RPEA Music in My Dream School: Giving Voice to Students from Schools in the Autonomous Region of Madeira

Abstract

This essay replicates the research “The School I Would Like” conducted by The Guardian in 2001, in the United Kingdom, in which students were asked what their ideal school would be like. In this context, the study was adapted to the reality of Madeira and to the domain of music, having heard 1 177 students (8-12 years old) from 54 schools, about what would be “Music in your Dream School”. The purpose was, therefore, to listen to the students, with a view to
their involvement in the definition / construction of a school with a better musical education. To collect the students’ opinions, they were asked for a small literary composition on the theme “The dream school they would like to have”,where they should try to answer the question. “How would the music classes at that school be?” The 2 464 proposals were grouped into 4 categories. 1. “Forgotten spaces”; 2. “Learning / Knowing”; 3. “Emotional strength” and 4. “Flexible contexts”. In terms of results, issues related to content and how to learn received 39% of the proposals; The material, technological resources and the time of the disciplines and intervals 29% of the proposals; School spaces, sports and outdoor spaces received 25% of the proposals; Emotional issues received 7% of the proposals. We conclude that, in addition to the proposals being pertinent and many of them applicable, it is very important to listen to students, in view of a more appealing and motivating school.