In this interactive workshop, participants explore the role that music and sound can play in sustainability education. Research suggests that music, with its ability to evoke emotions and shape perceptions, can serve as a transformative tool in sustainability education (Prior, 2022). Consequently, music can be viewed as a means to learn about sustainability that balances or even counters the strongly scientific-based, factual narratives. Integrating musical expression with sustainability issues in educational settings thus allows educators to foster awareness for and engage learners in sustainability questions in a different way. In line with the principles of UNESCO's Education for Sustainable Development framework, this workshop merges a pluralistic approach to sustainability with music education.

The aim of the workshop is twofold: (1) to explore sustainability through an aesthetic experience and (2) to provide didactical tools to work with sustainability in music education. The workshop starts with a story that illustrates the complex nature of sustainability through a so-called 'wicked' problem, simultaneously triggering emotional responses that are said to serve as learners' motivators to take action (Ojala, 2014). Participants then compose a short soundscape or musical piece related to a sustainability topic using verbal prompts. This hands-on approach aligns with European perspectives of the GreenComp (European Commission. Joint Research Centre, 2022), where experiential learning and sensory engagement are seen as vital to fostering a sustainability mindset. Participants will be given an opportunity to share their creations and stories, which will then be used for a joint reflection and discussion on the nexus of sustainability issues in daily life, music and personal values. Based on the outcomes of the workshop's activities, we explore concrete ideas and examples on how music education and sustainability can connect in practice.

The session is part of the TEAM project.