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Norges musikkhøgskole Norwegian Academy of Music Search

Com­munity music and musi­cians in soci­ety

Year of study: Two semesters, autumn and spring

Final assessment: Assessment from course coordinator

Language of instruction: English. Individual work/assessment can also be in Norwegian.

Course description

The course is aimed at students of all instruments, genres, and study programs. Students will develop practical skills in inclusive music activities, workshop methodology, and community music projects. The course will focus on creating social change through inclusive musical processes. Topics such as social justice, diversity, lifelong learning, and inclusion are central to the course.

Students will plan and implement a community music project together with their fellow students in the autumn semester.

The course is normally taught in English.

Learning objectives

Upon completion of the course, it is expected that the student

  • can apply their musicianship in inclusive musical practices
  • has experience in exploring different methods and strategies that can create inclusive musical practices
  • can plan and evaluate community music projects
  • has insight into community music as a national and international field, historically and today
  • can reflect on the significance of music and musical participation in local communities for different people
  • has insight into and experience with principles, concepts, and methods within community music
  • can reflect on their own values and standpoint, and can participate in learning processes together with fellow students


Overview

Through the course, students will explore the role and contribution of music in society with a particular focus on social justice, inclusion, and participation. Students will gain insight into and personal experience with community music as a practice and concept, and get training in planning and implementing workshops based on their own artistic ideas where participatory and creative processes are in focus.

In the course, students will participate in a community music project that is planned and implemented in groups or in the entire course class in the autumn semester. Here, students can connect with existing projects at the music college, such as the project Chords of community in South Africa, in our network in India or Lebanon, or other collaborative projects domestically and and abroad.

Structure

Tuition will be in full class with 90 minutes per week for a total of 12 weeks throughout the academic year. The teaching will largely be practical, with demonstrations and practical group work in combination with lectures. In addition, there will be time for preparations and practice in groups/the entire student group, under supervision of the course tutor.

Course requirements

  1. Active participation in the course is mandatory. This usually means that absence of more than 20% results in the student not passing the course
  2. Students must implement a community music project during the course
  3. Students must submit a reflection text of 1000-2000 words about the project. Deadline May 10th

Final assessment

All course requirements must be approved for the student to get a final assessment

The student is evaluated in relation to the course's learning outcomes. The final assessment is expressed as pass/fail and is determined by the course teacher(s) based on an individual evaluation of the student's work in the course.

New assessment

For reassessment, the student must retake the course.

Published: Mar 5, 2024 — Last updated: Apr 8, 2024