25 paesi e quindi circa 6000 scuole di musica europee sono rappresentate all'interno dell'EMU. I membri si riuniscono per l'assemblea generale annuale e in incontri regionali - i membri del consiglio direttivo dell'ASSM partecipano alle riunioni dei gruppi regionali Onda Latina (Francia, Italia, Spagna, Lussemburgo, Belgio, Svizzera) e LLACHD (Liechteinstein, Lussemburgo, Austria, Svizzera, Germania). In mid-December 2023, dieci rappresentanti del gruppo LLACHD sono recati a Lucerna, hanno visitato la sede del Kampus Südpol e parlato dei progetti in corso nei vari paesi. They intensively discussed the various aspects of the presence of qualified collaborators in music schools and the complete structural motivations of this phenomenon, which often differ significantly in different countries and regions. Le discussioni durante la giornata e mezza trascorsa insieme sono state straordinariamente intense, cosa che è stata confermata da diversi partecipanti. "È bello sapere che altri stanno affrontando sfide simili", ha detto ad esempio Friedrich-Koh Dolge, direttore della Scuola di musica di Stoccarda e uno dei co-fondatori del Gruppo LLACHD. Anche Nadine Eder, direttrice della Scuola di musica di Echternach (Lussemburgo), che partecipa per la prima volta, apprezza questo tipo di scambio. "Stiamo lavorando agli stessi temi, ma con regole del gioco diverse", he said. Una passeggiata nel mercatino di Natale nella Pilatusplatz a Lucerna e una cena insieme hanno portato una boccata d'aria fresca.

25 countries and thus around 6000 music schools from all over Europe have joined the EMU represented. The members meet at an annual general assembly as well as at regional meetings - VMS board members take part in the meetings of the regional groups Onda Latina (France, Italy, Spain, Luxembourg, Belgium, Switzerland) and LLACHD (Liechteinstein, Luxembourg, Austria, Switzerland, Germany). In mid-December, ten representatives of the LLACHD group traveled to Lucerne, visited the premises of Kampus Südpol and talked about current projects in the various countries. Among other things, the shortage of specialists at music schools and the complex structural reasons for this, which in some cases differ greatly in the various countries and regions, led to intensive discussions. The discussions during the one and a half days together were remarkably intense - as several participants confirmed. "It's good to know that others are facing similar challenges," said Friedrich-Koh Dolge, Head of the Stuttgart Music School and one of the co-founders of the LLACHD group, "The exchange provides good political arguments." Nadine Eder, Head of the Echternach Music School (Luxembourg), who is taking part for the first time, also appreciates the exchange. "We work on the same topics, but with different rules," was her assessment. A stroll through the Christmas market on Pilatusplatz in Lucerne and dinner together provided a breath of fresh air.

Per la formazione continua ha fornito un contributo Richard-Emmanuel Eastes di HES-SO. Circa un anno dopo la comparsa di ChatGPT e di altre IA generative, ha tratto una prima conclusione. All'inizio ha chiesto "Quanti di voi hanno già provato ChatGPT?". Virtually all of them have done it. Alla domanda su quanti dei partecipanti utilizzino regolarmente strumenti di IA generativa nella vita di tutti i giorni, un terzo ha risposto di sì. Eastes has made a demonstration of conversations with ChatGPT, has created images and has shown that artificial intelligence is undergoing rapid development, also in the field of music. "ChatGPT non è Wikipedia, non raccoglie conoscenze", ha sottolineato, "è interessato solo alle regole e alle probabilità". E lo ha dimostrato concretamente: ha convinto ChatGPT che nella tonalità di Re maggiore ci sono tre diesis invece dei due corretti, al che l'IA si è scusata e gli ha dato ragione. As an assistant, in any case, ChatGPT is very useful: it can read long tests, send a font of ideas, give form to e-mails and much more.

Successivamente, Philippe Müller has fornito informazioni dall'associazione. In 2025, the Swiss Association of Music Schools will celebrate its 50th anniversary with a series of tours of Switzerland, in collaboration with the Pestalozzi Foundation's PowerUp radio station for children. There was also an animated discussion about the Giovani Talenti Musica promotion program and the relative situation in each canton.

