About the project

MELODY is a European project that aims to empower children to become active, engaged citizens by using music as a powerful tool for learning and civic education. In response to a growing disconnection from democratic values across the EU, MELODY promotes early awareness of diversity, respect, and participation through an innovative educational approach.

At its heart, MELODY believes that citizenship education should begin early. By working directly with children aged 6 to 14—and indirectly reaching their families and communities—the project sows the seeds for a more active and inclusive future generation.

Objectives

MELODY’s main goal is to enhance children’s participation in democratic life and their understanding of common European values through a new music-based learning methodology. It aims to:
- Encourage active engagement in society, starting from a young age
- Foster appreciation for diversity and shared EU values
- Strengthen transversal skills such as critical thinking, social, civic, and intercultural competences

Activities

Learning Melody

An international team of experts will co-create the MELODY methodology by sharing experiences and insights. Led by a Scientific Coordinator and drawing on best practices, the MELODY team will develop a comprehensive Toolkit—a practical resource for educators.

Playing Melody

The new methodology will be piloted in selected schools across partner countries. Educators will receive training and support to implement the approach, while the MELODY team gathers feedback to refine the Toolkit. Pilot experiences will be documented and included as best practices.

Spreading Melody

Results will be shared through an international event in Romania and local dissemination events in each partner country. These will include workshops to demonstrate the methodology and inspire broader adoption—even beyond music, into other art forms.

Target
Groups

Primary: Teachers and educators, who will be trained to use the MELODY methodology
Secondary: School pupils aged 6–14, along with their families and local communities

Project Duration

24 Months – From the 13th of December 2023 to 12th of December 2025.

The project partnership is composed as follows:
The Municipality of Macerata, located in Central Italy with around 40,000 residents, is known for its rich cultural scene, especially the Macerata Opera Festival, held at the historic open-air Sferisterio Arena.
The Municipality oversees local primary and secondary education, managing school projects and ensuring alignment with national policies for children aged 0–14. In the music sector, Macerata has a strong collaboration with AsLiCo (Associazione Lirica e Concertistica Italiana), an organization that promotes opera and supports young European opera talents. Since 2018, AsLiCo has introduced its Opera Education program in Macerata's schools, equipping teachers with tools to engage students with opera and classical music. AsLiCo also serves as technical support for the Municipality in the MELODY Project.
Link al sito: https://www.comune.macerata.it/

Roter Baum Berlin is a non-governmental organization (NGO) that has been active in youth work for 30 years.
Founded in 2011, Roter Baum Berlin UG is a branch of “Roter Baum” e.V., an organization established in 1993. Roter Baum Berlin oversees all the projects of the “Roter Baum” network in the city of Berlin, primarily in the Marzahn-Hellersdorf district.
The primary goal of Roter Baum Berlin is to support younger generations in the community by offering projects that directly engage them and provide them with the tools to break free from their socio-economic circumstances, as well as from the stereotypes and prejudices that affect them from an early age.
CURBA DE CULTURA˘ (Izvoarele, Romania)
Link al sito: https://roter-baum.de/ab-berlin

Curba de Cultură is a NGO committed to non-formal learning, culture and participation opportunities. The aim of Curba de Cultura˘ is to improve education levels and community engagement for the young people living in rural environments in Romania, revitalizing it by the engagement of youth. Curba de Cultura˘ focuses on teenage and youth development, using non-formal education as a complementary method to the formal educational system for young people.
Link al sito: https://evs.curbadecultura.ro/