Music Unites Students and Inspires Change Erasmus Project

Project Title

Music Unites Students and Inspires Change

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 Schools Only

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2016

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: Teaching and learning of foreign languages; Intercultural/intergenerational education and (lifelong)learning; Access for disadvantaged

Project Summary

BACKGROUND:M.U.S.I.C. (Music Unites Students and Inspires Change) originated from an idea and belief common to all partners: education made the difference and made changes. To carry out this noble task we had powerful and effective pedagogical tools. All the partners experienced the potentials of artistic activities in education recognizing that music favours Cultural Harmony. It really helped to learn because it created positivity. Equally on a methodological and didactic level, the experience of “making music altogether”, changed radically the space and time of standard teaching-learning relationship: it had the power to break down any type of diversity or boundary and favour a more positve learning state.
OBJECTIVES were : – to use of alternative and better teaching/learning skills to stimulate students’ creativity, increasing self-esteem and motivation – achieve higher educational standards – promote awareness of peoples in full respect of culture, society, religion – improve and update the knowledge of the students in a European context by comparing them feel part of European society – reduce dropout through activation of integrative and innovative educational initiatives – promote awareness of the artistic heritage of other cultures and own cultural heritage – use of English as vehicle to involve other subjects of the curriculum and to facilitate school twinnings via Internet – dissemination of new information and communication technologies for the exchange with partners and for the production of teaching materials – experience activities as opportunities for encounters to foster knowledge and relationships with peers – learn to work on projects with a transnational team.

PROFILE:The project involved the Turkey (acting as coordinator) and the Music and Art Lycee of Italy, two Secondary Schools of General Education with Music Departments of Poland and Lithuania and the National College of Romania with a total number of 24 participating students and 10 teachers.All students range from 14 to 19 years old and came from all types of family contexts; many were highly motivated while others had low achievement at school and less opportunities owing to objective difficulties, family and social backgrounds. The schools did their best to avoid ESL and developed self-esteem,motivation involving the students in national/ international projects highly challenging but Erasmus contributed to addressing these challenges.The coordinating teachers included English Language, Music and Art teachers and teachers of other related disciplines mostly experienced in exchange projects: Literature, Arts, History of Music, Philosophy, PE and Sport, Technology, Science.

ACTIVITIES/METHODS:The prep-activities were carried out through theoretical preparation on the cultural heritage, tradition, confrontation, of the different countries involved held by teachers of the other above-mentioned disciplines. Successively other activities were carried out through training and performance of music/dance repertoire according to each country with help of Music, PE, Technology teachers etc., also musical reworkings, composition through integration of musical elements belonging to different national traditions, recording video/cd, use of moodle, etwinning space, lessons in the presence, organization of music bands, orchestral events by the students and/or for them. The methods were based on Learning by doing-Cooperative Learning.

RESULTS: They related to the objectives achieved by students through activity execution-expressivity both for the level of satisfaction obtained; educational effectiveness,usability of interactive instructional materials: technology; the technical solutions adopted in music;higher school attendance.

IMPACT:Pupils’ personal/social growth, major integration in EU, teachers’ exchange of experience, knowledge about foreign school organization, increased skills in FL, increased sensibilization of local communities towards Erasmus in general and specically towards the project’s issues.

LONG TERM BENEFITS:There were many more long term advantages of incorporating music into learning and teaching: cultural exchanges between young people of different nationalities represented an effective means for integration,the appreciation of diversity and union among people. Therefore priority lied in using music as a key to unlock any type of barrier also giving the pupils the possibility to improve their proficiency, gain awareness of the importance of learning a foreign language and involving them in active participation making them feel protagonists. Also learning the foreign language implied getting into the mind of another, taking his point of view- an important step towards mutual understanding, tolerance and respect for diversity. Music develops Change: moral wellness,critical/ creative personality, interests, respect for others and freedom of imagination.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 123930 Eur

Project Coordinator

Karatay Anadolu Lisesi & Country: TR

Project Partners

• Gimnazjum Zwiazku Nauczycielstwa Polskiego
• Colegiul National Vladimir Streinu
• Kelmes Jono Graiciuno gimnazija
• IISS “LUIGI RUSSO”