On March 14–15, 2024, Macerata hosted the first study visit of the MELODY project – Music Education for Learning Opportunities and Development of Youngsters. Co-funded by the European Union through Erasmus+, the project aims to create an innovative educational methodology that uses music to foster children’s active participation in democratic life, deepen their understanding of European values, and strengthen their involvement in local communities.
The two-day visit brought together representatives from the project’s international partnership: the Municipality of Macerata (project lead), Roter Baum Berlin (Germany), and Curba de Cultura (Romania).
Experts from ASLICO, known for their “Opera Domani” educational program, also joined the visit to share their insights and best practices.
The visit opened with a Steering Committee session, a key moment for technical coordination and project management. The following sessions focused on sharing good practices in music education, civic education, and children’s participation—core themes of the MELODY methodology.
This visit played a central role in the project’s development. It marked the beginning of a collaborative process aimed at combining the experience of each partner into an interdisciplinary methodology that blends music and civic education. This methodology will soon be tested in pilot schools across partner countries.
On the final day, participants attended a live implementation of a local best practice: a training session led by Maestro Fabio Sartorelli for primary and lower secondary school teachers, introducing the opera Turandot as part of the “Opera Domani” project. This initiative, implemented in Macerata through a collaboration between ASLICO and the Arena Sferisterio Association, offered a powerful example of how music and opera can inspire civic engagement and creative learning.
Next steps for MELODY include online follow-up meetings to deepen the shared practices and refine the new methodology. The pilot testing phase in schools is scheduled for the 2024/2025 academic year.
The harmony between partners is strong—and with each note, we’re getting closer to transforming education through music!
