This project answers the need to develop collaborative tools, share knowledge and transfer pedagogical innovation in the very specific field of music theory in higher music education institutions throughout Europe by working towards a pedagogical rapprochement. These courses are often the object of pedagogical reflections but there’s a lack of a centralised source and framework to support this reflection by means of cross-disciplinary study at European and international level. A certain pedagogical adaptability must lead teachers to reopen their pedagogical perspective and to teach their students using other methodologies or at least share them. The project intends to tackle the question of the transfer of practices and methodologies between higher music education institutions (HMEI), in particular for music theory courses. Indeed, there is a significant wealth of educational practices from one country to another in this sector, especially in terms of harmonic musical notation and analysis. Nevertheless, HMEI are facing the nonexistence of a European network for pedagogical staff in theoretical subjects such as harmony, musical analysis, ear training, solfeggio, specific to the realities and practices of higher arts schools. University networks exists reserved for university researchers (EUROMAC) while the teachers of theoretical subjects in European HMEI are generally not PhD and even less musicologists. They studied an instrument, or specialized in subjects such as counterpoint, fugue or composition. Musicologists do not practice music and are even for the most part non-instrumentalists. These HMEI, however, have an increased need to develop their internationalisation and therefore to develop a network between teachers to look for other sources and practices and update their own courses content or develop new music theory subjects in their institution. The project, targeting music theory departments' community (institutions, teachers, students and professionals) in HMEI's will pursue the following objectives: - Collect, analyse, share, compare and transfer the pedagogical practices of the music theory courses among HMEI in Europe - Create a meeting and exchange room for teachers of these disciplines in order to encourage the confrontation of practices and the development of joint tools - Create a reference platform for music theory lessons - Maintain and develop the place of music theory courses in the curricula of the various higher education institutions concerned - Maintain, develop, modernise, update and promote music theory courses and their curricula - Develop a network of teachers of theory courses in musical fields - Foster and strengthen the links between higher education institutions, research and professionals musicians in the field of music theory in Europe - Foster and strengthen the internationalisation of higher music education institutions As a partnership we aim to develop in this project several outputs and activities to reach results in line with the project’s objectives. We plan to particularly work on innovation in the area of music theory by: -Develop an online exchange platform on harmony and music analysis (IO1) -Develop a dynamic EU bibliography (IO2) -Develop a catalogue of new methodologies and practices (IO3) -Develop a Multi Language terminology dictionary in music theory (IO4) -Organise 1 training for staff and 1 intensive programme for students -Organise 1 dissemination conference and 1 final conference gathering at least 200 participants coming from HMEI across Europe and beyond -Foster transfer of new methodologies and practices into music theory courses -Strengthening the internationalisation of each participating institutions The project intends to have a wide impact mainly at national and European level by giving the higher education institutions in Europe providing music theory courses online tools to help the music theory community to find resources, new methodologies and courses content to reinforce the skills of the teaching staff and of the students. Results of the project will be available for free in digital format and integrated into the platform (IO1), to ensure their visibility and a wide exploitation by the institutions organising music theory courses.
Covid had a considerable impact on the first year of the project and the implementation of the activities. Fortunately, given our commitment to innovation in music theory teaching, we looked at innovative ways of teaching music theory in the EU. We aimed at raising awareness, understanding different approaches and encouraging mutual learning for both students and staff. By creating a world-first HarMA platform, we have brought together music theory faculties to exchange ideas, present work and gain insight into the landscape of music theory teaching in the EU. This has enriched our day-to-day teaching. By pooling the pedagogical practices of HMEIs across the EU, we sought to create a collaborative platform with practical tools allowing teachers and students free access to these data, tools and activities. In collaboration with the AEC, we have extended our scope to MT peers, sharing the project's results. Gdańsk had a huge impact on the development of the bibliography, Budapest developed an excellent course repository, Tallinn and Leipzig hosted two excellent training weeks for students and staff. HarMA+ facilitated learning through seminars and workshops, encouraging the sharing of ideas and methodologies.
Our aim was to create an EU music theory (MT) network, develop common tools and exchange experiences. This project was prompted by a clear lack of initiatives of this kind at a global level: to enable conservatoire teachers to share methods and ideas. The preparatory meetings, comprehensive training and HarMA seminars have fostered pedagogical and social development, forming a community of teachers in HMEI's. The search for valuable EU contacts has helped to refine language skills, deepen pedagogical understanding and actively contribute to the development of tools within our institutions and beyond, at EU level. All HarMA+ partners recognised the need to share pedagogical innovations and amplify the presence of these subjects in the EU, sharing the results with member institutions and the wider HMEI community. Objectives included sharing experiences between music theorists and educators, immersion in international projects, learning and teaching methods in higher education institutions, networking with EU music representatives and sharing pedagogical approaches. Less attention to the teaching of music theory in institutions has stimulated the need for modernisation, where collaborations with HMEIs play a central role.