Curricula

The Swedish national compulsory school curriculum in music emphasises music making, vocal as well as instrument-based, as the core activity of the subject. The main working principle should be working in groups, together with peers. Music’s role in identity formation and learning in general is specifically pointed out, and music is also seen as a subject that may be used for supporting learning processes in other school subjects. The creation of music through composing and improvising is seen as important, and the teachers are encouraged to include computer-related work in the music lessons, to ease composing and various music-related creative processes. In general, music is emphasised as an important social tool in school.

Goals that should be achieved after the 5th year of schooling include that the students should be able to:

• Participate in singing in unison, play simple melodic, rhythmic and chord-based patterns, talk about their music making
• Create music in different forms, alone as well as together with peers
• Understand and be able to use concepts such as melody, chord, pulse, rhythm and tempo
• Reflect upon music’s function and different expressions in present and past societies

Goals that should be achieved after the 9th year of schooling imply that the students should be able to:

• Use their voice singing in unison and in parts
• Participate in music making in groups, reflect upon and evaluate their own performance
• Be able to use music, text and other expressions for creating and improvising and give shape to thoughts and ideas
• Be able to use musical key concepts in relation to their own musicianship, creation of music and music listening
• Develop knowledge about music’s functions and traditions in different cultures and reflect upon these departing from the state in contemporary Swedish society
• Develop knowledge about how various sounds and musical environments affect human beings