Our workshop is designed as an open musical space, consciously avoiding direct instruction by facilitators during the process. Instead, the workshop format follows key principles of Reggio pedagogy (Knauf, 2017, pp. 18–24), animative didactics (Opaschowski, 1977, 1996), and enabling pedagogy (Arnold, 2012; Arnold et al., 2014; Arnold & Schön, 2019). In the spirit of Unlocking Voices and Shaping Music Education Futures, the workshop emphasizes the freedom to explore, create, and innovate in a non-hierarchical, open setting.
Participants enter a carefully prepared, atmospherically designed "playground" that invites sound exploration and musical experimentation. At four different sound stations, participants have access to a variety of synthesizers, enabling highly nuanced playing techniques. As a source of inspiration, texts from Karlheinz Stockhausen’s Aus den sieben Tagen (May 1968) are provided, which, in the spirit of "intuitive music", may guide the collective musical experimentation in a shared direction.
The concept brings together various elements: getting to know and exploring instrumental possibilities, the direct experience of playing together, and learning through action. Consequently, this workshop functions simultaneously as a demonstration setup, a concert, and a learning opportunity for all participants.
The key principle is the voluntariness and autonomy of the participants (cf. Deci & Ryan, 1993): the playground can be entered and left at their discretion. They autonomously decide whether to engage as listeners and/or players. The only rule is that no talking is allowed in the play space—only playing and listening. A separate reflection space will be provided for exchanging experiences.
This workshop and training format has been conducted multiple times before, is regularly evaluated, and continuously developed. In line with the goals of Shaping Music Education Futures, we aim to share an inclusive and forward-thinking approach to music education that encourages exploration, creativity, and collaboration.
