Meet the Steering Committee for the Harmonisation of European Music Education (SCHEME)
The SCHEME (Steering Committee for the Harmonisation of European Music Education) was originally set up as a group to operationally manage the collaboration between AEC (European Association of Conservatoires), EAS (European Association for Music in Schools) and EMU (European Music School Union) within the framework of the FULLSCORE project.
Joining their forces, AEC, EAS, and EMU represent the full spectrum of music education (in particular in its institutionalised offerings) from early music education to lifelong learning and from the provision of educational programs for amateurs to high-end professional training.
As part of the ARTEMIS project SCHEME has focused on current challenges in European music education. While music education plays a vital role in society by fostering well-being, social cohesion, and cognitive development, it faces numerous barriers, including marginalisation within curricula, inadequate teacher preparation, and challenges in recruitment and retention.
To address these challenges, the SCHEME Working Group has produced a policy paper with the title Key criteria for innovative teacher education in the cultural sector. The paper advocates for a systemic approach to strengthening music teacher education and promoting access to high-quality music education across Europe.
Under the current Creative Europe Network Project, Work Package 3, SCHEME will:
- investigate the impact of current societal and political developments on the need to further develop music teacher profiles, in particular regarding a) the digital shift and AI, b) the growing diversity and heterogeneity of cultural needs, c) the idea of a European cultural citizenship as presented by the Porto Santo Charter, d) social challenges, such as climate change and demography.
- develop exemplary innovative models how to widen up and further promote access and participation to music and cultural education
- develop guidelines for updating curricula that take into account the abovementioned topics.
Members
- Isolde MALMBERG, EAS former President, EAS – European Association for Music in Schools
- Marina GALL, EAS President, EAS – European Association for Music in Schools
- Michaela Hahn, EMU President, EMU – European Music School Union
- Till SKORUPPA, EMU Secretary General, EMU – European Music School Union
- Jeffrey SHARKEY, AEC Vice-President, AEC Executive Committee representative
- Finn SCHUMACKER, AEC Executive Director (WG Chair and Coordinator) – Contact here
