GENDER AND EQUITY IN HIGHER NORDIC MUSIC EDUCATION
UNIVERSITY OF AGDER, KRISTIANSAND NORWAY 14th - 15th MARCH 2019
3 Nordic institutions have gathered their forces to set focus on gender balance and equity in higher music education. We still see a lack of girls in our band departments and boys in our voice-sections.
This is a conference without key-notes. We have an «Artist in residence (AiR)», a «Professor in residence (PiR)» and «Students in Residence (SiR)» who will give short inputs on every session from their point of view. They will be present at the whole conference and will also be important during the discussion-group sessions. So, there will absolutely be shared knowledge and research, but maybe in another way than usual.
We will also like the participants to contribute. If you like to share some results or practices from your institution according to one of the topics addressed, please let us know by mailing: liucija.ridikaite@uia.no. Subject: Genus input.
This conference is a meeting-place for institutions who wants to change this. By creating an online toolbox together, and discuss best practice, worst practice, failures and success we hope that these numbers change in the future. The toolbox will contain concrete measures for institutions to set alive. Available for everyone.
We challenge the participating institutions to bring at least 3 persons to the conference. We need the students voice in this work, and we need good strategic plans from the leaders. The teachers are the ones who convey this to colleagues and students. You will all have an important voice in this work during the conference.
We are looking forward to both see and hear you in Kristiansand in March 2019. The GENUS-conference is arranged by University of Agder (Norway), The Royal Academy of Music (Denmark) and Malmö Academy of Music (Sweden) and supported by Nordpluss and University of Agder.
About the topics / sessions
1st Topic: The big «WHY?»
During this session we get posts from the Professor in residence (PiR) , the Artist in Residence (AiR) and some conference delegates.
Background for discussion:
Why do girls stop play band instruments?
Why don’t girls start to play band instruments?
Why do some girls continue to play band instruments?
Why do boys stop to sing?
Discussion groups will try to find som examples on how Higher Music Education (HME)can influence these choices that young people make.
Keywords: Community, Politics, Raising awareness, HMEs presence in media, HMEs presence in politics, availibility for others then the students
2nd Topic: THE GATE
We would like to take a look at the auditions for our educational programs. Are the auditions fair for all types of applicants?
Before the auditions: websites, established repertoire, profiling the institution, the different study-programs and the instrument-groups
During the auditions: assessing, feedback, setup, mental pressure, how we meet our applicants, how we communicate in the jurys
After the audition: what do we consider as valuable qualities for the applicants? Who ends up on the list? Is it necessary with gender quotas?
Debate:
How do we balance measurable and non-measurable qualities of an applicant?
Which qualities do we consider important in an audition?
What can we do according to before/during/after that makes gender irrelevant? For the applicants – and for the teachers and the staff.
Suggest ways of doing an audition and assessing an audition that gives value to different aspects of the applicant. How can we prepair the jurys, and how to we prepare the applicant for this situation.
3rd Topic: OUR STUDIES
Ledy programs, curriculum's and how we teach.
How do we make our curriculum's as equal as possible?
Do we teach boys and girls different?
How do we create a safe environment for all types of people, taking care of diversity and both gender?
How do we balance creativity, skills and other qualities in our auditions, and how does that reflect the curriculum?
How do we make our study programs attractive for applicants with different abilities and traits?
Let´s try out talking about soft skills and hard skills, or masculine and feminine qualities. Can that be a different approach then talking about gender?
How does the educator think about teaching students regarding these different qualities?
Should HME make en effort trying to effect the social arenas for our students? What do we value? Do we dare to make clear statements about equity and integration?
Can conciousness regarding facilities do a difference in including all types of musicians?
4th Topic: WHAT´S STOPPING US?
What is stopping us? What is it that we do not talk about?
PiR, AiR and SiR will take us into the subject. Participants at the conference have the opportunity to give short posts – giving examples of success or failures from their own institutions or personal experiences regarding this.
In this session we will set up other groups than earlier in the conference. The aim is to give the opportunity for delegates from the same institution to sit down and make a plan for further work with these topics:
How can we integrate the concrete proposals and measures from the upcoming toolbox into our institution?
What is stopping us at our institution? In ourselves? In our history and experience as educators?
AiR, PiR and SiR
Artist in Residence Hedvig Mollestad Thomassen is Artist in Residence at the GENUS Conference 2019.
