Current and Future Challenges

For the moment, Swedish Music teacher training is undergoing great changes in the process of adapting to the Bologna-model. At the end of 2008 a decision about a new teacher training program is expected and it will take at least three years to implement. One challenge for Music teacher training in this process is to break with the so called conservatory tradition, without losing too many of the qualities related to music knowledge and instrumental skills. Another challenge is to get the students and teachers to realise that they belong to a university. This means among other things that they are expected to work independently and take responsibility for their teaching and learning process. A third problematic area in the history of Swedish Music teacher training is the low status of classroom music teachers. The Music teacher training students to a high degree prefer to work as instrument teachers at municipal music and cultural schools or folk high schools. They look forward to one-to-one or small group teaching with pupils with a certain interest and talent in music. How to change this predominant discourse in Swedish schools of music is not at all easy and will not succeed without powerful political decisions.