Responsible partner: Särestö Academy
- Main goal: producing high quality virtual and long distance teaching using the new technology
- Virtual class pilots (Master, elementary, choir...)
- IPR, technique, virtual library…
Virtual classes— high level music education when distances don't matter
Virtual classes on different instruments and levels
Särestö Academy has been responsible of planning and organizing the international and national virtual classes. Altogether during Vi r Music project Särestö Academy has arranged 31 virtual classes with 18 coaches (list of the classes beneath) and contacted and invited the artists and teachers. Virtual classes were provided in different instruments and levels, from the elementary stage to master classes for professionals. Both synchronic and asynchronic classes were held. It has been also possible to actively attend and to listen virtual classes from several different places at the same time. Särestö Academy arranged several point to point and multipoint classes from Särestö Academy studio in Helsinki to Piteå, Tromsö and Oulu universities and Lapland Music School and Sodankylä. Also Särestö Academy arranged virtual class sessions from Lapland: from Olos, Levi and Rovaniemi to Tromsö, Piteå, Oulu and Tokyo. Teachers were in Levi, Olos, Rovaniemi, Ottawa and Berlin.
Choir project was lead by Univeristy of Tromsø. The project had several technical tests and virtual rehearsals. The technical testing was satsifying but also illustrated some problems, which led to subsequent modifications of the projet's scope and time frame. Anyway, for the music conservatory at the University of Tromsø the project has been an initial moment to establish high quality video conferencing technolgy and apply it to a variety of teaching and concert activities. The technolgy and methods developed have applicability in a variety of activities, like virtual masterclasses, virtual concerts, exams and possibly auditions. Also research into these activities will play an improtant role at the institution. A valuable effect has been the communication and synergy between Vi r Music and other virtual projects in the region (World Opera Project, Norgesuniversitetet). An immediate consequence of the Vi r music project is the plan to establish virtual partherships with highschools and community. The music conservatory is in the process of applying for a 3-year pilot project to Norgesuniversitetet.
Choir project was lead by Univeristy of Tromsø. The project had several technical tests and virtual rehearsals. The technical testing was satsifying but also illustrated some problems, which led to subsequent modifications of the projet's scope and time frame. Anyway, for the music conservatory at the University of Tromsø the project has been an initial moment to establish high quality video conferencing technolgy and apply it to a variety of teaching and concert activities. The technolgy and methods developed have applicability in a variety of activities, like virtual masterclasses, virtual concerts, exams and possibly auditions. Also research into these activities will play an improtant role at the institution. A valuable effect has been the communication and synergy between Vi r Music and other virtual projects in the region (World Opera Project, Norgesuniversitetet). An immediate consequence of the Vi r music project is the plan to establish virtual partherships with highschools and community. The music conservatory is in the process of applying for a 3-year pilot project to Norgesuniversitetet.
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| Ragnar Rasmussen (University of Tromsö) testing multipoint connection with choirs located in Oulu and Tromsö. |
Elementary learning of violin
During the Vi r Music -project Särestö Academy has been preparing for the ”International Minifiddlers” –project, which is a systematic elementary violin pedagogy programme using Colourstings method.
During Vi r Music project Särestö Academy arranged elementary violin classes with violin pedagogue Géza Szilvay (founder of the Colourstrings-method). Colourstrings is a child-centered string teaching approach which has been tested during the last forty years in Finland. Särestö Academy has been preparing Calott area to join the project starting from 2011/2012. Piteå, Tromsö, Oulu, Rovaniemi, Sodankylä and Kemijärvi are planned to participate the project as active or passive participants. During the project there were trial sessions from Särestö studio with Géza Szilvay to Rovaniemi, Piteå, Oulu, Nook (Greenland), Soul (South-Korea) and Brisbane (Australia). The sessions to Soul and Brisbane were arranged together with Tandberg –video equipment company. Sessions from Australia and Korea were arranged at Tandberg offices in Brisbane and Soul. Tandberg was sponsoring these sessions also by lending Särestö Academy their latest video equipment without charge.
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| Colourstrings method, trial session from Särestö studio to Piteå, Oulu and Brisbane |
Platform for Distance Classes
Särestö Academy has edited short video examples of most of the virtual classes. It is possible to see and listen the videos at Särestö Academy web page, www.sarestoacademy.org/virmusic.
Legal-, user-, producer-, and copyrights
During the project there has been several studies over the copyrights, rights for materials on the internetpage, producing rights, user rights etc. These rights require further studying. Särestö Academy has made written contracts with the most of the participating teachers and students (active participants at videoconferencing virtualclasses) about the rights to use the videomaterial from the virtualclass sessions. The materials at the internet page include only non-protected music.
These video materials (Platform for Distance Classes) can be found on Särestö Academy webpage, www.sarestoacademy.org/virmusic
Testing technological solutions
At the beginning of the project Särestö Academy´s technical experts (person in charge Noa Nakai) helped Oulu University of Applied sciences (Oamk) with procurement of the equipment and other technical questions. Actually Noa Nakai was an essential technical advisor to the partners during the whole project. The partners were able to benefit from Särestö Academy`s earlier experiment from the field.
