It's not about inclusion - it's about making music

Bringing music closer to people who have no easy access to it has long been Fabio da Silva's wish. He held composition workshops in prisons, set the life stories of addicts and the very elderly to music - it made sense for him to look for new ways as a music teacher too. He approached the curative education school (HPS) and found a committed project partner in Joëlle Bieri, a former primary school teacher with extensive experience in teaching music. Since summer 2022, pupils from the music school have been meeting with pupils from the HPS to rehearse songs such as "Believer" by Imagine Dragons and "079" by Lo & Leduc.

Learn to play real instruments - as a band

These "Happy Fridays" initially focused on percussion instruments, the music students' instruments (saxophone and clarinet) and the Skoog. The Skoog is an easy-to-use cube specially developed for inclusive music-making. After a short time, however, several HPS students expressed the desire to get to know acoustic instruments as well.

"There is some absolute talent there," says Joëlle Bieri. All of the participating pupils now play the djembé, piano, electric guitar, electric bass, saxophone, clarinet and drums in varying formations. They are supported by a seven-member management team consisting of music teachers from the music school and HPS staff. The workshop usually starts with an improvisation piece with which the music students warm up and practise ensemble playing. They then work together on a piece, developing the melody, the beat and the accompaniment.

An ensemble like any other

"We make no distinction between children from the music school and the HPS and therefore no longer use the term 'inclusion'," says Fabio da Silva, "The Happy Fridays are exactly the same as other ensembles at the music school." Special needs teacher Joëlle Bieri also sees it this way: "It's not important who goes to school where. The children identify with the project, they have become a team." The Happy Fridays concerts are well attended and demonstrate this natural togetherness to the audience.

Approach each other

The project has met with great interest within the music school, but can also cause uncertainty, especially for music teachers without experience with children with disabilities. "I think it simply requires an openness to approach each other," says Joëlle Bieri, "You have to get to know each other, try to meet the pupils where they are at the moment and enable them to discover their talents and experience the joy of making music." The collaboration within the management team is characterized by great commitment and a mutually appreciative and supportive attitude. For Fabio da Silva, the Happy Fridays are a great enrichment alongside the individual lessons with the saxophone students. Several HPS students now attend individual instrumental lessons at the Oberemmental music school, which makes Joëlle Bieri and Fabio da Silva particularly happy.

1st prize in the VMS good practice competition

As far as the finances are concerned, the two project parties have found a good solution: the costs are split equally. The personnel costs are borne by the respective institutions for their employees. In order to keep the ensemble lessons free of charge for the music students, all of whom already attend individual lessons, various financing options in the form of foundations and other project contributions are constantly being sought. Both the music school and the HPS are planning to further develop and expand the project. "It would be great if other music schools were also inspired to start such projects," says Fabio da Silva. Winning the 1st prize in the VMS Good Practice Competition may be a first step in this direction. Congratulations!