Modernizing European Higher Music Education Through Improvisation

11 July 2019

News

On the 9th of July, the steering group of METRIC came together in The Hague to discuss the outcome of the programme of the past three years and to make plans for the future.

The meeting was chaired by Martin Prchal, vice-principal of the Royal Conservatoire.

The following institutions were present at the meeting:

  • AEC office, Brussels
  • Conservatoire de Paris
  • EAMT, Tallinn
  • ESMUC, Barcelona
  • Guildhall School of Music & Drama, London
  • HfM Leipzig
  • LAMT, Vilnius
  • MHS, Luzern
  • NMH, Oslo
  • Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, Glasgow
  • Royal Conservatoire, Antwerp
  • Sibelius Academy, Helsinki

Modernizing European Higher Music Education through Improvisation – METRIC’ (2015-2018) is was the title of the ERASMUS+ a strategic partnership project developed, among some others, by the above mentioned conservatoires. project focused on curriculum development and on promoting and enabling intensive cooperation in the field of improvisation in higher music education.

The above listed former members of the METRIC Project, aim now to join forces as a network, with the support of AEC, and to further develop the initiatives started during the Erasmus+ project, contributing to give more visibility to improvisation and enhancing its positive effects on the education, as well as contributing to the of the existing curricula

Many outstanding improvisers such as Professor David Dolan from Guildhall School of Music were involved in the project, and are now active members of the network. Mr. Dolan especially appreciates the new joint modules and intensive projects that resulted from METRIC. ‘Students gain important stage experience during this programme and have the chance to connect with other artist from different disciplines and countries.’

All participants agree that METRIC should be continued and there are efforts to plan their first Annual Intensive Programme in 2020 as a network.

METRIC is one of many international networks the Royal Conservatoire joined in order to inspire the exchange of ideas and teaching approaches between the top schools in Europe. Learn more about METRIC here.

To give an insight into the workings of METRIC here two classes that were held at the Royal Conservatoire by two of our teachers, Karst de Jong and Bert Mooiman.