In any case, the future of the Swiss Conference was also on the agenda. Almeno a livello organizativo, ci saranno cambiamenti a partire dal 2024, poiché all'Assemblea dei delegati il 24 novembre è stato deciso che in futuro non si terrano più conferenze regionali "dall'alto verso il basso", ma secondo il principio "dal basso verso l'alto". This means that the ASSM will not organize more intercantonal conferences, but will remain available if this is necessary. The interventions of the presenters have clearly shown that Switzerland needs this conference. I rappresentanti del Canton Vaud hanno accettato di assumere l'organizzazione della Conférence Romande 2024.

Photo: Anicia Kohler

"This  Exchange is very valuable for us as the only music school in the canton," says Nils Perrot, member of the school management, "It is an opportunity for us to get to know other music schools and circumstances." 

The input from Richard-Emmanuel Eastes from the HES-SO provided further education. Around a year after ChatGPT and other generative AI emerged, he drew an initial conclusion. "How many of you have already tried ChatGPT?" he asked at the start. Almost all hands went up in the air. When asked how many of the participants regularly use generative AI tools in their everyday lives, a third answered yes. Eastes demonstrated conversations with ChatGPT, created images and showed how AI is also constantly improving in terms of music. "ChatGPT is not Wikipedia, it does not collect knowledge," he emphasized, "It is only interested in rules and probabilities." He made this clear in concrete terms: he convinced ChatGPT that in the key of D major there were three crosses instead of the correct two, whereupon the AI apologized and agreed with him. However, ChatGPT is very helpful as an assistant: it summarizes long texts, serves as a source of ideas, brings e-mails into shape, and much more.

Philippe Müller then provided information from the association. This included an outlook: in 2025, the Swiss Association of Music Schools will celebrate its 50th anniversary with a kind of Tour de Suisse, in collaboration with the Pestalozzi Children's Village Foundation's PowerUp Radio. The Young Talents Music funding program and its status in the individual cantons was also the subject of lively discussion.

Finally, the future of the Conférence Romande was also on the agenda. At least at the organizational level, there will be changes from 2024, as the  The decision was made at the 11/24 delegates' meeting to no longer organize regional conferences on a top-down basis, but rather according to the bottom-up principle. This means that the VMS will no longer organize cross-cantonal conferences itself, but will be happy to support them if the need arises. The comments made by those present clearly showed that this need exists in French-speaking Switzerland. Representatives of the canton of Vaud agreed to take over the organization of the Conférence Romande 2024. 

Pictures: Anicia Kohler

PhotoMargot Müller

Il presidente dell'associazione Philippe Krüttli dato un caloroso benvenuto ai presenti, in particolare ai nuovi delegati Stéphanie Küffer Weber (Canton Vallese) e Reto Inäbnit (Canton Berna). Sono stati approvati all'unanimità sia il preventivo che il piano pluriennale degli obiettivi 2024-2028, che definisce i compiti e i progetti dell'ASSM - dalla promozione dei talenti al networking, dalla digitalizzazione alla statistica. 

Messaggio culturale 2025-2028 e Giovani Talenti Musica

Il 22 settembre si è conclusa la fase di consultazione per il Messaggio culturale 2025-2028. L’ASSM ha redatto una risposta dettagliata, che Philippe Krüttli ha esposto durante l’Assemblea dei delegati. La risposta completa alla consultazione è disponibile al seguente link: https://www.verband-musikschulen.ch/de/downloads-links/dokumentensammlung/Download/529/VN_Antwort%20VMS23_d_Final_21092023.pdf.

Proseguono i lavori del programma "Giovani Talenti Musica". 16 Cantoni have already received financial support from the Ufficio federale della cultura to advance the program. I seguenti Cantoni hanno già potuto stipulare un contratto di servizio:

• Berna
• Lucerna
• Nidvaldo
• San Gallo
• Vaud
• Zurigo

In altri cantoni, il contratto di servizio sta per essere stipulato e molti altri sono in fase di negoziazione.

L'ASSM publishes on its website the cantonal programs "Giovani Talenti Musica" which have not yet been approved by the Federal Office of Culture.

Collaborazione dei Cantoni

In two projects, the ASSM Board of Directors is specifically seeking the cooperation of the cantons. On the one hand, it is looking for a representative of the cantonal associations for the Statistica 2025 working group, which will collect a lot of information from the cantons.

The contribution of the cantons is also necessary for the digitalization concept. Il concetto, che sarà a disposizione delle scuole di musica in forma digitale e dinamica, sarà presentato a gruppo di esperti provenienti dal mondo delle scuole di musica (direttori/direttrici di scuole di musica o insegnanti di musica esperti di digitale).

Contatto dell'ASSM con le associazioni cantonali

There are currently two regional conferences, each of which brings together representatives and interested parties from different cantons for training and continuing education: the Regional Conference of Central Switzerland and the Conference of French-speaking Switzerland. The Board of Directors has proposed that in future these conferences will no longer be promoted autonomously and that there will be regular contacts between the members of the Board of Directors and the cantonal associations, a proposal that has been approved by the delegates.

Notizie dai Cantoni

One of the most important points on the agenda of the delegates' meeting was information from the individual cantons. Various delegates spoke about the situation of the "Giovani Talenti Musica" promotion program and the cantonal laws governing music schools, currently in the process of being planned or consulted or recently adopted. Lo scambio mette in evidenza quanto sia diverso il panorama delle scuole di musica in Svizzera.

Anniversario 2025

In two years, the Swiss Association of Music Schools celebrates its 50th anniversary. Sufficient motive to bring the music schools to the attention of the public. Per l'estate/autunno 2025 è prevista una tournée radiofonica in tutti i cantoni, in collaborazione con la Fondazione Pestalozzi per bambini. In June 2024, the cantonal associations will announce a concrete band for the nomination of music schools. Il variopinto tour musicale si concluderà il 21 novembre 2025 con una festa a Berna.

Profilo professionale

Infine, i membri del Consiglio direttivo Christian Braun e Philippe Müller hanno presentato il nuovo "Profilo professionale per insegnati di musica" e hanno ringraziato i partecipanti dell'ampio gruppo di lavoro presenti. Il lavoro è stato molto intenso ma proficuo. Il risultato è un nuovo documento di base orientato al futuro per la variegata professione, che può essere utilizzato sia come strumento per lo sviluppo a livello scolastico che per l'attività a livello politico. 

Membri del grupo di lavoro per il profilo professionale: Adrian Meyer, Beat Hofstetter, Lionel Zürcher, Marcel Blanchard, Céline Shuler (Photo: Margot Müller)

Il percorso professionale per diventare insegnante di musica è ben definito. Dopo aver superato l'esame di ammissione alla scuola universitaria, studenti e studentesse completano un bachelor e un master, quest'ultimo focalizzato su pedagogia musicale e didattica specifica. Impartiscono poi le loro lezioni privatamente oppure in una scuola di musica, spesso part-time, dando anche sufficiente spazio all'attività artistica. A riassuntiva descrizione che non rende del tutto giustizia alla gamma di opportunità che si presentano dopo aver concluso con successo gli studi. For the rest, what does it mean to learn music? Is it individual instrumental lessons for children of school age? È la gestione di un'attività nel settore della musica e del movimento? Is it the management of a class in the field of music and movement? Is it the management of a class for children and adults, of an ensemble for young people, of a youth orchestra, of musical groups of all styles? L'insegnamento in collaborazione con insegnanti della scuola primaria? L'organizzazione e la direzione di musical e concerti? La creazione di attività di produzione musicale su smartphone o computer? 

Uniformare la percezione di questa professione

Nel novembre 2023 il gruppo di lavoro, composto da membri di diverse associazioni e da rappresentanti di scuole universitarie di musica e di scuole di musica di tutta la Svizzera, ha pubblicato il modello professionale di insegnanti di musica. Il documento vuole servire come base per studenti di musica e scuole universitarie di musica, nonché per responsabili dell'istruzione e politici. It comes as an update of the model developed in 2006 and provides, in quattro chapters, insights into topics such as the educational mission, training and continuing education, as well as the teaching and learning of music.

L'allievo/a come punto centrale

Particolarmente importante per il gruppo di lavoro è il valore fondamentale della "centralità dell'allievo/a": gli insegnanti di musica dovrebbero concentrarsi interamente su coloro che hanno di fronte. Vale a dire, ad esempio, prendere in considerazione i diversi profili e il baglio di esperienze individuali di ciascun allievo. This requires that the teachers have an inclusive approach and a sensitivity in the face of diverse needs and particular learning profiles. This training, especially in terms of the technical dimension, is particularly important in the field of music and movement, says Céline Shuler, head of the Swiss Rhythmics Department.

La promozione di massa e dei talenti - Musica per tutti

Un altro punto centrale del modello professionale è che gli/le insegnanti di musica sono ambasciatori dell'educazione musicale e si impegnano in favore delle pari opportunità. "Gli/le insegnanti di musica incoraggiano i/le propri/e allievi/a a fare musica attivamente, sia in senso lato che ad alto livello" afferma Marcel Blanchard, vicerettore della scuola di musica Konservatorium. Matteo Piazza, president of FeSMuT (Federazione delle Scuole di Musica Ticinesi), also emphasized the importance of the pari opportunità nell'educazione musicale, sancite per legge dall'articolo 67a della Costituzione federale.

Progredire e pensare al futuro

Il concetto di apprendere durante tutta la vita entra in gioco anche nell'educazione musicale. Tale apprendimento può assumere varie forme, secondo il modello in questione. Vengono menzionate attività come il coaching o l'insegnamento di gruppo, nonché la partecipazione a programmi di formazione continua sia in campo pedagogico che artistico.

Sensibilizzazione dell'opinione pubblica

Gli/le insegnanti di musica sono creativi, esempi musicali, motivanti, competenti nell'organizzazione e nella gestione di progetti, ma anche, ove necessario, spontanei, interessati all'evoluzione e capaci di lavorare insieme in diversi gruppi. There are requirements of a high level: are there instructors of music of this genre? "Ma certo, molte cose non sono nuove e già realizzate" afferma Christian Braun, direttore della Scuola di musica di San Gallo. "Purtroppo, la gente non conosce ancora molte sfaccettature di questa bella professione" aggiunge Philippe Müller, direttore del Cercle Lémanique d'Études Musicales di Lutry. Julien Feltin, director of the École de Jazz et de Musique Actuelle in Losanna, described the document as a "360-degree panorama of musical education in Switzerland". Per il gruppo di lavoro, è chiaro che il modello professionale deve ispirare e servire da base per riflettere e favorire un ulteriore sviluppo. At the same time, we want to show where the potential of musical education lies, with the aim of further strengthening this activity at a structural and political level throughout Switzerland.

Il modello professionale è disponibile in linea.

Picture: Margot Müller

Association President Philippe Krüttli warmly welcomed those present, in particular the new delegates Stéphanie Küffer Weber (canton of Valais) and Reto Inäbnit (canton of Bern). Both the budget and the multi-year target plan 2024 - 2028, which defines the tasks and projects of the VMS - from talent promotion to networking, from digitalization to statistics - were unanimously approved.

Cultural Message 2025 - 2028 and Young Talents in Music

The consultation phase for the Culture Dispatch 2025 - 2028 ended on September 22. The VMS wrote a detailed response, which Philippe Krüttli discussed again at the DM. The complete consultation response can be found here. Work continues on the "Young Talents in Music" program. Sixteen cantons have already received financial support from the Federal Office of Culture for the start of the process. The following cantons have already concluded a performance agreement:

• Berne
• Lucerne
• Nidwalden
• St. Gallen
• Vaud
• Zurich

In some other cantons, the performance agreement is about to be signed, and several others are also in negotiations.

The VMS will publish the cantonal programs relating to "Young Talents in Music" on the website as soon as they are released by the Federal Office of Culture.

Cooperation from the cantons

The VMS Board is explicitly asking for cooperation from the cantons in two projects. On the one hand, we are looking for a representative from the cantonal associations for the Statistics 2025 working group, which collects extensive information from the cantons.

Input from the cantons is also required for the digitalization concept. The concept, which will be available to music schools digitally and dynamically, is to be presented to a sounding board consisting of experts from the world of music schools (music school directors or digitally-savvy music teachers).

Contact between the VMS and the cantonal associations

There are currently two regional conferences at which managers and interested parties from several cantons meet to exchange ideas and receive further training - the Regional Conference of Central Switzerland and the Conférence Romande in French-speaking Switzerland. The Board of Directors proposed that these conferences should no longer be launched by the Board itself in future and that instead regular contact between the Board members and the cantonal associations should be promoted, a proposal that met with the approval of the delegates.

News from the cantons

The most important items on the agenda of the delegates' meetings include information from the individual cantons. Several delegates reported on the status of the "Young Talents in Music" funding program and cantonal music school laws that are currently being planned or consulted on or have recently been passed. The exchange made it clear how different the music school landscape is in Switzerland.

Anniversary 2025

In two years' time, the Swiss Association of Music Schools will be celebrating its 50th anniversary. Reason enough to put music schools in the public eye. A radio tour through all cantons is planned for summer/autumn 2025, in collaboration with the Pestalozzi Children's Foundation. The cantonal associations will receive a specific call for nominations for music schools in January 2024. The musical and colorful tour will conclude with a celebration in Bern on November 21, 2025.

Professional mission statement

Finally, Board members Christian Braun and Philippe Müller presented the newly developed "Job description music teacher" and thanked the members of the broad-based working group who were present. The work had been very intensive, but profitable. The result is a new, future-oriented basic document for the varied profession, which can be used both as a tool for school development and for political work.

The "Professional mission statement" working group, from left to right: Adrian Meyer, Beat Hofstetter, Lionel Zürcher, Marcel Blanchard, Céline Shuler (Photo: Margot Müller)

The Youth+Music (Y+M) program of the Federal Office promotes access to music for children and young people, similar to the Youth+Sport program. VMS music schools can also benefit from this - music courses and music camps for children and young people between the ages of 4 and 25, as well as the training and further education of leaders, are significantly supported within the framework of Y+M. The respective contributions are based on the number of participants. Here is an example calculation: For a camp with 35 participants with six overnight stays and an Y+M program - i.e. at least 5 music lessons a day, except on the day of arrival and departure - the support contribution amounts to CHF 4950.

For each Y+M camp and course, one person from the leadership team must be trained as an Y+M leader. The training consists of three modules and lasts 6-7 days. Up to 70% of the training costs are covered by Jugend+Musik. 

Merging - for more quality

The reason for the numerous mergers in the canton was the Task and Finance Reform 18 (ARF18), which was approved by the electorate. In order to support financially weaker municipalities, the canton now covers half of the costs for all elementary school, and thus, as they are part of the Primary School Education Act, also for music schools. However, in order to benefit from this, music schools must have at least 500 subject enrolments. The Association for the Music Schools of the Canton of Lucerne (VML) welcomed the development from the outset. "The mergers were and are costly for everyone involved," says Ursula Kleeb, head of the Adligenswil-Udligenswil music school and delegate of the canton of Lucerne for the VMS, "but they ultimately ensure more uniformity and high quality, as well as more job security for the teachers."

Key figures

Around 800 teachers teach at the 22 music schools in the canton with a total of over 26,000 students. The range of subjects is very broad and extends from individual lessons - also in traditional instruments such as the Schwyzer Örgeli - to ensemble lessons. The collaboration with brass music associations is intensive and is highly valued by both sides: "Brass music is very important to us," says Ursula Kleeb. Talented children and young people have been benefiting from the cantonal talent promotion program since 2014. In addition, music students can showcase their skills in numerous local and regional competitions as well as the Central Switzerland Youth Music Competition.

Twice a year, the VML organizes a meeting for music school directors in the canton. There is a great need for exchange, especially because of the transformation processes in recent years, and the meeting is always very well attended.

20 years of the cantonal association

In October 2023, the association celebrated its 20th anniversary with numerous guests, including Lucerne's Director of Education and Culture, Dr. Armin Hartmann, who opened his welcome address with the following words: "A music canton needs strong music students. Music makes everyone happy and a happy population makes the canton of Lucerne happy."

How do I write a business plan? How does the cultural sector work? How will music teaching develop? Students on the part-time continuing education program receive sound input for management and teaching practice from the interdisciplinary team of lecturers from various HSLU departments (Music, Business, Design & Art) and other experts. "We have had very good experiences with this interdisciplinarity," says Director of Studies Dr. Andrea Kumpe. "The students benefit from the exchange and receive sound know-how along the way."

The offer consists of the DAS Managing cultural and educational institutions (basic) and two CAS programs to choose from. The "CAS Practical Tools for the Management of Music Schools" - is dedicated to the topics of leadership and innovation in relation to music schools. Personal leadership styles are reflected upon and refined in impulse workshops, various discussion forums and individual coaching sessions. The "CAS Music Learning Rethought" focuses on the examination of music teaching today and in the future. Students learn and try out innovation and creativity techniques and discuss future trends in (music) pedagogy and digitality.

The "VMS Music School Director" diploma will be awarded upon completion of the DAS and one of the two CASs - the first graduates of the course will receive it in spring 2024. The second intake of fifteen students has already started.

The "Music School Director VMS" diploma can also be obtained in Bern (HKB). Information on both courses - in Lucerne and Bern - can be found on our Website.

