Vi r Music Final Report: Introduction to the project & results

Background

In many northern areas availability of studies is difficult because of the long distances and small population. Travelling into study place is expensive and time consuming. Time should be used more for studying process than travelling. Top professional teachers in some instrumental areas are almost impossible to find in the periphery areas.
Music schools are becoming interested in exporting basic and high level music education of good quality to the areas where it is geographically difficult. It is important that experts of music education, virtual education and experts of technology together deliberate solutions for this issue.

Main goal of the project

Equal opportunities to get high-level music education in sparsely populated area
Increase the attraction of rural areas by developing the cultural education

The goal has been achieved now: virtual music teaching is part of ordinary work of music education providers who participated in this project.

Project was divided into four Work Packages: 0) Management, 1) Methods and Practices, 2) eLearning and 3) Virtual Classes.

Experiences and feedback during virtual classes was utilized to solve, what kind of virtual environments enabled (high quality) music teaching, and to evaluate the methodologies. When it is not possible to have a physical contact with the student, the teacher needs to use her/ his imagination creatively and both student and teacher needs to prepare for a class beforehand. Concerning pedagogical development, distance teaching practicing is seen highly important. It will be continued and also piloted with new instruments. Technological knowhow and distance education will expand the professional skills of the music teacher of the future and give extra value in recruitment situation.

Quitar teaching via Skype
from Piteå to Gällivare

When participants of the lesson have appropriate

know-how on methods & practices
virtual platform and premises
technical support (if needed)
internet connection and
what ever they would normally need during lesson (notes, instruments etc.)

it is possible to gain a successful learning experience - no matter of distance.

Further results:

Active network in North Calotte region
Common study modules are implemented
Distant teaching practicing is continuing
Guidelines and articles in the field of virtual music education have been published
Joint studies for students in Bachelor´s level and the Professional Specialization Studies programme will start in autumn 2012 (application period and entrance examination in spring 2012).
Project application concerning pedagogy and music pedagogy development (distant teaching equipment utilised and developed also) is being developed (coordinator LTU)
International Minifiddlers project (with colourstrings method) for elementary students could start in autumn 2011 (Särestö Academy/ Caprice)
Choral project continues in University of Tromsö
Distant teaching didactics and distant teaching practising (also to Lapland) is included also in music pedagogy training/ OUAS
NPAWP –workshop enhanced OUAS to develop their know-how in distant teaching (music) as a national pioneer
Cooperation with equipment suppliers etc.
Dissemination activities have continued after the project, for example “Music is Connection - eLearning experiences in Vi r Music project” was presented in Finnish national Interactive Technology in Education (ITE) -conference on 6.-8.4.2011 (ITK 2011). Partners have also presented the results in other occasions. Handbook has been shared with participants’ networks and it has received a lot of attention already: many organisations and individual people have commented that they are either using it or are going to use it or distribute it further.
Beneficiaries of the project either participated in classes or in exchange of experiences. Goal was to achieve 220 people with project activities, total number is around 300 people.
As an unexpected result, project also contributed to setting up one business in 2010. Two of the students (Piteå) have set up their own website, Gitarrakademin.net. They are working with Skype in distance teaching over internet. An article about their business in Piteå Tidningen

Sustainability – horizontal criteria's

Less travelling

Equality – horizontal criteria's

Gender, age and living area do not matter

Transnational impact

Complementary know-how and partially joint staffing
Virtual education enables common use of resources and enhances international interaction between artists, teachers and studens

Basic information

Financiers: Interreg IV A North (European Regional Development Fund), Lapin Liitto (Finland), partners
Budget was 917.562 €, actual costs 801.327 € (87%)
Implementation time was 1st February 2009 - 31st January 2011
Partners: