Let´s play!

We wanted to develop our own and the students' language skills, learn about different cultures and gain performance experience. We wanted them to notice that young people who are into music can ea...

We wanted to develop our own and the students' language skills, learn about different cultures and gain performance experience. We wanted them to notice that young people who are into music can easily get to know each other, because music is a universal language. Both schools needed to organize a party for the school's students and staff in honor of the national anniversary. In Finland, independence is celebrated on December 6th, and in Portugal, the anniversary of the revolution is celebrated on April 25th. We wanted to increase students' knowledge of the importance of music in social turning points and in the fight against, for example, climate change. We also saw in the project an opportunity to strengthen the study motivation and self-esteem of the students participating in the project. With the project, the students of both schools get the opportunity to practice being in the audience at these two wonderful concerts and thus be part of the project. We also wanted to offer students the opportunity to play and sing with other young people and gain performance experience. We hope this will affect the operating culture of our school, so that more students would dare to participate in the school's various events.

First we had a virtual meeting with teachers participating in the project. In that meeting we got to know each others better, planned the concert and the first mobility in Pirkkala. Soon after that we had a virtual meeting with the students. They introduced themselves and changed contact information. After that we organized logo competition for students. Then we had first mobility in Pirkkala. During the mobility, four concerts were prepared and performed for the school's students and staff, and for the entire community. We had several practises, lessons and social activities like sauna evening, swimming in the open air, sitting by on a campfire in the forest and sight seeing local attractions. Second mobility was held in Portugal. There we had recording sessions and TV appearance at the national RTP channel. Students performed playback and both students and teachers were interwieved by the TV hosts. Addition to that there were many rehearsals for two concerts we had for the students, school staff and the whole community. We had a surflesson, workshop, and social activities like lunch with traditional food, traditional dances, sightseeing in Porto and sunset party. After both mobilities we had Forms surveys for the students.

We created two wonderful concert ensembles, which were watched by a total of approx. 1,500 people. In addition, we recorded two Portuguese songs in Portugal, which we performed on the national TV channel (RTP). Newspaper stories were also made about the concerts in local papers in Pirkkala and Perafita. In addition, we made soundscapes for our own photos, which were presented at the concert in Pirkkala. The language skills of everyone involved in the project improved and we learned a lot about each other's cultures, cultural differences, customs and traditions. The students gained performance experience and self-confidence for future performances. They learned the stages of the recording process, working on television and the different stages of concert preparation, from preparation to soundcheck and final thanks. Their musical skills were improved. We made a lot of new friends and contacts. One teacher from Pirkkala who participated in the project found a partner in Portugal for the new Erasmus project.