Ellen Urho’s Vision : Reforming Music Teacher Education in Finland and Shaping Global Music Education through ISME

Abstract

In this paper, I will discuss the renewal of the music teacher education programme at the Sibelius Academy in the 1970s, focusing on the changes and developments driven by Professor Ellen Urho (1920–2018). My primary source is a book describing Urho’s professional life, based on interviews conducted with her in 2008 (Juntunen 2013). I will start with a short view of the history of music teacher qualifications and education in Finland, and end with a description of Urho’s role in the International Society for Music Education (ISME).