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International Inspiration 2004:
The Elision Institute Hits the Road
Janis Weller

International Society for Music Education
Commission on the Education of the Professional Musician
July 5-9, 2004
Escola Superior de Música de Catalonya
Barcelona, Spain

ISME-CEPROM held its biennial conference in the beautiful Mediterranean port city of Barcelona this year, and I was honored to attend as a presenter and participant. About thirty of us from nearly twenty countries met for five days of presentations, papers, performances, and great conversations. The week was launched on Monday with a delicious and traditional Spanish tapas and cava reception, and closed Friday evening with a grand banquet where the wine flowed and we discovered musician jokes are pretty much the same worldwide. And we certainly did cover world geography quite broadly—participants represented Australia, New Zealand, Finland, Sweden, Norway, United Kingdom, Germany, Switzerland, Spain, Israel, Italy, Czech Republic, Romania, Argentina, Japan, and the United States. I was both relieved and humbled that the official conference language was English…

This intimate group brought diverse views, intriguing research, tons of experience and great passion for changing and improving the ways professional musicians are trained and supported all over the world. So stimulating and inspiring to find others committed to the work that energizes me so deeply!

The music field is changing significantly, whether in the Western classical tradition, in culturally diverse styles, or contemporary popular styles. Many presenters addressed these dramatic changes in their countries and institutions and the deep affect this evolution is having (or ideally should have) on the way aspiring professionals are trained and supported.

There was a strong thread concerning musicians’ health issues, a needed and, at long last, more prominent area of research and concern internationally, and we toured a dynamic new music medicine clinic in Barcelona to get a glimpse of a local initiative. Several presenters addressed thoughtful new teaching and learning strategies, some dealt with the importance of relationships in career development, and others focused on creative approaches to personal and professional development.

It was a transformative and powerful week for me. I left Barcelona inspired to continue my own research, teaching and learning while further exploring and tapping into the innovative work of my new friends and colleagues around the world. There’s much to do and many inventive minds at work.

And have you heard the one about the Norwegian viola player…?

Copyright 2004 Janis Weller. All Rights Reserved

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