"We never expected something like this to be possible," says Martin Burgunder, president of the organizing committee and board member of the cantonal Association of Music Schools Baselland. In front of 3,000 visitors and in glorious late summer weather, music students presented four very different concerts with pieces ranging from Edvard Grieg to Ed Sheeran, from John Williams to a world premiere by Stephan Hodel entitled "Rock me, Augusta". Several members of the cantonal government, who attended the concerts under the joint title "Musica Raurica" and gave very positive feedback in personal discussions. 

"We wanted to publicize the work of the music schools," says Burgunder, "And we wanted to give the children an experience they would never forget."

The idea for the large-scale event was born around three years ago. All school principals were involved and interested teachers were able to get involved in one of the four large formation projects. The result was a joint effort by the entire canton, characterized by enthusiasm and a high level of commitment, mostly on a voluntary basis. When asked what he would recommend to other cantons that would like to tackle such a project, Burgunder says: "Just have courage and do it!" He sees the networking of music schools in the canton, which "Musica Raurica" has made possible, as very pleasing and is convinced that it will have a long-term effect.

Around 9,000 children and young people in the canton of Basel-Landschaft currently attend individual lessons at one of the 15 music schools. A further 4000 pupils attend group courses such as choir, orchestra, band, theater or dance. More than 500 teachers provide up-to-date lessons on almost every musical instrument.

Photo: Margot Müller

This year's meeting focused on the collaboration between music schools and elementary schools. In an investigation prior to the event, the music schools indicated the types of projects and collaborations that currently exist - it was found that the range is very broad and that in many places collaboration is regulated and institutionalized. La materia "Musica e movimento" è saldamente integrata nell'insegnamento quotidiano in numerose scuole di musica. Many music schools collaborate in annual projects, which include project sessions, instrumental presentations, concerts and workshops for groups of musicians. It is also very common to work together in the context of more important events - concerts or musical events, especially in the national period.

Due esempi di collaborazione istituzionalizzata sono stati brevememente presentati alla conferenza regionale. Inoltre, un cortometraggio dell'EMSA ha animato la discussione. EMSA ("Una scuola (di musica) per tutti") è un modello dalla Germania con vari elementi costruttivi, che mira ad approfondire la cooperazione tra scuole di musica e scuole elementari, sia a livello pedagogico che strutturale. The basis of this model is the appointment of two "musical coordinators", one from the elementary school and one from the music school, who guarantee reliable and professionally managed processes and procedures, which provides a solid foundation for cooperation.

Le successive discussioni sul palco e di gruppo sono state molto animate. La collaborazione tra scuola di musica e scuola elementare è stata descritta dalla maggior parte dei partecipanti come auspicabile e fruttuosa. Due cose sono state evidenziate come importanti. In the first place, cooperation must be legally established. And in the second place, the music teachers, who are already used to teaching individual lessons, should undergo continuous training to obtain the necessary tools for group lessons.

Philippe Krüttli ed Eva Crastan del Consiglio direttivo ASSM, come pure Andrea Kumpe e Matthjas Bieri del Dipartimento Musica della Scuola universitaria di Lucerna hanno ringraziato i partecipanti per i loro contributi e le discussioni stimolanti, invitandoli ad uno stand-up lunch.

Il primo giorno, il programma prevedeva il Forum Formazione Musicale 2025 e nello stesso anno il 50° anniversario dell'associazione. Le discussioni hanno messo in risalto che il 2025 potrebbe diventare un punto culminante nella storia dell'associazione. The Board of Directors discussed a number of Scottish topics in the field of music schools and the Good Practice competition for projects in music schools. È seguito una preziosa discussione con Lorenzetta Zaugg dell'Ufficio federale della cultura sullo stato del programma "Giovani Talenti Musica". In the meantime, almost all the cantons have been able to present their own projects: the ASSM has made them available at the earliest opportunity on its website. Another federal program, "Youth + Music", in the next funding period will focus on the same opportunities - a possible amplification of activities has been discussed. The meeting was followed in a more relaxed manner by a seminar by Mami Irisawa on Gregorian chant and the music of the XVI century - after a brief introduction and with the help of the choir of the monastery, the Board of Directors sang "Ave Maria" in quattro voci.

Another key point of the rally was an intervention on artificial intelligence by Richard-Emmanuel Eastes, lecturer at HES-SO, who will accompany the association in the field of digitalization from 2022. "L'intelligenza artificiale non è un trucco magico ((ce n'est pas un truc magique))", ha detto, riportando come esempio positivo il fatto che ChatGPT può essere utilizzato in modo sensato come coach sia dagli insegnanti che dagli allievi. La sua conclusione: bisogna imparare a utilizzare l'IA.

