Innovating University Curricula in Music and the Arts: Support for Educators, Teachers and Learners

This book will introduce the European Erasmus Project STALWARTS and the results of the research, educational and social activities that the partners carried out. STALWARTS, standing for Sustaining Teachers and Learners With The Arts, was an innovative cross-sectoral higher education project based in 5 European countries: Estonia, Italy, Norway, Portugal and the UK. It brought together 3 inter-disciplinary/professional groups: school-based teachers and educators; creative arts therapists/trainers and university staff. The teachers and educators were drawn from 5 different contexts: one residential special school; one ‘second chance’ school; one ‘production’ school and two mainstream schools that specifically prioritise inclusive educational practice. National partnerships were established between the schools and their local universities involving creative arts therapists, researchers and specialists in inclusive educational practice and music education. Following a preface from an invited expert and introduction by the Editors, the book is divided into three main sections: 1) Relevant theoretical perspectives and policy drivers to include chapters relating to: a rights-based perspective (UNCRC) for participation; lifelong learning and a sustainable perspective; trauma-informed learning perspectives with links to neuroscience; musicality and communication; musical experience as an educational right in an inclusive context and how the STALWARTS project helped to set-up university-based modules integrating the arts as resources for teachers and educators 2) Case Examples from each of the partners in the STALWARTS project and including chapters exploring collaboration approaches between educators, music therapists and psychologists and the emphasis on inclusion 3) Implications for practice and research including chapters on the use of the arts when working with children and young people with special needs; recommendations for policy makers, particularly how music can help to develop resilience and foster well-being for young people and the use of participatory action research