During the project there has been testing and research on different technological solutions with partners, other associates, companies (Tandberg and Polycom) and colleagues around the world.
During the classes appropriate setup and distance teaching method development has been done by getting feedback especially from the students and the teachers, but also from the other persons attending the sessions.
In the Vi r Music project Särestö Academy arranged instrumental classes through video conference equipment and the most common challenges in today’s technology were collected to a web page, www.sarestoacademy.org/technology. At Vi r Music 'Handbook' Noa Nakai describes the highest quality solutions for distance music teaching today. The Handbook contains for example suggestions for complete distance music teaching setups. The Handbook aims to answer questions such as: What is possible today in distance music teaching? What is the best quality you can get and what are the limitations? What does it take to set up a distance teaching system? How should the student or teacher prepare for the lesson and does the lesson differ from a traditional local lesson? The aim is also to cover all of the most popular, practical and highest quality solutions not only in standalone video conferencing but also the peripherals, software solutions and other related subjects such as networks and room design. Also video recordings in distance music teaching context and some methods to publish the videos are described. Many important things a teacher, a student, an organizer and an engineer should know are explained. Much focus and effort is put on finding the solutions offering the highest quality of audio and video.
Vi r Music Handbook - Distance teaching technology and possibilities.
Background
Särestö Academy has organized videoconferencing masterclasses in Finland together with Caprice Oy already for years (Caprice since 1997 and Särestö Academy since 2002), being forerunners in Finland at examining the possibilities of distance music teaching. Violin maestro Pinchas Zukerman offered distance teaching co-operation to Maarit Rajamäki in June 1996 in Israel. Since then, Zukerman, international pioneer in this area, has been the most important partner with Caprice and Särestö Academy to develop distance music education in Finland. Mostly Zukerman has teached young talented violinists from USA and Canada to Helsinki and to Levi, Lapland.
Despite of the method´s benefits, distance learning has not yet become a regular tool at the music institutes. An important goal of Vi r Music project has been to integrate the virtual teaching system into the studying programmes of the music institutions and universities.
In this project virtual classes produced by Särestö Academy have acted as instruments to develop distance music education systems with the partners. F.ex. Piteå WP1 has researched the virtual classes and there has been intensive co-operation with WP2 OUAS. OUAS has applied these virtual teaching methods to meet the national needs; for example their students gave weekly lessons to Rovaniemi, Sodankylä, Pello, Posio and Ranua. Students from OUAS, Piteå, Tromssa and Lapland music schools participated the Särestö classes. During the virtualclasses there was ongoing study to improve the technical conditions.
An important goal on Vi r Music -project has been to increase and improve the possibilities of studying music in sparsely populated North Calotte area by means of distance music education using the new technology. On the remote areas the importance of distance learning is essential and obvious. On the other hand in the big cities and other growing centers distance music education can serve as an excellent supplement to the solid basic education.
Already before Vir Music project Särestö Academy had an exceptionally wide international network of highly respected artists. Through this project the network expanded to the Northern Calott area and created a wider national and international long distance music teachers and students network. New distance learning strategies and contents were developed and improved through several discussions and feedback from the participating artists and partners.
The future cooperation with the partners
Distance music education cooperation will continue between the partners and other instituties being involved at Vi r Music project also after the project. F.ex Särestö Academy will continue to arrange point to point and multipoint virtual classes where the students from Piteå, Tromsö, Oamk and Lapland music schools will attend. These classes will continue already from the spring 2011. Also the mentioned schools and universities will participate "International Minifiddlers" project starting 2011/2012. The schools have been tentatively prepared technically and pedagogically during Vi r Music -project to participate this 10-year elementary violin pedagogy programme with colourstings methode.
Vi r Music Handbook - Distance teaching technology and possibilities.
Background
Särestö Academy has organized videoconferencing masterclasses in Finland together with Caprice Oy already for years (Caprice since 1997 and Särestö Academy since 2002), being forerunners in Finland at examining the possibilities of distance music teaching. Violin maestro Pinchas Zukerman offered distance teaching co-operation to Maarit Rajamäki in June 1996 in Israel. Since then, Zukerman, international pioneer in this area, has been the most important partner with Caprice and Särestö Academy to develop distance music education in Finland. Mostly Zukerman has teached young talented violinists from USA and Canada to Helsinki and to Levi, Lapland.
Despite of the method´s benefits, distance learning has not yet become a regular tool at the music institutes. An important goal of Vi r Music project has been to integrate the virtual teaching system into the studying programmes of the music institutions and universities.
