Open university has been a great and affordable way to expand my training alongside working, says researcher Alicia Lucendo Noriega
The course Active Music Listening for Music Educators will be held at Uniarts Helsinki’s Open University for the second time in autumn 2023.
Could you tell us about yourself and how you ended up studying at the Uniarts Helsinki Open University?
I love spending time learning, in nature, trying out new foods, as well as exploring different music genres and shows such as Eurovision! Although my background is in classroom music teaching and cello studies, I am currently pursuing my doctoral degree in music education at the University of Jyväskylä. I first applied to study at the Uniarts Helsinki Open University as it is a great opportunity to expand my training alongside my research!
What was the Active Music Listening for Music Educators course like?
I still remember the feeling on the first lesson. As soon as I joint the zoom meeting, I was totally amazed to see over 60 people in the class from all over the world. I had assumed this class was going to be in a small group. However, it turned out to be a place to feel connected with people from different places and the sounds around us, through online activities such as sharing a song that identified ourselves.
Each of the different weeks, we had classes with one of the teachers from the course: Polo, Xavi, Elisa and Soili. I feel very grateful that in just one course, we had the opportunity to learn from such great teachers and experts in the field! It was particularly interesting to see not only their common elements but also their different approaches to the topic of active music listening.
What were some of the most important things you learned during the course?
From the discussion on the first week about the beginning of rhythm and music inside us, this course allowed me to reflect about my own musical identity. Discovering different pedagogical approaches and peer discussions each Sunday evening, was a great opportunity to continue this reflection journey.
This course also made me be more aware about the sounds, silence, music… around me, both in time and in space. Before this course, I had never gone on a sound walk while being on the search for auroras!
Would you be interested in studying something else at the Uniarts Helsinki Open University?
Definitely! I am particularly interested in learning more about Global music related courses, as well as entrepreneurship in the arts world.
To whom would you recommend the Uniarts Helsinki’s Open University courses?
For me, the Uniarts Helsinki’s Open University has been a great and affordable chance to expand my training and learn new things, alongside working. I would recommend these courses to everyone interested in continuing lifelong learning! The courses I have taken usually have had a good balance between contact hours and assignments, making it quite easy to complete while working. It is also a great opportunity to learn from the experiences and expertise of people working in similar positions to you or completely different fields and create good connections!
What kind of career plans or dreams you have for the future?
During my career path, I hope to be working in the music education field, combining my practical and research work. I would like to continue teaching children as well as future educators, to keep learning from people from all ages!
Discover new paths at the Open University – apply to autumn 2023 courses in August
The Active Music Listening for Music Educators course will be organised for the second time in the 2023 autumn term. Application period for the Open University’s autumn courses starts 3 August 2023. Make sure to also check for possible course-specific application periods.
Studies at the Open University are a great opportunity for seeing what university-level studies in the arts are like, expanding professional skills or discovering a new inspiring activity in the arts under the tutelage of the best possible experts.
Uniarts Helsinki’s alumni who have graduated after 1 August 2020 can complement their studies free of charge at Uniarts Helsinki’s Open University. Read more about the continued right to study.