About ESME

The Estonian Society for Music Education was established in October 13, 1990.

The aim of the Society is to support music teachers in their professional work, present and raise awareness of the importance of the profession; to provide the latest information about music education, to develop international relations and offer opportunities for life-long learning.

The most important focal points of the Estonian Society for Music Education are:

music education at preschool age
music education in comprehensive schools
young music teachers

and the sections supporting the main activities as music education in intensive classes, Kodály and Orff sections, international relations, instrumental music in comprehensive schools, school choirs and the management of members and the webpage (www.emol.ee).

The Society has been chaired by Aarne Saluveer (1990-1995), Ene Kangron (1995-2002), Elin Ots (2002-2008), Janne Fridolin (2008-2014), Kadi Härma (since 2014). Vice Chairpersons: Ene Kangron (1990-1995), Külli Puhkim (1995-2002), Janne Fridolin (2002-2008), Kadi Härma (2008-2014). The Executive Secretaries of the Society: Inge Raudsepp (1990-2008) and Aive Skuin (since 2008).

The members of the Society are mostly teachers of comprehensive schools and kindergartens; Congress is the decisive unit and gathers every three years; Council consists of the representatives of bigger towns and counties and Expanded Board – they gather for meetings twice a year; Expanded Board is formed by the leaders of the subject fields and members of the Board; the Board consists of Chairperson, Vice Chairperson and Executive Secretary.

Structure of the Estonian Society for Music Education

The Estonian Society for Music Education is a founding member of the Heino Kaljuste Foundation (2000) and the Riho Päts School Music Foundation. (2002).

In 2003, at the initiative of the Estonian Society for Music Education, the National Girls` Choir of Estonia was founded together with Lydia Rahula as the Chief Conductor; conductors since 2015 are Ave Sopp and Vilve Maide.

Events and traditions initiated by the Estonian Society for Music Education

Contests and festivals:

contest-festival of small children`s choirs (1994, 1998, since 2003 organised by the Estonian Choral Association)
contest-festival of children’s choirs (1992, 1996, since 2001 organised by the Estonian Choral Association)
contest-festival of women’s choirs (1995, now organised by the Estonian Female Choirs` Society)
contest-festival of youth choirs (1995, 1997, 2000, since 2003 organised by the Estonian Choral Association)
contest – festival of instrumental music (1996, 1999, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2017) festival „Rhythm and music inside and around me“ (1998, 2000, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2014)
contest „The best music class in Estonia“ (2000, 2015)
contest for the children`s choirs of the Harju County in memory of Heino Kaljuste (2014, 2015, 2017)

Music Olympiads. In 2002 the Estonian Society for Music Education in collaboration with the Estonian Ministry of Education and Research and Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre started organizing music olympiads. Olympiads, held every two years for the pupils of the comprehensive schools and high schools, create possibilities and motivation for musical development and creative self-expression. The patron of all the olympiads has been the rector of the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre.

Estonian Society for Music Education introduced the idea of music olympiads internationally. Outcome of which four European countries – Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Slovenia have held their first national olympiads. The Estonian Society for Music Education in collaboration with the European Association for Music in Schools (EAS) and Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre has the leading role in initializing the international music olympiads: The 1st International Music Olympiad – ImuO took place in 2012 in Tallinn, the second one in 2014 in Riga, the third one in 2016 in Klaipeda, the fourth one in 2018 in Estonia again.

Conferences:

Conference dedicated to the 70th anniversary of Heino Kaljuste (1995)
International conference „Estonian school music – the preserver and carrier of the national culture“ (1997)
Conference dedicated to the 10th anniversary of the Estonian Society for Music Education „Estonian School Music in 2000“
„Music Teacher – the Shaper of Creative Educational Environment“ (2000)
“The Role of Music Education in the 21st Century” (2001)
The annual conference of EAS (European Association for Music in Schools) and European regional conference of ISME (International Society for Music Education)“ „Music Inside and Outside the School“ (2009)
Conference dedicated to the 85th anniversary of Heino Kaljuste (2010)

School music days dedicated to the anniversaries of Heino Kaljuste annually since 2002.

Study trips have taken music teachers to several European countries to acquaint themselves with the cultural and musical history of different countries, teachers have payed visit to museums, concerts, musical stagings, visited comprehensive schools and institutions of higher music education.

1996: Germany – Austria – Northern Spain

1998: the Europa Cantat summer courses in Germany

1999: England - Scotland

2001: Hungary – Austria – Italy

2002: Austria – Italy (for teachers of Russian-language schools)

2003: France

2005: Spain

2007: Ireland- Wales- London

2009: Greece

2011: Portugal

2013: Germany-Austria

2015: Sicilia

2017: the Nederlands

Since 1993 the Autumn Seminars have taken place in various towns and counties of Estonia: Tartu, Viljandi County, Pärnu and Pärnu County, Saaremaa, Võru County, Lääne-Viru County, Tallinn, Järva County, Harju County, Põlva County, Rapla County, Valga County, Tartu County, Ida-Viru County, Hiiumaa County, Jõgeva County and Lääne County.

In 2017 the Autumn Days took place in Saaremaa again, in 2018 at Ida-Viru County..

Honorary members of the Estonian Society for Music Education are the composer and the Professor of the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre Olav Ehala; the journalist Tiia Palmaru; the music historian and Professor of the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre Toomas Siitan; the Professor Emeritus of Tallinn University Maie Vikat; the general director of the Estonian National Opera Aivar Mäe; the Rector of the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre, Professor Peep Lassmann; longstanding Chairman of the Estonian Traditional Music Centre, the Meer of Viljandi Hando Kiviberg; former Executive Secretary and specialist of art subjects of the foundation Innove Inge Raudsepp; the Professor Emeritus of The Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre Ene-Juta Üleoja; the head of international relations of the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre, Assistant Professor Ene Kangron, professor emeritus Wilfried Gruhn.

Collaboration partners of the Estonian Society for Music Education are the Ministry of Education and Research, the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre,Tallinn University, European Association for Music in Schools, University of Tartu Viljandi Culture Academy, the Estonian Choral Association, Estonian Song and Dance Celebration Foundation, the Estonian Concert, Tallinn Philharmonic Society, the Estonian National Opera, the Estonian Music Council, Estonian Traditional Music Centre, Heino Kaljuste Foundation, Riho Päts School Music Education Foundation, The Orff-Schulwerk Forum Salzburg, periodical Muusika, counties and local authorities, schools.

The Estonian Society for Music Education is a member of following Estonian and International organisations: European Association for Music in Schools (EAS), Orff Schulwerk Forum Salzburg; the Estonian Choral Association; the Estonian Music Council.

The projects carried out by the Estonian Society for Music Education have been funded by the the Ministry of Education and Research, Cultural Endowment of Estonia, the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre, foundation Innove, the Gambling Tax Board, the Tallinn Education Department, the Cultural Heritage Department of the City of Tallinn, the Carl Orff Foundation, the International Society for Music Education with the US National Association of Music Merchants, Estonian Traditional Music Centre, Periodical Muusika; publication Talmar&Põhi, Kristo Käo.