Music Education Project in Andalusia

Inspired on Daniel Barenboim’s idea to “educate through music”, the Barenboim-Said Andalusian Public Foundation carries out, since 2005, the Music Education Project in Andalusia, which is based on a series of innovative educational activities that aim to develop music education in Andalusia.

Through the activities of Music Education in the Early Childhood, Music Education courses for Beginners, the Children Choirs and the Orchestral Project in Primary Schools, the Foundation strives to integrate music as a main element for integral education based on humanistic values. To that end, the Foundation offers music education programmes and projects to a large number of Andalusian children.

MUSIC EDUCATION IN THE EARLY CHILDHOOD PROJECT

Created in 2005, the Music Education in the Early Childhood Project is the first project developed by the Barenboim-Said Foundation in Andalusia. Since then, more than 2,500 children from 3 to 5 years old from 23 schools in Andalusia (in Seville, Malaga and Cordoba) benefit every year from this project, supported by the Ministry of Education of the Regional Government of Andalusia (Consejería de Educación de la Junta de Andalucía).

This project takes place throughout the academic year. From Monday to Thursday, children receive half an hour of music lessons, given by the Foundation’s music specialists. Our music teachers develop, along with the teachers of each school, an specific music programme in order to include it in the school curriculum. Music activities are developed through games designed to stimulate children in music appreciation, interpretation and creation.

International renowned professionals in Music Education provide this project with didactic and scientific consultation. It is inspired in similar projects carried out in Ramallah (Palestinian Territories) and in Berlin (Germany).

MUSIC EDUCATION COURSES FOR BEGINNERS

These courses were created with the objective of introducing children from 5 to 12 years old to the world of music and music instruments. Throughout these courses, which normally are five days long, children receive basic instrument lessons, such as piano, violin or percussion, among others, as well as choir and musical expression classes.

Due to the nature of this project, previous musical knowledge is not required, which allows children to get in touch -in most cases, for the first time- with different music instruments. Guided by the Foundation’s music specialists, children learn, in a playful and creative way, basic notions of music interpretation, technique, etc. At the end of the course, students participate in a final performance where they show their families what they have learnt during the course.

Additionally, the Foundation aims to contribute to balance work and family life. Therefore, these courses take place during school holidays, normally during Summer, Christmas or Easter holidays.

CHILDREN’S CHOIRS

The Children Choirs are an after-school activity, carried out throughout the academic year. These choirs are addressed to children and teenagers from 8 to 16 years old. Divided in two levels, these choirs meet twice a week. Participants work on their vocal skills, and are also introduced to music language and to the historic and humanistic context of the repertoire.

ORCHESTRAL PROJECT IN PRIMARY SCHOOL

In 2015, the Foundation and the Ministry of Education of the Regional Government of Andalusia started the Orchestral Project in Primary School, a unique initiative in Spain, whose main objective is to promote music education in state primary schools and to create, in the near future, a children’s orchestra.

This project is integrated in the school hours and includes weekly violin lessons given by specialized music teachers. Besides, the Barenboim-Said Foundation provides every student with an instrument.

Currently, the Orchestral Project in Primary School is on a trial basis (which has a duration of three academic years: 2015-2016/2017-2018). At the end of this period, the results obtained by the students shall be evaluated in order to decide whether this project is implemented in other state schools and other Andalusian provinces.

Additionally, since 2010 the Barenboim-Said Foundation offers, in collaboration with the International University of Andalusia (UNIA), a Master’s degree in Music Education. This master’s degree includes a wide practical and theoretical training in some of the most renowned active methodologies in music education.

For further information about the Music Education Project in Andalusia, please contact us on info.emi@juntadeandalucia.es or +34 954 71 29 94.