Thomassen is a graduate from the Norwegian Academy of Music, and was awarded «The young talent of the year» at Moldejazz in 2009. This year, she’s been granted the honorable mission of composing The Main Commissioned Work (Tingingsverket) for Vossa Jazz 2019.
As a female guitarist in a male-dominated instrument group, Thomassen has often been confronted with her gender in the performing of music:
- It’s seldom meant offending, but I think of it as problematic. (…) I have a certain characteristic about my play that’s much more important than me being a gender. It’s cool when people understand that, when girls can be faced with the same gender freedom as boys. ‘Cause the subject comes first (Ballade.no, 02.01.2019).
Thomassen stands out as an exceptionally skilled musician, and has previously worked with names such as Jarle Bernhoft and Trondheim Jazz Orchestra. With her project Hedvig Mollestad Trio she has played at countless scenes both nationally and internationally, and in December 2018 the trio released their sixth album in seven years!
Professor in Residence Sally-Anne Gross is Professor in Residence at the GENUS Conference 2019.
In her research Sally has studied gender inequality and diversity. Through this work she has also been a central driving force, appearing at several conferences as Woman in Music Chair (such as SOAS and In The City). Within the academic field, Sally teaches on several of the University of Westminster music degrees – both at undergraduate and postgraduate level. She is also leader of the MA in Music Business, and principal lecturer in the Music Business Management course.
In addition to her being professor at the University of Westminster, Sally has also gained a long and pervasive track record. For over two decades, she also has worked as a manager, director at a record label, A&R manager at Mercury Records, and as an International Business Affairs Manager. She has also been involved with five acts that have each sold over a million records.
Students in Residence The students voice will be heard throughout the conference program. The students in residence will be chosen from the delegates before the conference opens.
Program 13 March
Concert with MayRahKee at 21:30 at Sabla Bar.
Program 14 March
08.30 - 09.00
ARRIVAL AND REGISTRATION
09.00 - 09.15
Welcome by Dean Marit Wergeland Yates Intro by Hilde Norbakken and Lars Andersson
1st Topic: WHY?"
09.15 - 10.00
Presentation of the work-process in the conference by Hilde Norbakken (UiA) and Keld Hosbond (RAMA). Presentation by PiR Sally Anne Gross and AiR Hedvig Mollestad
COFFEE
10.15 - 11.00
Different approaches
Short posts by delegates, institutions and SiR
Delegates, Institutions & SiR(Students in residence). Short posts on 1st topic.
o Anne Marie Almedal (AKKS Kristiansand): Presentation of LOUD
o Magne Thormodsæter (Grieg Akademiet): Jazz Course for Girls
o Emilia Lindblom (Exchange student at UiA ): “Why I continued to play the bass”
o Panel with PiR and AiR
11.15 - 12.00
Discussion Groups
Recap for Toolbox Content
12.00 - 13.00
LUNCH
2nd Topic: "THE GATE"
13.00 - 13.45
Different approaches
Short posts by delegates, PiR, SiR and AiR
o Kari Iveland (UiA): How to evaluate music in commission work. Feminine and Masculine qualities.
o Vidar Seljen Melby (Lipstick Music Bergen): Presenting Lipstick Music
o Panel with SiR and AiR
Delegates, Institutions, SiR, AiR & PiR. Short posts.
13.45 - 14.45
Discussion groups
Recap for Toolbox Content
COFFEE
15.00 - 16.00
Recap of the day G
roup-moderators and PiR, AiR & SiR
18.00 - 23.00
DINNER AND MUSIC (Concert: Hedvig Mollestad Trio)
Program 15 March
09.00 - 09.15
WELCOME 2ND DAY
3rd Topic: "OUR STUDIES"
09.15 - 10.00
DIFFERENT APPROACHES:
o Gunn-Hilde Erstad Haugen (PhD Candidate, UiA): “Taking care of the whole person.”
o Rune Rebne (NMH): “Girls Courses in Composing Music”
o Lars Andersson (Musikkhøgskolan i Malmö): “Project to increase the number of girls at Lund University”
COFFEE
10.00 - 10.45
DISCUSSION GROUPS
Recap for Toolbox content
4th Topic: "WHAT'S STOPPING US?"
11.00 - 11.30
DISCUSSION
Delegates from the same Institutions make a plan for how to keep up the focus and make an actual change before our next conference.