The 19th EAS/ISME European Regional Conference
The Stanislaw Moniuszko Academy of Music in Gdansk
18th –21st of May 2011 Gdansk, Poland
The 19th EAS/ISME European Regional Conference was organised and hosted by the Stanislaw Moniuszko Academy of Music in Gdansk.
The theme of the conference was “Music in Schools: Teaching and Learning Processes” with the subtitles:
1. The organisation of music education systems
2. Music teacher’s competences at different educational levels
3. Learning outcomes in general education schools
4. Relationships teacher- pupil in teaching and learning processes
5. Teaching methods and didactic materials used during music lessons
6. Music outside a lesson in general education schools
Participants
There were 150 delegates from 34 countries and 4 continents, 90 participants had presentations/workshops/round tables/symposia.
Keynote speakers
Prof Dr Franz Niermann (University for Music and performing Arts Vienna) focused in his keynote “Learner’s and Teacher’s Accountabilities in Music Learning” on the question how can we, under changed conditions and with new forms of teaching and learning, strengthen the role of the music teacher?
Prof Marta Bogdanowicz (University of Gdansk) introduced the Method of Good Start for children in her keynote: “Rhythm and Sensomotor Integration in Education and Therapy – the Example Good Start Method (GSM)”. She has created the Method of Good Start for children 3 to 10 years old, aiming and supporting child development, preparing children for school, preventing school failures and promoting early education.
Dr Roman Nieczyporowski (Academy of Fine Arts in Gdansk) focused in his keynote “Meaning and memory in the Visual Arts” on the topic how the arts has reacted for political events being always a record of the human memory. That is why it is impossible to understand the art without the knowledge about the past and the present time, without the knowledge about the history and the culture.
Students forum and doctoral students forum
Alongside the main conference programme there were also some more important events:
EAS Student Forum which brought together student teachers from 13 countries. They worked on topics related to the main theme of the conference.
For the first time this year there was a Doctoral Student Forum. EAS provides a platform for doctoral students to meet and exchange their knowledge and experience in doing research in music education.
ISME/EAS
Every two years EAS organises the conference in cooperation with ISME. The EAS/ISME European regional Conference has been successful in the further development of the relationship between EAS and ISME.
Board elections
This year new elections took place. The EAS did welcome Nesrin Kalyoncu (Turkey) and Isolde Malmberg (Austria) as new board members. Adri de Vugt (The Netherlands) was elected as the new president. Franz Niermann (past-president) and Herbert Meyer (treasurer) left de board after a long period of being active for EAS.
EAS National coordinators
The annual workshop for the EAS National Coordinators/Contact Persons which brought together representatives from 17 countries. EAS will strengthen the network of NC’s in the future.
Concerts
The conferences did offer many concerts. There were concerts by the Instrumental ensemble of Cappella Gedanensis, Organ concert, School children performances, a Choir concert, Jazz concerts and a Carillon concert in the courtyard of the academy.
Special thanks
On behalf of all participants we kindly thank the Organizing Committee and especially Mrs Gabriela Konkol for the great work for the 19th EAS/ISME European Regional Conference. We enjoyed the conference programme, your hospitality, the nice atmosphere, the great organisation and interesting concerts.
Special thanks to the Stanislaw Moniuszko Academy of Music in Gdansk and the Rector Prof Bogdan Kułakowski for the great contribution to the 19th EAS/ISME European Regional Conference.
Ene Kangron
Ass. Prof. of the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre
EAS board member