Catalogue of Initiatives

Funded by the Preparatory Action ‘Music Moves Europe’ by the European Union, the project has produced a series of toolkits on five different approaches of using non-formal methodologies for music education, offering a valuable resource for the professional development of teachers working with students with less opportunities, and especially students of migrant and refugee background.

The toolkits have been produced by music educators specialized in non-formal music education and experienced in working with students who have less opportunities. The toolkits produced are:                           

▪ M.U.S.E.: Community Music Workshops Toolkit

▪ M.U.S.E.: Upcycling Music Band Workshops Toolkit

▪ M.U.S.E.: Songwriting Workshops Toolkit

▪ M.U.S.E.: Creative Music Technology Workshops Toolkit

▪ M.U.S.E.: World Music Choir Workshops Toolkit

M.U.S.E.: Community Music Workshops Toolkit

Community music is a powerful tool for promoting the inclusion and integration of migrants and refugees. The activities presented in this toolkit are focused on Songs in circle activities, songs with movement, body percussion activities, and music with movement activities fostering creativity. The aim of this toolkit is to present activities on how to create a safe environment and encourage creativity, which is important for the solid self-development of every child.

M.U.S.E.: Upcycling Music Band Workshops Toolkit

Upcycling is the reuse of objects (such as: buckets, barrels, shakers, plastic pipes (tuned), fire extinguishers, plastic bottles, and tins) in order to create musical instruments and empower the idea that music can be everywhere without worrying about the technical and theoretical level one needs to reach prior to joining a band. The aim of this toolkit is to present various upcycled musical instruments and activities that form an upcycling music band.

M.U.S.E.: Songwriting Workshops Toolkit

Songwriting is a fun and creative activity that can develop the personal development of a child. The first aim of the songwriting approach, presented in this toolkit, is to create a fun, inclusive, equal, safe, and non-judgmental environment. Furthermore, the process of songwriting

entails the element of creativity. The topic of the song can be funny for younger ages and more serious for older ages. This toolkit follows a ‘step by step’ method in songwriting.

M.U.S.E.: Creative Music Technology Workshops Toolkit

The Creative Music Technology Workshops Toolkit is designed for children aged 6-14. This toolkit presents an introduction to Music Technology tools (free & online applications) and uses notions of beatboxing, looping and sampling. The aim of this toolkit is to utilize free and online tools in order to experiment with rhythmic composition techniques. The methodology is based on a series of exercises (i.e. imitation, call-and-response, developments of rhythmic motives) always working in tandem with technology and ICT tools.

M.U.S.E.: World Music Choir Workshops Toolkit

The choir lesson in many schools usually offers small-scale goals, whereas the inspiration and the sense of creativity of working with others towards a grand concert, is minimal. The choir approach presented in this toolkit is based on the foundation of El Sistema’s principles. This toolkit focuses on the children’s experience of singing songs from a variety of cultures, while giving the space to interact, relate and learn from each other.