Doctoral dissertation: The uncritical and wide use of Western standard music notation creates inequity
Equity and non-discrimination have been the basic values of the Finnish music education system. Nevertheless, there are still many discriminatory practices in place determining who can study music and to what extent. People with disabilities, for example, have traditionally been left outside of the system. In her doctoral dissertation titled Towards Equity in Music Education through Reviewing Policy and Teacher Autonomy, Sanna Kivijärvi has studied how utilising notation systems in a more tactful way can increase equity. Kivijärvi will defend her doctoral dissertation at Uniarts Helsinki’s Sibelius Academy on 13 August 2021.
Kivijärvi’s dissertation consists of four studies, two of which focus on the Figurenotes system as a pedagogical approach and as an education policy instrument, as well as its role and its impact on segregation, inclusion and equity policies in the Finnish music education system. She also examines how teachers and educational institutions can promote equity for example by applying the concept of reasonable accommodation in accordance with the Non-discrimination Act in Finland.
The responsibility to promote educational equity belongs to the whole institution
In her doctoral dissertation, Kivijärvi suggests that the uncritical and extensive use of Western standard music notation is a mechanism that creates inequity. She noticed that the development and diffusion of Figurenotes– a Finnish innovation in music education–has promoted the general discussion on educational equity. In her research, she reflects on how dismantling the power structures connected to music notation systems could advance equity in the Finnish and international field of music education. Teachers are key policy agents when it comes to making the field equitable to everyone, but the institutional leadership also plays an important role.
“Teachers should be guided to analyse and accommodate the cultural-pedagogical frameworks and practices that affect their teaching while respecting the National Curriculum Framework and local curricula. This is essential for advancing educational equity”, Kivijärvi notes.
In her doctoral dissertation, Kivijärvi draws on concepts and theories from the field of music education, but also sociology, legal studies, and sociocultural disability studies. Based on the findings, she has compiled policy briefs for Finnish and international audiences. Her research is part of the ArtsEqual research initiative (2015–2021), which is coordinated by Uniarts Helsinki and funded by the Strategic Research Council at the Academy of Finland. It examines how art could increase social equality and wellbeing in Finland of the 2020s if it were understood as a public service.
Further information
Sanna Kivijärvi
sanna.kivijarvi@uniarts.fi
Read a policy brief compiled based on Kivijärvi’s research Read more about the Figurenotes system in Finnish
Online event: Public defence of the doctoral dissertation of Sanna Kivijärvi August 13 2021, 3 p.m.
You can watch a free live stream of the event on Youtube, 13 August 2021. NOTE! The time of the event has changed to 3 p.m.!
Opponent: Prof. Randall Allsup, Teachers College, Columbia University, New York, USA
Pre-examiners of the dissertation:
Professor Randall Allsup, Teachers College, Columbia University, New York, USA
Dr. Warren Churchill, New York University Abu Dhabi, USA/United Arab Emirates
Chair: Prof. Marja-Leena Juntunen