Music Schools : In Search of Equity

Abstract

In this Symposium, my contribution explores the historical narratives of Finnish “out of school” music education, specifically, the basic arts education in music provided by music schools, from a legal-philosophical perspective. Despite Finland’s small population of approximately 5.6 million inhabitants (Statistics Finland 2024), the nation has produced a significant number of globally renowned musicians. This achievement is attributed to the country’s systematic “out of school” music education, which is supported by government funding. I will delve into the primary mechanisms employed by the state to support music education provided by music schools, tracing back to the late 1960s when the first Act (147/68) on state support for music schools was enacted, up to the present day.