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Welcome to my blog nr.1 

TOPIC: Sense of Belonging

What inspired me to embark on this doctoral journey? Many occurrences, but one moment really lit the spark. Some years ago I was on a business trip to Bergen, Norway. We visited the Academy of Art and Design and were given a presentation by Fargespill, a local cultural school with participants from diverse backgrounds and origins. The leader, Ole Hamre, talked about the learning methods and activities, and we enjoyed a music performance by a teenage vocal ensemble. I noticed how at ease, self-secure, and relaxed this diverse group of young people appeared in music-making. They owned the situation. They belonged. Afterward, I asked Mr. Hamre what kind of positive changes he had observed during the many years of working at Fargespill. One of the comments resonated with me. Many of the Fargespill participants felt that they were no longer only immigrants - they were artists! Doing something inspiring in a group that accepts you just as you are greatly affected self-efficacy, an individual's belief in their capacities (Bandura,1997).

What does it mean to belong? We all can remember moments when we felt like outsiders or were insiders looking at someone who was not accepted into the group. I started an Instagram microblog posting about the Sense of Belonging. First time playing with Canva - not so easy, not so difficult :)  





Recently, I took an online class at the OBI (Othering & Belonging Institute, Berkeley). They have excellent, compact classes explaining othering and belonging in our societies and what we could do to improve things. I highly recommend these lectures. https://obiu.org/ 


Can we create a space in music education where participants can co-create and feel they have agency (sense of control and capacity to influence)?  A space where everyone is cared for and has collective responsibility. 

What do you think? Let's discuss it!

Photo: Ulla Nikula


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