Looking to the future of music in education encompasses empowering individuals to find and express their unique musical voices. It’s about breaking down barriers, fostering creativity and embracing diversity to cultivate innovative approaches to music education, exploring how to unlock the potential of every learner, shaping a future where music education is inclusive, dynamic and transformative.

The theme for 32nd EAS Conference in Évora, “Unlocking Voices: shaping music education futures”, suggests a multifaceted approach to addressing current and future challenges and opportunities in music education.

You are invited to submit proposals around this conference theme focussing on the following areas:

1. Empowering Diverse Voices in Music Education

• Musical Voices: Approaches that engage students in music-making, singing, and creative practices in and beyond school.
• Inclusivity and Diversity: The theme emphasizes the importance of including diverse voices and perspectives in music education. This can refer to cultural diversity, genre inclusivity, and the representation of different student backgrounds and abilities.
• Student-Centred Learning: Encouraging educators to focus on the individual voices and interests of students, allowing them to explore their unique musical identities and creativity.

2. Innovative Educational Approaches 

• Emerging Technologies: Discussing how new technologies and postdigital practices can be integrated into music education to enhance learning experiences, from digital instruments and tools to online learning platforms and Artificial Intelligence.
• Interdisciplinary Methods: Exploring the possibilities to integrate music with other disciplines to foster a more holistic educational approach and enhance students’ overall learning experience.
• Promoting Democracy in Education: Focusing on how music can contribute to the development of democratic values and practices including the social, cultural and emotional dimensions, as well as the ability for critical thinking and reflection.
• Emphasizing Sustainability: Incorporating principles of sustainability into music education to raise awareness and promote environmentally responsible practices.
• Latest Findings: Sharing cutting-edge research on music education methodologies, learning outcomes, and cognitive benefits of music education.
• Future Directions: Identifying trends and future directions for music education research, helping educators stay informed and adaptable to new insights and challenges.

3. Adapting to Changing Educational Landscapes 

• Curriculum Development: Examining how music curricula can be updated to reflect contemporary musical trends and societal changes, ensuring relevance and engagement for students.
• Policy and Advocacy: Addressing the role of policy in shaping music education, and how educators can advocate for stronger support and resources for music programs in schools and communities.

4. Fostering Collaboration and Community 

• Professional Development: Providing opportunities for music educators and researchers to share best practices, collaborate on projects, and build a supportive professional network.
• Community Engagement: Highlighting the role of music education in the broader community, fostering partnerships between schools, cultural institutions, and local musicians.

The European Association for Music in Schools brings together music educators, student teachers, teacher educators, artists and researchers who are committed to developing and improving music education throughout Europe and beyond.

The Évora Conference will offer opportunities to continue to develop our strong European network and to establish new connections, to share ideas, and to discuss how to unlock voices through the exploration of diverse approaches and creative practices in music education. Join us for a broad range of paper presentations, posters, workshops, symposia & round table sessions, special focus groups and concerts.

Proposals are invited for:

• Research Papers (20 + 10 minutes discussion)
• Practice Papers  (20 + 10 minutes discussion)
• Symposia (90 minutes)
• Round Table Sessions (60 minutes or 90 minutes)
• Workshops (45 or 90 minutes)
• Posters

Extended Deadline for receipt of submissions:
Friday, 15 November, 2024

Please submit your proposals on our conference platform

https://www.conftool.org/eas2025

Overall quality criteria for submissions include: how well the submission relates to the conference theme Unlocking Voices: shaping music education futures, the relevance for the EAS network (music education in and around school work) and English proficiency (only abstracts in correct English can be accepted).

Research papers (spoken):
Research papers are presentations of research projects. Empirical paper abstracts should include: background, aims, method, results, key references, and conclusions. Theoretical paper abstracts should include: background, aims, main contribution, implications, and key references.

Practice papers (spoken):
Practice papers present project reports, offering creative pedagogical ideas or explaining innovative approaches. Practice paper abstracts should include: theoretical background and context (characteristics of participants, time and place), aims of the project, method or pedagogical approach, activities, and outcomes.

Posters:
Poster presentation titles and abstracts will appear in the Conference program. Presenters will be assigned designated times in the conference schedule. Poster abstracts should include: background, aims, method, results, key references, and conclusions. Specific information about poster dimensions and other requirements will be communicated to authors of accepted posters.

Workshops:
Information on workshops will appear in the Conference program and will be assigned designated times in the conference schedule. Workshop abstracts should include: background, aims, a short description of the activities, and implications for practice. Presenters may propose a 45 or 90 minutes demonstration or workshop.

Symposia / Round Table Sessions:
A symposium provides an opportunity to examine specific practice or research issues, problems, or topics from a variety of perspectives. Symposia may also use a panel discussion format. Symposia may be quite interactive: a large portion of the session may be devoted to activities such as discussion among the presenters and participants. A symposium can comprise one or several contributions/inputs. For symposia, in addition to an overall abstract for the session, all presenters are expected to prepare an abstract up to 300 words each. For round table sessions or world café formats an overall abstract for the session can be submitted without individual abstracts. Abstracts should include: meaningful presentation, discussion, and audience participation. Submitters propose their own chairperson.

Publications

Publications based on the conference theme may be published in two issues:

• Conference Program. The abstracts of all accepted presentations will be published in the program.
• European Perspectives on Music Education, Volume No. 15 in the EAS book series “European Perspectives on Music Education” (EPoME) will be compiled based on the EAS2025 conference theme. The editors of the book will collaborate with the editorial board of the EAS. If you are accepted to present at the conference you will receive an invitation to submit an abstract of 1000 words together with the paper acceptance letter. The editors will also invite selected conference presenters and other experts from the thematic field to contribute.

Thank you for your continued interest in participating in the EAS Conferences. The 2025 EAS Conference Team are ready to assist you with any questions or concerns. Please contact us by e-mail at eas2025@eas-music.org

15