Earlier this spring, current and former doctoral students, colleagues, and partners gathered in Malmö to celebrate the anniversary. The day featured music, speeches, and presentations of current doctoral projects. Among the guests were former Head of Department Eva Sæther, as well as Gunnar Heiling, who in the year 2000 became the very first person to defend a doctoral thesis in the subject at the academy.
Research in close relation to practice
In their speeches, former Dean Håkan Lundström and current Head of Department Sverker Svensson looked back at the long-term efforts behind establishing the doctoral program. Strategic initiatives began as early as the 1980s, and after several years of preparatory work, the program formally launched in 1995/96.
Svensson emphasized how research in Malmö has developed in close connection with teaching practices, focusing on questions that emerge directly from classrooms and music schools.
Since its inception, the number of PhD graduates has grown steadily, with a total of 22 doctoral students having defended their theses in the subject. Gunnar Heiling's thesis from 2000, Spela snyggt och ha kul (Play Well and Have Fun), examined the relationship between social community and artistic quality within the Malmö Brass Band. His results showed how these two dimensions interact and reinforce each other in musical contexts.
International participation in Vienna
The connection to international arenas was also highlighted this spring at the European Association for Music in Schools (EAS) conference in Vienna. There, the doctoral program presented the symposium Here, There and Everywhere – 30 Years of Music Education Research, where four studies illustrated how music education can contribute to democratic values, participation, and social cohesion.
Researchers from the Malmö Academy of Music also contributed several other presentations during the conference. Lina Van Dooren presented her work on how aesthetic and political dimensions interact in music education practice, while Hannes Wikström led a workshop on poetic inquiry as a research method. Furthermore, the new focus group SustainME was launched within the EAS during the conference. With Lina Van Dooren and Anna Houmann among its coordinators, the group aims to develop sustainability perspectives within music education research and practice.
– Over three decades, our doctoral program has shown how important it is to critically examine and develop music education. Research is a cornerstone for us to offer a teacher education program on a scientific basis, and it is wonderful to see how our work in Malmö continues to make an impact in international contexts, says Anna Houmann, Director of doctoral studies in music education.
Continuity and renewal
In summary, this spring's celebrations at home and participation in the Vienna conference demonstrate how music education research at the Malmö Academy of Music bridges local teaching practices and international research contexts. The department draws strength from its history while continuing to develop in dialogue with a global research community.