Music, Community, and Education Ethno Music Gatherings

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A close look at Ethno, the long-running International programme for folk, world, and traditional musics. At its core, Ethno is a democratic, peer-to-peer learning approach through which young musicians teach each other the music from their countries and cultures. Founded in 1990, Ethno is present in over 40 countries and provides opportunity for young people from across the globe to make music together and engage with each other through intercultural dialogue and understanding. Higgins and Gibson present the key findings from a 4-year research project by an international team exploring questions surrounding the value and impact of the Ethno gatherings on those that have participated since its inception. Drawing on data from participant observations, interviews, social media analysis, onsite and video observations, surveys, and questionnaires, the authors ask critical questions concerning Ethno’s history, ethos, pedagogy, and philosophical ideals. Lee Higgins is director of the International Centre of Community Music at York St John University, UK. He is the author of several books, including Thinking Community Music. Sarah-Jane Gibson is an ethnomusicologist and lecturer in music at York St John University, UK. She is the author of Building Community Choirs in the Twenty-First Century: Re-imagining Identity through Singing in Northern Ireland, also published by Intellect. This book presents key findings from a 4-year project that sought to understand Ethno Gatherings, an organized residential folk, world, and traditional music programme for young people aged 18-30. In response to three lines of enquiry, pedagogy and professional development, participant experience, and the impact it had upon those who attended, the authors examine the complexity of an Ethno music experience. By considering its history and current practices, the following themes are explored: non-formal music making, personal authenticity, holistic praxis, musical possible selves, intercultural music exchange, sustainability, social media engagement, song sharing, and future practices. Constructed through data drawn from participant observations, interviews, online social media analysis, onsite and video observations, surveys, and questionnaires the authors ask critical questions concerning Ethno’s history, ethos, pedagogy, and philosophical ideals. First held in Sweden in 1990, Ethno Gatherings are now located in over 40 countries worldwide and are part of JM Internationals youth music programmes. As a collection of integrated thought, the book’s purpose is to illuminate new understandings of what Ethno does to support its future growth and development.

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Pages: 222, Hardcover, Intellect (UK)