INTEGRATED MUSIC EDUCATION
SUPPORTED BY THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION
HEAD OF PEDAGOGICAL DIRECTION
Antonieta Ferreira
The Escola Profissional da Metropolitana was established in the 2008/2009 academic year, offering courses in string and keyboard instruments, as well as wind and percussion instruments, both of which are equivalent to Years 10, 11 and 12 of secondary education. After seventeen years of operation, it is already clear that this has been a resounding success.
The benefits of an integrated approach to music education, in which general education subjects are combined with subject-specific learning – in this case, individual instrument lessons and chamber and orchestral practice – are well known.
Training in a work-based setting, enhanced by the highly stimulating environment that characterises the Metropolitana organisation, under the motto ‘One Orchestra, Three Schools’, results in an integrated teaching model capable of educating young people and training musicians to embark on a professional career as instrumentalists whilst continuing their higher education.
Alongside their chamber music work, EPM students are members of the Metropolitana Classical Orchestra and the Metropolitana Wind Orchestra, as well as other ensembles, notably: the Metropolitana Percussion Group, the Saxophone Ensemble and the Metropolitana Big Band, putting together a season each year characterised by a diverse range of activities and repertoires.