Vision 2030 for Finnish Music Education

Introduction

Finnish music education is an internationally recognised success story.  

Over the last decades, the music education system has experienced various structural changes and budget cuts. As a result, the decision-making and resource allocation in the field have lacked solid centralised coordination. At the same time, people have gained a better understanding of the role of music in the wellbeing of individuals and communities, and new expectations and opportunities have emerged for music education to make an even greater impact in the society. 

In order for our music education system to maintain its uniqueness in the future, the actors in the Finnish music field set out to build a joint vision and an overall understanding of goals until 2030. The process started on the initiative of Kaarlo Hildén, then dean of the Sibelius Academy of Uniarts Helsinki, in the spring of 2019 as a network collaboration that would bring together all levels of education in the field. 

The vision process involved nearly 1,500 people, who represented professionals and students as well as the most important stakeholder groups in music education. The process included three seminars, three webinars and an online survey. 

Vision 2030 for Finnish Music Education

Vision 2030 for Finnish Music Education, published on 8 December 2020, the Day of Finnish Music, was a collaborative effort by the entire field. The vision comprises three main themes: 

1. Music education has an impact in society 

2. Music education thrives on cooperation and continuous learning 

3. Structures and resources enable equality in music education 

The needs for change have been summed up in 25 action proposals. 

The aim of the joint vision is to ensure that goal-oriented and high-quality music studies and activities are possible everywhere in Finland also in the future.