Musical and Pedagogical Training

The regularity of the offer of continuing training for teachers, through the teaching of intensive courses and workshops, has contributed to the development of professionals in music education. The geographic diversity of training responds to the needs of various regions of the country, where the offer has been reduced. The high number of participants and the commitment they have shown in their teaching practice indicate the interest that this training has aroused and its positive impact on music teaching.

  • Courses of Music Pedagogy, taught by Jos Wuytack for specialist music teachers, music educators, music students and other professionals, with an average number of 80 participants per course, have taken place in the following 21 cities: Porto and Lisboa (every year), Albufeira, Amadora, Anadia, Aveiro, Beja, Braga, Bragança, Coimbra, Faro, Fundão, Gavião, Guarda, Lagoa, Leiria, Ponta Delgada, Ponte de Sor, Portimão, Valença and Vila Nova da Baronia. (See Courses in Portugal).)
  • Books, elaborated by Graça Boal Palheiros, containing all the songs, instrumental pieces, dances and other activities, pedagogical principles and methodologies, presented in those courses, have been offered to all participants.
  • Courses and Music workshops, taught by Graça Boal Palheiros, for music teachers and educators, primary and pre-school teachers, with an average number of 30 participants per course, have been carried out in the following 32 places: Alcobaça, Aveiro, Beja, Barcelos, Braga, Chaves, Castelo Branco, Esposende, Estarreja, Évora, Faro, Fundão, Gavião, Leiria, Lisboa, Loures, Lousada, Maia, Montemor-o-Novo, Paredes, Pedrógão Grande, Portimão, São João da Madeira, Salreu, Torres Novas, Torres Vedras, Trofa, Valença, Vila do Conde, Vila Nova da Baronia, Vila Nova de Gaia e Vila Real.
  • Courses taught by Beatriz Ilari (University of Southern California, US) and by Ilza Zenker Joly (University of São Carlos, Brazil), for music and primary school teachers, and educators, with an average number of 30 participants per course.

Editorial Project

The publication of didactic resources in the Portuguese language contributes to support teaching of music education. The audio recordings have been an important resource for teaching songs to children, assisting pre-school and primary school teachers, who often have difficulties, as well as regarding that music instruments are not always available in schools.

The content of the training courses as well as the musical resources published focus on multicultural perspectives of musical knowledge. These perspectives are reflected in the dissemination of traditional music from other cultures in Portugal (e.g., songs adapted to Portuguese), and in spreading the Portuguese musical heritage across borders. For example, both classical and traditional Portuguese music is included in publications in the Spanish language, as well as presented at international meetings of music education.

In spite of the financial difficulties and the limited possibilities of distribution, the publications of the AWPM have had great success amongst music teachers, both in Portugal and abroad. This is indeed encouraging to continue our editorial project, which consists of twenty publications up to the present date (see PUBLICATIONS).

Musical and Cultural Activities

The AWPM owns a set of Orff instruments donated by Jos Wuytack. Part of this ensemble is a gift from the Orff Foundation in Munich, which he gained on the same occasion when he received the Pro Merito Award.

The promotion of concerts for children, by vocal and instrumental groups in different places, allows the exchange of musical and social experiences and it encourages children and young people to start or continue their musical learning.

Recordings of the CD’s increase the motivation of the young performers, and represent more opportunities for the development of their musical practice. The AWPM publications have also encouraged editorial activities of other associations, as well as the presentation of concerts in educational centres, in which teachers, students and their families are involved. Such activities are a source of cultural enrichment for the educational and social communities, and an incentive for the promotion of similar initiatives by local entities.

  • Concerts were performed by music students in schools and kindergarten, with pieces for voices, recorders, percussion, and Orff instruments. These performances were especially dedicated to children and their teachers
  • Homage concerts to Jos Wuytack, celebrating 25 years of Courses of Music Pedagogy in Portugal, were performed in September 1997, with works by the composer for choir, recorders, piano, and Orff instruments. These concerts took place in the Eng. António de Almeida Foundation in Porto and in the Trindade Theatre in Lisbon, and were performed by three groups: the Children’s choir of Carcavelos directed by Pedro Fragoso, the choir of the secondary school D. Pedro V directed by João Chaves, and the Orff Orchestra of Porto directed by Rui Ferreira and José Prata.
  • Participation in the concert of the music school Fundação Musical dos Amigos das Crianças (Musical Foundation of the Children’s Friends) for the launching of the CD “Portuguese Traditional Songs” with harmonisations by Jos Wuytack, in June 1999, in the Grand Auditorium of Culturgest in Lisbon. In the same location the AWPM organized the exhibition “Illustrations for the book Portuguese Traditional Songs” by Acácio de Carvalho.
  • Organization of the concert “Cantar o Natal / Cantar la Navidad” for the launching of the book by Jos Wuytack, with international Christmas Carols and a Christmas Cantata. This concert was performed at the Eng. António de Almeida Foundation in Porto by the Children’s choir and the Orff orchestra of the Musical Cultural Centre of Caldas da Saúde, directed by Eduardo Rocha, in December 2000.
  • Participation in the Christmas concerts of the music school Fundação Musical dos Amigos das Crianças (FMAC), for the launching of the CD “Cantar o Natal” by Jos Wuytack. These concerts were performed in the Cultural Centre of Belém and in the Auditorium of the Geographic Society in Lisbon, by the Youth choir, Chamber choir and Orchestra of the FMAC, directed by Leonardo de Barros, in December 2002.