitive and social capabilities, personal development and resilience (1). That is to say that music has a direct useful impact on children’s lifes regarding for instance their academic achievements, but also that it makes them happier.

• Less children in music school
The general interest of children in music schools is lowering. Music schools face difficulties in general to retain children and to insure their inclusion capabilities related to disadvantaged children and children with special needs and/or with a migration background. Furthermore, mostly privileged children are reached (2).

• A changing world
At a European level, we notice a high level of dropouts in music schools and a decrease of the registrations. The conclusion — for many governments and music organisations — is that music schools need to adapt their way of teaching to a changing world. They have to take into account the needs, centers of interest, technological habits, learning paths and diversity of nowadays children.

• Teachers are everything
In order to act efficiently, new approaches and new curricula are needed, but the central element of this metamorphosis is the teacher. Studies show that the role of the music teacher and the methods he uses are crucial in order to motivate pupils, manage diversity and prevent dropouts (3).

• Teacher pedagogical background
Teachers have to undergo a paradigm switch and this represents the real challenge. In most European countries the pedagogical background of music teachers is not sufficient. And even in countries like Finland, where music teachers have a strong pedagogical background, they need a continuous update in front of constantly evolving technologies, children habits and inclusion related issues.

• Innovative music education
This means that an innovative methodological support targeting music teachers is necessary in all European countries. Our project will provide this so needed innovative approach by offering them free access to an instrument for open education, based on the newest technologies in three languages — English, Dutch and Finnish. It will concentrate on three main themes — ludo-technologies, creativity, diversity — which need a strong pedagogical support. This online and interactive instrument is called an interactive webdoc.

• Partnership
Our partnership consists of four experienced partners, a regional music teaching organisation — OVSG, Belgium, 3000 teachers —, a national music teaching organisation — Cultuur Connectie, Nederland, 4000 teachers — a remote and dynamic Finnish music teaching institute — the Lapland Music Institute, 200 teachers and Concrete Dreams, a production house specialised in content transmission.

• Webdoc
The webdoc will use the principles of universal design for learning, storytelling, gamification, and all the opportunities of the digital area — photo, gifs, films, virtual reality — to provide practical and inspiring access to open and innovative teaching practices. Thus it will help the largest amount of teachers to make the shift toward more inclusive and flexible music education. It will guide them through different levels of knowledge and awareness in order to continue their professional development in a process of lifelong learning.

• Dissemination
Our partners will mainstream the webdoc in their teachers education frame. The European sustainability of the project is already guaranteed by the European Music School Union (EMU) who will host and further develop the webdoc.

We hope that the webdoc will represent a great tool to expend the music teachers pedagogical capabilities which will help them to build a more collaborative, inclusive and creative music education for all European children.

(1) Les bienfaits de l’enseignement et de la pratique de la musique . www.scribd.com/document/283253391/FHOSQ-FAMEQ-Final-pdf; laboratoire de recherche Mus-Alpha – www.mus-alpha.com
(2) Bamford A., ‘Art and cultural education in Flanders’ . publicatie van het Vlaamse ministerie van onderwijs . 2007
3) De Backer F. et all, Is kiezen een koud kunstje?’. Eindrapport. HIVA . 2016

Project Website

http://mixmusiceducationplatform.eu

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 253376 Eur

Project Coordinator

Onderwijsvereniging van Steden en Gemeenten & Country: BE

Project Partners

• Rovaniemen kaupunki
• Concrete Dreams
• Vereniging Cultuurconnectie