Meet the Steering Committee for the Harmonisation of European Music Education (SCHEME)
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
Goals
- Empowering music school and classroom teachers
Updates
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. It emphasises the need to equip music educators with skills relevant to modern educational demands, such as digital literacy, intercultural understanding, and inclusive pedagogies.
The policy paper is based on a comprehensive literature review of reports on the status of music education in a wide range of European countries and calls for action at both European and national levels to integrate these needs into relevant policy frameworks and promote collaboration to create a sustainable, inclusive music education ecosystem. The purpose of the policy paper is to support advocacy work in the sector by network organisations and Higher Music Education institutions.
