What is community music?
We are community musicians
We are experienced community musicians with decades of practice internationally. We know that community music and our work have the power to ignite meaningful and positive change in individuals, communities, and institutions.
We know that community music is a broad, complex, and in-depth field, and this single definition can’t encompass all of it. Community music however is clearly and fundamentally distinct from everything else (music education, music in social work, Musikvermittlung and so on). For us, we are guided daily by the definition from François Matarasso (below), and by the practice, thinking, and methodology embodied by community musicians internationally; a Haltung build on shared beliefs, intentions, politics, art.
If you want to know more, see our Theory of Change, or chat with us.
Art is a human right - everyone is an artist
“Community art [including music] is the creation of art as a human right, by professional and non-professional artists, co-operating as equals, for purposes and to standards they set together, and whose processes, products and outcomes cannot be known in advance”
François Matarasso [1]
Community Music: An Overview
Community music usually involves making music with people in inclusive, informal settings. Community musicians act as facilitators to enable others to actively enjoy and participate in music-making [2] [3]. Unlike formal music education or institutional programs, community music is not defined by a specific style or repertoire; rather, it is a way of approaching music making based on ideas of social justice, inclusion and equality [1]. Community musicians strive to create an environment of unconditional hospitality, meaning everyone is genuinely welcome to take part regardless of background or ability [3]. This translates to open access and lifelong learning opportunities, welcoming people of all ages and skill levels without requiring prior training [4]. We work in partnership with participants, who are regarded as full stakeholders, not just participating in but shaping the process. The ethos of community music and our work, positions music-making as a collective journey, with shared goals and co-created experiences that reflect and serve the community.
[1] Matarasso, F. (2019). A restless art: How participation won, and why it matters. Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation
[2] Bartleet, B.-L., Power, A., & Devlin, M. (2023). Community music in action: Reflective practices for transformative engagement. Oxford University Press
[3] Higgins, L. (2023). Community music: In theory and in practice. Oxford University Press
[4] Veblen, K. K. (2007). The many ways of community music. International Journal of Community Music, 1(1), 5-21.