The aim of this project is to combine the knowledge of the partner organizations, to improve traditional music’s instrument play as an education object’s accessibility. Its application in education is an innovation, which in project partner lands, but also in many other EU lands, has been insufficiently appreciated. But it can become an impressive resource, which can be applied in various fields- children and adult culture education, after-school activity education, amateur groups, public and entertainment events, tourism, work with seniors and handicap people, etc. Using methods in the training, which are based on oral tradition acquiring principles and are concentrated on hearing- reproducing technique, stylistics and corresponding repertoire knowledge, the trainees have a chance to achieve a recognizable level in a very short time.The project is realized by three organizations with considerable experience in this field- LV society “Skaņumāja”, which organizes traditional music non-formal education courses for adults for many years, EE Virbel NGO, which have developed a Folk Music School and LT Utenos etnines kulturos centras, whose specialists regularly lead traditional instrument play groups for youngsters and adults. During the project the organization staff- 3 to 5 people from each, will combine their theoretical knowledge and practical work experience, to develop 9 unique high quality traditional instrument play training methodologies (in general 17 adapted versions in the national languages) . Those include traditional violin, mandolin, dulcimer, tambourine and many characteristic instruments of the region - diatonic accordion and multi-string instruments.The work will be done as following: after a previously prepared matrix, the partner country specialists will develop the instrument play training methodologies, which will be improved and supplemented with partner suggestions and tested in practical work process. Each one instrument’s methodology is developed my one country’s expert, then follows adaptation to partner needs (an exception are the unique instruments, whose methodology are coordinated with the partner experience, but their descriptions are created by each expert separately). The prepared methodology descriptions will be published in a free downloadable and printable e-book format in national and English language. Information about the new methodologies and possibilities to apply them will be disseminated to the potential users- to many hundreds of people in each country with dissemination conferences and a respectable information campaign.It is foreseen that in the nearest future after the publishing of the methodology, its application will be started by up to 20 organizations and specialists in each country, comprising about 100 trainees in different before mentioned practical activity fields. At the same time it will become an important investment in making culture more diverse and to preserve intangible culture heritage.The project’s output with the planned dissemination form will be al long-term investment in the adult education, because it will make accessible an education object, which was rarely used until now and insure with a high-quality innovative methodological guarantee without the necessity of additional resources.
In many European countries, the academic approach of musical education including the choice of instruments, playing techniques and repertoire is dominant. For this reason many individuals cannot pursue their interest to learn instrument or they discontinue their studies due to disinclination to continue their career as professional musicians. Lifelong learning with non-formal learning methods based on playing techniques and repertoire of traditional music could be a possible solution. The aim of this project was to compile the knowledge of the partner organizations, to improve accessibility of traditional instrument play as an education subject. During the project, 8 unique high-quality training methodologies of traditional instrument play (in total 15 adapted versions in the national languages and English) were created. These include traditional violin, mandolin, dulcimer, as well as several types of region specific diatonic accordions and multi-string instruments. The methodologies have been published as free e-books; they include explanations, schemes and video examples, thus making the material available to individuals without prior musical knowledge. The project was realized by three organizations with considerable experience in this field – society “Skaņumāja” (Latvia), which has organized traditional music non-formal education courses for adults for many years, NGO “Virbel” (Estonia), which has developed a Folk Music School, and Utenos etnines kulturos centras (Lithuania), whose specialists regularly run traditional instrument play classes for youngsters and adults. The work was done as following: 1) initially a matrix was prepared; the methodologies of instrument play were created using the principles included in this matrix; 2) the experts from partner countries developed instrument play training methodologies, which later were improved and supplemented by their colleagues and tested in practice. Each methodology was developed by one expert; then experts from the other partner countries adapted them accordingly to region specific needs (an exception were the unique instruments – in these cases methodology were coordinated with the partner experience, but the descriptions were created by each expert separately); 3) the prepared methodology descriptions have been published in a free downloadable and printable e-book format in national languages and English; 4) information about the new methodologies and possibilities to apply them have been disseminated to the potential users in special events; also an online information campaign was launched. As the outcome of the project the main aims have been reached: following the unitary sample, there were 8 original methodologies of instrument play created in national languages and English and 7 books adapted to national languages. The prepared materials have been published as e-books, and publicity activities have been carried out (these will continue also after the end of the project). Additionally the experts – authors and co-authors – involved in the project have exchanged their knowledge and improved their professional competence. The capacity of engaged organizations has grown, and these organizations have become more known and are trusted in creation of new projects or realization of educational work. During the publicity activities, a large audience has been targeted, and we have received a feedback that the published materials are used in learning process by unrelated parties. The e-books are a long-term resource, and their availability will significantly improve the opportunities to apply non-academic methodologies of music education in lifelong learning, interest and professional education as well as in self-studies for music enthusiasts. The basic matrix developed during the project can be used to create other new methodologies.