MUSSIC: MUsic at School for Social Inclusion and Culture Erasmus Project

Project Title

MUSSIC: MUsic at School for Social Inclusion and Culture

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 : School Exchange Partnerships

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2018

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: Cultural heritage/European Year of Cultural Heritage; Creativity and culture; Intercultural/intergenerational education and (lifelong)learning

Project Summary

European integration and the increasing presence of citizens from third countries has confronted European countries with the presence of different worlds, cultures and beliefs, which makes the encounter with the ‘different’ a daily life situation. Schools play a fundamental role in preventing the spread of prejudice and discrimination based on linguistic, religious and cultural traditions through intercultural education.Every human culture is equipped with tools that allow communication between individuals, through verbal and non-verbal languages. Music is an important means of non-verbal communication and should be recognised in its ‘essence and cultural value’, for the development of intercultural dialogue. The project starts from a reflection on the relevance of music, and in particular of folk songs, as a means of promoting historical and cultural identity, developing an intercultural perspective on the diversity that connects all European and non-European peoples. The aim of the project is therefore to promote the development of intercultural dialogue and global citizenship in pupils, through the enhancement of the identity contribution of music as cultural heritage and the creation of active opportunities for exchange.
The participants in the project activities were more than 200 Italian and Spanish students who were involved in the preparatory and dissemination activities. Among them, 30 students were selected to participate in the transnational mobility in Italy and about 45 Italians, whose departure was however cancelled due to the health emergency. The age range is 11-14 years.

The main activities that IC FOLIGNO 5 and PAZ DE ZIGANDA IKASTOLA carried out together were:
– Research and elaboration of the musical repertoire, based on popular music and songs (local and from the countries of origin of the foreign children), which will be chosen by the students themselves.
– Preparation and implementation of music workshops integrated with the study of traditional folk songs.
– 1 LTTA- Short-Term exchanges of groups of pupils: during the exchange period the pupils participated in school activities and music workshops, they will have the opportunity to get to know and make friends with the pupils of the host school and will finally perform the selected vocal and/or instrumental music pieces.
– Production of a video as the final product of the mobility action, used in the dissemination activities.
– Due to the Pandemic, it was only possible to realise the final event in Italy, which was attended by a very large audience (schools, local authorities, music associations and other potential stakeholders).

The activities carried out that led to the achievement of the objectives described in the application had a strong positive impact on the direct participants and on the two educational communities involved:
1. STUDENTS: the study of popular music (local and foreign) gave them the opportunity to deepen the knowledge of their own roots and of the roots of their fellow students of foreign origin, promoting the growth and enrichment of the students and educating them to intercultural confrontation, a fundamental step to build and increase awareness on some crucial issues, such as European citizenship, fundamental rights, the fight against racism and xenophobia. The workshop activities contributed to the improvement of knowledge and skills in the field of music. The mobility period represents an important opportunity to broaden the cultural horizons of the participants, and will allow them to live an international experience and to test themselves in a different environment.

2. TEACHERS: In addition to gaining experience in the management of European cooperation projects, MUSSIC contributed to the professional development of the teachers. Teachers were able to share with their partner colleagues different types of learning methodologies, experiences of different school systems and improve the way they work with their students.

3. EDUCATIONAL COMMUNITY: the results obtained allowed the two schools involved to start/consolidate an important internationalisation process in the long term. On the basis of the results obtained, both schools intend to intensify the music workshop activities aimed at promoting social inclusion and integration.
The experience of MUSSIC has therefore allowed the partnership to make the first improvements to the didactic offer and to the project interventions both locally and nationally, as well as at European level, structuring proposals aimed at the development of intercultural dialogue and the inclusion of foreign students.

Project Website

https://pdzfoligno.blogspot.com/

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 41481 Eur

Project Coordinator

Istituto Comprensivo Foligno 5 & Country: IT

Project Partners

• Pedro de Axular Cooperativa