In this project virtual classes produced by Särestö Academy have acted as instruments to develop distance music education systems with the partners. F.ex. Piteå WP1 has researched the virtual classes and there has been intensive co-operation with WP2 OUAS. OUAS has applied these virtual teaching methods to meet the national needs; for example their students gave weekly lessons to Rovaniemi, Sodankylä, Pello, Posio and Ranua. Students from OUAS, Piteå, Tromssa and Lapland music schools participated the Särestö classes. During the virtualclasses there was ongoing study to improve the technical conditions.
An important goal on Vi r Music -project has been to increase and improve the possibilities of studying music in sparsely populated North Calotte area by means of distance music education using the new technology. On the remote areas the importance of distance learning is essential and obvious. On the other hand in the big cities and other growing centers distance music education can serve as an excellent supplement to the solid basic education.
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| Monica Groop giving lesson to Oulu |
The future cooperation with the partners
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| Multipoint connection |
Virtual Classes during 2009-2010/ Organized and produced by Särestö Academy
23.6.2009, violin: Mikyung Lee
Place: Berliini
Students: Levi
25.6.2009 violin: Pinchas Zukerman
Place: Ottawa
Students: Levi (asynkronic)
26.6.2009 Elementary learning, violin: Noa Nakai
Place: Levi
Student: Tokio
11.9.2009 chamber music: Ralf Gothóni
Place: Olos
Students: Piteå
11.9.2009 violin: Elina Vähälä
Place: Olos
Students: Oulu (Piteå follows)
11.9.2009 lied: Hartmut Höll
Place: Olos
Students: Oulu
15.10.2009 violin: Christian Svarfvar
Place: Piteå
Students: Rovaniemi, Oulu and Särestö studio/Helsinki
30.10.2009 violin: Pinchas Zukerman
Place Ottawa
Students: Helsinki/ Särestö studio
4.11.2009 Elementary learning, violin: Géza Szilvay
Place: Särestö studio, Helsinki
Students: Rovaniemi, Tokio, Oulu follows
11.12.2009 cello: Gary Hoffman
Place: Levi
Students: Tromsö, Oulu
14.12.2009 cello: Gary Hoffman
Place: Särestö studio, Helsinki
Students: Oulu (Piteå follows)
16.12.2009 French horn: Kalervo Kulmala
Place: Särestö studio, Helsinki
Students: Piteå and Oulu
16.12.2009 Elementary learning: Maarit Rajamäki, viulu and Noa Nakai, viulu
Place: Särestö studio, Helsinki
Students: Nuuk, Greenland
21.12.2009 Elementary learning, violin: Silja Raitio-Heikinheimo
Place: Särestö studio
Students: Nuuk, Greenland
2.2.2010 piano: Severin von Eckardstein
Place: Sibelius-Academy Hki (organized by Särestö Academy)
Students: Oamk (syncronic and asyncronic)
2.2.2010 piano: Terhi Dostal
Place: Sibelius-Academy Hki (organized by Särestö Academy)
Students: Oamk
12.2.2010 Monica Groop, mezzosoprano
Place Särestö studio, Hki
Students: Oamk and Piteå
24.2.2010 violin: Silja Raitio-Heikinheimo
Place: Särestö studio
Students: Nook, Greenland
24.2.2010 violin: Maarit Rajamäki
Place: Särestö studio
Students: Nook, Greeenland
24.3.2010 viulu: Christian Svarfvar
Place: Piteå
Students: Särestö, Hki and Oamk
19.4.2010 French horn and trumpet: Kalervo Kulmala
Place: Särestö studio, Hki
Students: Piteå, Oamk, Rovaniemi
16.4.2010 Géza Szilvay, Elementary learning, violin
Place: Särestö studio
Violinpedagogs: Rovaniemi, Oamk, Nuuk (Greenland)
27.4. 2010 violin: Christian Svarfvar
Place: Piteå
Students: Särestö, Hki and Oamk
22.6.2010 Géza Szilvay, Elementary learning, violin
Place: Särestö studio
Violinpedagogs: Piteå, Oamk, Soul (Korea)
31.8.2010 violin: Yuval Yaron
Place: Särestö studio
Students: OAMK, Piteå follows
1.9.2010 violin: Hagai Shaham
Place: Särestö studio
Students: OAMK, Piteå follows
2.9.2010 sello: Alexander Rudin
Place: Särestö studio
Students: OAMK, Piteå follows
11.10.2010 Géza Szilvay, Elementary learning, violin:
Place: Brisbane, Australia (Tanberg studio)
Violinpedagogs: Rovaniemi, Piteå, Särestö studio, Helsinki
1.11.2010 Christian Svarfvar, violin
Place: Piteå
Students: Särestö, Hki, Oamk and Rovaniemi
2.12.2010 Monica Groop, mezzosoprano
Place: Särestö, Hki
Students: Piteå, Oamk and Tromssa
8.12.2010 Hagai Shaham, violin
Place: Lapland Music School, Rovaniemi
Student: Oamk, Oulu
Map of virtual classes produced by SärestöAcademy during 2009-2010 VirMusic
