UNited through musIC Erasmus Project

Project Title

UNited through musIC

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; Civic engagement / responsible citizenship; Creativity and culture

Project Summary

Music, as a fundamental component of the human experience, offers a symbolic and relational space for the activation of development processes of the individual in itself and as part of the community. The different stimuli – practical, theoretical, emotional – are fundamental in the construction and elaboration of personal, social and cultural meanings.
The UNIC project was motivated by this ‘hyper-educational’ value of music, considered a source of development of students as individuals and active citizens. The age of the project’s target group (12-13 years old) corresponds to a fundamental period in the construction of one’s identity and in the integration of new citizens into society, aspects that are too often neglected in this respect. UNIC therefore proposed activities aimed at shifting the perception of music from a mere “general culture” to a fundamental teaching for the integration of the individual student in the local community and in the wider European Community. The horizontal priority “social and educational value of European Cultural Heritage” was selected, as it is fully in line with the objective of stimulating the acquisition of transversal skills of cultural awareness and democratic citizenship in students and of providing teachers engaged in music and arts teaching with innovative skills in line with international standards to make their teaching more effective.
The main objectives achieved by UNIC were the following:
-Creation of an innovative approach to music teaching
-Music teaching as part of the student’s civic and psychological education
-Promotion through music of social, civic, intercultural competences, which foster the growth of young people as individuals and citizens
-Promotion of the European musical heritage as an element of integration, dialogue and development
-Promotion of local musical traditions as a source of social identity and sense of belonging to the local community
-Improvement of the quality of music teaching in schools through staff training, exchange of know-how and internationalisation of teaching methods.
The project involved 40 students (10 per partner) and 8 teachers (2 per partner) in exchange and mobility activities, while at least 140 students and 20 teachers per institution took part in the premises, more involved following the Covid19 Pandemic. Particular was the participation in the exchanges of deaf students (but equipped with hearing aids) of the German partner school, to encourage integration and inclusion of “diversity” in normal musical activities.The activities carried out within the UNIC project were as follows:
On-site and virtual activities: training, research, music production, practical exercises, production of content, musical performances for diverse audiences
-4 exchanges between groups of pupils: with joint practical exercises, cultural and workshop activities, thematic visits, production of content, discussion and dialogue (2 in presence and 2 online due to force majeure)
-3 joint training events for staff: training on innovative teaching methods, e-twinning, use of music in civic education, exchange of good practices and know-how (2 in presence and 1 online due to force majeure)
-Dissemination and promotion of UNIC, also through events in schools
-Return activities, both through staff and students
-Constant updating of the project website, which will contain the musical pieces addressed and the work related to them according to an open source philosophy.
The project was based on a democratic and bottom-up methodology, stimulating the full involvement of the participants. The activities avoided notionality and frontalism and favoured the direct engagement of staff and students in the activities, also through team building and gamification strategies.
The results achieved by the UNIC project are as follows:
-Overcoming the generalist and notionistic approach of music teaching
-Integration of music teaching into civic subjects
-Improvement of didactics, internationalisation and exchange of know-how
-Promotion of the European Cultural Heritage for economic and social development, and dissemination of knowledge of the main European musical expressions
-Counteracting discomfort and violence/bullying through the development of critical sense, aesthetic autonomy, intercultural dialogue, respect and collaboration with others.
The medium/long-term impacts will be:
-More openness of schools towards Europe
-Improved learning strategies thanks to the international exchange of know-how and good practices
-Expansion of subjects contributing to civic education
-Development of active and aware citizens, able to be fully included in European citizenship
– Greater ability to manage interculturality, diversity, discomfort
– Raising awareness of the importance of music teaching as a comprehensive educational tool
– Dissemination of the European Cultural Heritage as a tool for social education, personal and economic development, an engine of social cohesion.

Project Website

https://unicerasmus.home.blog/

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 97358,4 Eur

Project Coordinator

Istituto Comprensivo Viale Ernesto Monaci & Country: IT

Project Partners

• Remenyi Ede Zenei Alapfoku Muveszeti Iskola
• – Pfalzinstitut für Hören und Kommunikation – Augustin-Violet-Schule Frankenthal
• Kelme “Krazantes” Progymnasium