Join the SiME Special Focus Group of the European Association of Music in Schools for an inspiring series of six online seminars throughout the 2025-2026 academic year, dedicated to advancing the practice of singing in music education. These seminars aim to bridge research and practice, providing a unique platform for educators, practitioners, and researchers to explore a wide range of topics related to singing. Engage with leading insights, connect with a community of professionals, and enrich your approach to music education through this curated series. Following each seminar, there will be an opportunity to stay on the call, reflect on the seminar contents, and connect with colleagues from around the world. We hope you can join us!
SEMINAR 2 in June:
Vocal Development Framework: Making Learning Processes Accessible
Monday, 8th June 13.00pm (GMT+1), 14.00pm (CEST)
Gabriel Imthurn & Vera Baumann, University of Applied Sciences and Arts, Northwestern Switzerland.
This seminar is for you if you are a music teacher, choir director, voice educator, student or interested in understanding vocal development through a holistic lens.
Singing is one of the most direct and accessible forms of musical expression – and yet many people experience insecurity, unequal starting conditions, or limited opportunities to develop their voice. How can singing be fostered in ways that acknowledge diverse biographies and contexts? How can teachers and choir leaders structure the complex process of vocal development in a way that is clear, practical, and motivating? The Framework Vocal Development (FVD) responds to this need. At its core, five domains are distinguished: Body, Sound, Articulation, Style, and Performance. Each domain describes skills that can be developed independently. The second circle depicts musical activities, such as singing alone or with others, or for an audience. Finally, the outmost circle focuses on the cultural embedding of singing. This approach enables people of all experience levels to participate in suitable vocal activities. A central application of the FVD is the creation of a personal map of singing, visualizing existing resources and potential areas for growth. Importantly, the framework does not imply a linear progression of competence but supports multiple entry points through the interplay of skills, attitudes, playful exploration and knowledge.
In this seminar, we will introduce the design and content of the model, explain its underlying structure, and illustrate how it can be applied in different contexts. We will share concrete use cases and insights from our work with students in teacher education, reflecting on both opportunities and challenges. Finally, participants are warmly invited to contribute their perspectives and experiences to the ongoing development of the framework.
Gabriel Imthurn is a professor of music education at the FHNW School of Teacher Education in north-western Switzerland. After studying Piano and School Music at the Zurich University of the Arts, he taught at secondary schools for over two decades. He completed his doctorate on the assessment of singing at the University of Music, Drama and Media in Hanover.
Vera Baumann holds a master’s degree in Music (voice and jazz performance at the
University of Applied Sciences and Arts Lucerne) as well as a master’s degree in secondary
education at the University of Teacher Education Lucerne. She is a voice teacher at the
FHNW School of Teacher Education in north-western Switzerland and has taught in
secondary schools for over ten years.
Further Seminars will take place in May and September 2026
SEMINAR 1: Monday, 11th May 2026, 13.00pm (GMT+1), 14.00pm (CEST)
Developing Resonance in Children’s Voices: Techniques and Approaches, Motje Wolf, De
Montfort University Leicester, UK
SEMINAR 3: Monday, 14th September 2026, 13.00pm (GMT+1), 14.00pm (CEST)
Opportunities for Music Educators using Collective Singing: Events and Free Online
Resources, Sonja Greiner, European Choral Association
More information about SiME is available here: https://eas-music.org/special-focus-groups/sime/
More information about the seminar and registration can be found here: https://tinyurl.com/SiMESeminars2026
