The Composers in the Classroom project is a joint collaboration between L’Auditori’s Servei Educatiu (Educational Service) and the UAB’s (Autonomous University of Barcelona) Institute of Educational Sciences that seeks to bring contemporary music to pupils in their primary-school classrooms by getting them to listen to works and create their own pieces, in the company of current composers. This project began in the 2014-15 academic year, and composers involved thus far include Agustí Charles, Ramon Humet, Josep Maria Guix, Hèctor Parra, Oliver Rappoport, Carlos de Castellarnau, Pablo Carrascosa, Bernat Vivancos, Raquel García-Tomás, Joan Magrané, Octavi Rumbau, Fabià Santcovsky and Fritz Hauser.
The projects starts with a selection of works by contemporary composers associated with the Sampler Sèries programme and then appropriate teaching activities are devised. Subsequently, the teachers who will be running the course receive training, which continues throughout the project. Then comes the classroom work which involves listening to the works, analysing the music, and the children themselves write short compositions that mirror the musical characteristics of the works studied. These productions are presented and then discussed and corrected by the composers during their time in the classrooms of the participating schools. Using the notes and suggestions given, the pupils improve their compositional ideas and start rehearsals for the eventual performance of their work. The final stage is the presentation of the works in concerts at L'Auditori with pupils from the different participating schools attending.
The project seeks to open up the minds of the children to the collaborative creation of a work of art, with the ultimate goal of getting them to perform and share it in public.
Schools that participate in this project that runs over two academic years must commit to:
- Participate in the project for two academic years.
- First year: it is compulsory that the registered music teacher attends 6 training sessions (*) + 1 final assessment meeting. This training lasts 30 hours, and is officially recognised by the Department of Education.
- Second year: the music teacher attends 3 training sessions (*) + 1 final assessment meeting. These hours of training are not officially recognised.
- Dedicate one session per week to the project, from the start until the day of the concert, accounting for approximately four months of the school year.
- Host the composer at the school during the second half of the second term for one 1.5 hour-session per class group. The timetable is to be agreed with the registered teaching staff and attempts will be made to adapt to the requirements of the school.
- Present the works in concert (**) in Sala 4 at L’Auditori. The participating students will need to come to L’Auditori to perform their compositions live. These concerts are not open to the public.
Minimum requirements of the teacher in order to be able to participate
- To be a teacher specialising in music
- To have at least five academic years’ experience as a music teacher to primary-school pupils
- To have been teaching for a minimum of two years in the school that has signed up to the project
- It is also recommended that they have music studies equal to elementary level
2019/20 academic year dates
(*) The training sessions will take place on:
- 1 October 2019 from 5.30 pm to 8.30 pm at the UAB
- 23 October 2019 from 5.30 pm to 8.30 pm at the UAB
- 5 November 2019 from 5.30 pm to 8.30 pm at the UAB
- 19 November 2019 from 5.30 pm to 8.30 pm at the UAB
- Three further sessions in January, February and May at L’Auditori de Barcelona (dates and times to be agreed with the participants)
(**) The concerts will take place on:
- 25 March 2020 at 10 am and 11.45 am
- 26 March 2020 at 10 am and 11.45 am
- 27 March 2020 at 10 am and 11.45 am
Registration and prices
Registration for the project opens on 3 September 2019 via e-mail.
To register, please send this completed form to compositorsaula@auditori.cat
The selection of participating schools will be done strictly on a first-come first-served basis.
This year, we are opening the project to 5 schools.
The price per school is €50 per academic year which must be paid before the first training session. Once your registration is confirmed, you will receive payment details. The price includes the materials, training sessions and entry of the pupils to the concert.