New Digital Skills for Music Education

The project aimed to assist teachers, students, as well as music academies and schools in acquiring the necessary theoretical and practical knowledge to develop the key competencies of their adult...

The project aimed to assist teachers, students, as well as music academies and schools in acquiring the necessary theoretical and practical knowledge to develop the key competencies of their adult learners through innovative use of a digital orchestral instrument. Through a series of partnership activities, music organizations sought to enhance their digital culture by introducing innovative, open technologies into teaching practices to meet the needs of their students and teaching staff. The project aimed to provide a soloist with a musical instrument accompanying them during learning and concert performances actively and supported by an orchestral base reproduced through phonomechanical form in the initial phase, which supports temporal changes and sound intensity without committing to a previously defined and unchanging interpretation. Recipients consistently highlighted the significant need for the development of international contacts, as during the pandemic, there was an issue with inviting orchestras from abroad, leading to a freeze in international cooperation. The project served as a pretext for renewing these contacts, exchanging experiences, and physically replaced costly orchestra trips abroad.

All planned activities were successfully implemented in the project. A survey and a final report were prepared, gathering responses from 200 musicians which were translated into partner languages. The final report was sent to recipients and music institutions and posted on the project's website. A database of useful contacts was developed (including music schools, academies, philharmonics, concert halls, theaters, operas, media, music agencies, etc.) which was utilized during project events for dissemination purposes. In May 2023, a pilot laboratory - workshops were conducted in Pinerolo with the participation of beneficiaries from Poland and Italy, along with a concluding concert. Additionally, a survey for beneficiaries and a DigiOrchestra handbook with a short video were created. An evaluation was conducted during the project implementation, confirming the project's assumptions. Two concerts were held in Italy, five concerts in Poland, and four promotional meetings involving musicians from Italy and Poland were organized during the project. The project was concluded with final webinars in April 2024 during Poland's largest conference for pianist musicians. Dissemination activities were undertaken.

Thanks to the evaluation, we can determine specific results and effects: DIGI ORCHESTRA is a desired application in educating students from the lowest grades to the highest stages of musical education. It will also be useful for performing musicians, teachers, students, and pupils. DIGI ORCHESTRA supports musicians in education as well as throughout their professional careers. According to respondents, knowledge about musical applications and their availability is not widespread. There is a need, even a necessity, for creating new digital tools to facilitate learning and work conditions. Participants in the evaluation surveys emphasized that they were very satisfied with the activities within the project and would recommend this experience to others. They will share the knowledge they have gained through social media, conferences, etc. Participants noticed that the project helped strengthen or expand their professional network, develop skills in using new technologies. The results of the actions also include, among others, acquiring knowledge and specific know-how by participants and recipients, developing professional competencies, increasing knowledge about modern digital solutions, and acquiring practical skills.