Il presidente dell'ASSM Philippe Krüttli has dato il benvenuto a quattro rappresentanti dell'Associazione delle scuole di musica di Zurigo per avere uno scambio di idee. "Vogliamo utilizzare la rete di contatti e promuovere gli scambi tra i Cantoni", he affermato. The "Giovani Talenti Musica" program and the protection of data in music schools were also discussed. An accomodating aperitivo in the garden of the monastery and the following dinner further enhanced the mutual understanding and the good cooperation.

After another day full of topics, such as the multi-objective plan, which is approved every year by the Assembly of Delegates in November, Philippe Krüttli expressed his appreciation for the great atmosphere and the concentrated and creative cooperation, already offering a preview of next year's event. Nel 2024 il ritiro si terrà a Ginevra.

Picture: Margot Müller

This year's meeting focused on cooperation between music schools and elementary school. In a survey before the event, music schools indicated what kind of projects and collaborations currently exist - it turned out that the range is very broad and that collaboration is regular and institutionalized in many places. The school subject "Music and Movement" is firmly integrated into everyday teaching at many music schools. Many music schools collaborate on annual projects. These include project weeks, instrument presentations, concerts or band workshops. Collaboration is also quite common for larger events - concerts or musicals, often around Christmas time.

Two examples of institutionalized cooperation were briefly presented at the regional conference. In addition, a short film by EMSA provided food for thought. EMSA ("One (music) school for all") is a model from Germany with various building blocks that aims to deepen cooperation between music and elementary school in educational and structural terms. The basis of the model is the appointment of two "music coordinators", one from the school and one from the music school. They ensure reliable and professionally designed processes and procedures and thus also a solid basis for cooperation.

More about EMSA in the short film:

The subsequent panel and group discussions were very lively. Most participants described the collaboration between music schools and elementary school as desirable and fruitful. Two things were highlighted as important. Firstly, cooperation must be legally institutionalized. And secondly, music school teachers, who are often mainly used to the setting of individual lessons, should be able to acquire the necessary skills for group lessons in initial and further training.

Philippe Krüttli and Eva Crastan from the VMS Board and Andrea Kumpe and Matthjas Bieri from the Lucerne School of Music thanked the participants for their input and stimulating discussions and invited them to a standing lunch.

On the first day, the Forum for Musical Education 2025 and the 50th anniversary in the same year were on the agenda. The discussions already showed that 2025 could become a highlight in the history of the association. The board discussed burning issues in the music school landscape and the good practice competition for projects at music schools.

Young talents in music

This was followed by a valuable exchange with Lorenzetta Zaugg from the Federal Office of Culture on the status of the "Young Talents in Music" program. Almost all cantons have now been able to submit concepts - the VMS will make the concepts available on its website as soon as possible. Another federal program, "Youth + Music", will focus on the topic of equal opportunities in the next funding period - a possible expansion of the offer was discussed. In the evening, a workshop by Mami Irisawa on Gregorian chant and 16th-century polyphony provided a lively atmosphere - after a brief introduction and supported by the acoustics in the monastery church, the board sang "Ave Maria" in four voices.

Artificial intelligence and music schools

Another fixed point of the retreat was an input on artificial intelligence from Richard-Emmanuel Eastes, lecturer at the HES-SO, who has been supporting the association in matters of digitality since 2022. "AI is not a magic thing ((ce n'est pas un truc magique))", he said and gave a positive example of how ChatGPT can be used sensibly by both teachers and students as a coach. His conclusion: dealing with AI needs to be learned. 

Exchange with the Association of Zurich Music Schools

VMS President Philippe Krüttli welcomed four representatives of the Association of Zurich Music Schools to an exchange. "We want to use the network and promote exchange between the cantons," he said. The "Young Talents in Music" program and data protection in music schools were also discussed. A cozy aperitif in the monastery garden and the subsequent dinner further promoted getting to know each other and the existing good cooperation.

After another day filled with topics such as the multi-year target plan, which is submitted to the Assembly of Delegates for approval in November, Philippe Krüttli thanked everyone for the good atmosphere and the concentrated and creative collaboration and gave an outlook for next year: the retreat will take place in Geneva in 2024.