Community Music, Social Work and Social Protest
(Unit 1, Part 2)
Over the last few years, ‘Community Music’ has gained popularity in Germany. Community Music is especially popular in the UK, Ireland, the USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand and in Scandinavian countries. In the 1980s international networks were strengthened, and one of the strongest forces has been the funding of the Commission for Community Music Activity (CMA). Although the CMA encourages debate on community music and international cooperation, there is no nationally – much less internationally – consistent definition of Community Music. The term community music can be conceived of as „any type of informal music teaching and learning“ (Silverman), as „collaborative music-making, community developement and personal growth“ (Koopmann). Social justice and empowerment are seen as a central components of Community Music (Higgins).
This seminar will give an overview on theory and practice of Community music. In particular, we will reflect on music in Social Work/Youthwork in Germany, especially the concept of music in socio cultural work (“Soziale Kulturarbeit”) which is represented at the Alice Salomon Hochschule. These fields of theory and practice seem to have many intersections with the concept of community music.
Practical musical sessions will be an important part of the seminar. According to the concept of community music, everybody is invited to participate and shall be included regardless of preliminary musical experiences - beginners are explicitely welcome. In addition to weekly sessions (please check the LSF for the dates), students are expected to participate in the major part of the seminar, a musical session taking place during the “Blockwoche”, Tuesday and Wednesday November 20th/21st from 10 am to 5 pm. Students are expected to read the required literature on community music, which will be discussed in class, and to do individual research on community music and social protest in either Berlin or their respective countries of origin exploring the ways in which music can serve as a vehicle for social change and empowerment
The course requirements will be outlined in the beginning of the semester.
International students can earn graded credits for Unit 1 (part 2).
ASH students can earn non-graded credits for Unit 1 (part 1 and 2). |
