IJCM Conversations

In this conversation, Dr. Gillian Howell discusses her extensive work in community music, focusing on its impact on social justice, peace building, and the well-being of communities. She shares her journey from her early involvement in community music to her research on music's role in supporting refugee children and her experiences in conflict-affected areas like East Timor. Gillian reflects on the importance of critical self-reflection in her practice and the evolving nature of her research, particularly in the context of music as a tool for dialogue and conflict resolution.

Our guest: Gillian Howell is a musician, researcher, and educator working at the intersection of participatory arts, education, and social development. With over 20 years of experience, she has used music to connect communities around the world, from remote Indigenous communities to classrooms, refugee settings, and post-war regions. Her work combines performance, facilitation, composition, and community engagement, while her research explores how music can contribute to social and cultural change. Dr. Gillian Howell is a Senior Research Fellow at the Faculty of Fine Arts and Music at the University of Melbourne.

Take a look at Gillian Howell’s articles in the IJCM here

More information about the International Journal of Community Music

This podcast series is hosted by Alicia de Banffy-Hall and Roger Mantie and produced by Laurie Hall. 

In this episode of the Community Music Learning IJCM Conversation Series, hosts Alicia de Bánffy-Hall and Roger Mantie engage with Deanna Yerichuk, Associate Professor at Wilfrid Laurier University, to explore the transformative power of community music. Deanna shares her journey from a community-focused upbringing to her current role in music education and research, highlighting the importance of participatory music in fostering social change. The discussion delves into the historical roots of community music, its role in cultural integration, and the complexities of inclusivity within the field.

Our guest: "Deanna Yerichuk has dedicated her academic and music career to community-engaged social change. Through her Ph.D. in Music Education (University of Toronto), she investigated the emergence of Canada’s community music schools in the early twentieth century, and is currently working on a monograph. At Wilfrid Laurier University since 2017, Dr. Yerichuk also investigates contemporary issues of inclusion and justice in cross-cultural collaborations through music, leading several projects funded by Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council Canada. She has earned several awards, including the SOCAN Foundation Award for Writings on Canadian Music, and the Early Career Researcher Award (Wilfrid Laurier University). As an Associate Professor, Dr. Yerichuk coordinates the Community Music BMus and MA programs at Wilfrid Laurier University in Canada, and directs the research centre Laurier Centre for Music in the Community." - https://yerichuk.com/about

Take a look at Deanna Yerichuk's article "From inclusion to inclusivity: A scoping review of community music scholarship" in the IJCM here:
https://intellectdiscover.com/content...

More information about the International Journal of Community Music:
https://intellectdiscover.com/content...

This podcast series is hosted by Alicia de Banffy-Hall and Roger Mantie and produced by Laurie Hall.  

In this episode of the Community Music Learning IJCM Conversation Series, Roger Mantie speaks with Professor Kari Veblen, a prominent figure in community music. They discuss Kari's early musical experiences, her significant contributions to community music scholarship, and her ongoing projects in the field. Kari shares insights from her career, including her influential writings and the impact of community music on various settings. The conversation highlights the importance of community engagement in music and the joy of lifelong learning through music-making.

Our guest: 

Kari K. Veblen is Professor Emerita of Music Education at Western University, where she taught courses in music education, children's music, and qualitative research. She also served in leadership roles in graduate studies and research. Her four-decade career includes work as a school music teacher, community musician, curriculum consultant, and academic in the U.S., Canada, and Ireland.

She is co-founder and associate editor of the International Journal of Community Music and has presented over 275 papers and workshops internationally. Her research focuses on community music networks, music learning across the lifespan, Irish/Celtic traditions, and vernacular genres. She has published widely, and her recent work includes The Oxford Handbook of Social Media and Music Learning and a study on Canadian Scottish pipe bands as convergent communities of practice.

Take a look at Kari Veblen’s articles in the IJCM:

https://intellectdiscover.com/search?value1=Kari+Veblen&option1=author&noRedirect=true&sortField=prism_publicationDate&sortDescending=true

More information about the International Journal of Community Music:

https://intellectdiscover.com/content/journals/ijcm

This podcast series is hosted by Alicia de Bánffy-Hall and Roger Mantie and produced by  ‪Laurie Hall

In this conversation, Alicia de Banffy-Hall talks to Brit Ågot Brøske and Kim Boeskov. They discuss their experiences and insights into community music and explore their personal journeys into the field, the impact of community music projects in various countries, and the current state of community music in Denmark and Norway. The discussion highlights the importance of inclusion, access to music education, and the evolving terminology surrounding community music. Both guests reflect on the positive developments in the field and the ongoing challenges that need to be addressed to ensure broader participation in music activities. This conversation delves into the evolving landscape of community music in the Nordic countries, focusing on terminology, the impact of a special issue on community music, and the ongoing discourse surrounding inclusion and diversity in music education. The speakers discuss various articles of the special issue that highlight different perspectives and challenges within community music practices, emphasizing the need for critical reflection and adaptation in response to societal changes.

Our guests:

Brit Ågot Brøske is a senior lecturer in music education at the Norwegian Academy of Music in Oslo, teaching at both undergraduate and graduate levels. Her research focuses on intercultural music education, community music, teacher training, and practicum experiences for music students. She has worked on music projects in South Lebanon, Georgia, India, and South Africa. As project leader for the India-Norway initiative Education IN Music, she played a key role in curriculum development, student and staff exchanges, and establishing a bachelor’s degree and teacher training in music in India. Her Ph.D. project, Music for All, explores collaborative approaches to music education in Indian schools.

Kim Boeskov is an Associate Professor at the Rhythmic Music Conservatory in Copenhagen, with a PhD from the Norwegian Academy of Music. His research focuses on community music and how musical participation shapes identity, belonging, and agency—particularly among marginalized youth. His work includes ethnographic studies in Palestinian refugee camps and explores both the transformative and complex social roles of music.

Take a look at the special issue dedicated to community music in nordic countries in the IJCM here: https://intellectdiscover.com/content/journals/ijcm/10/1

More information about the International Journal of Community Music:
https://intellectdiscover.com/content/journals/ijcm

This podcast series is hosted by Alicia de Bánffy-Hall and Roger Mantie and produced by  ‪‪Laurie Hall. 

In this episode of the IJCM Conversations series, Roger Mantie speaks with Dave Camlin, a lecturer in music education, about his journey into community music, the importance of dialogue in music pedagogy, and the role of sustainability in music making. They discuss the recent special issue on sustainability that Dave guest edited, highlighting diverse contributions from around the world. The conversation also touches on the professionalization of community music and its implications for the field.

Our guest: Dave Camlin is a multi-faceted musician, educator, and researcher based in Cumbria, UK, whose work explores music as a tool for building community and sustainable living. He performs as a singer/songwriter and with groups like vocal quartet Mouthful and The Coast Road collective, while also serving as a Lecturer in Music Education at the Royal College of Music and Trinity-Laban Conservatoire. His research focuses on group singing, music and wellbeing, and community music practice, and he actively leads community choirs and music projects throughout his region.

Take a look at Dave Camlin's article "Music Making and Sustainable Futures" in the IJCM here: https://intellectdiscover.com/content/journals/ijcm/17/3

More information about the International Journal of Community Music:
https://intellectdiscover.com/content/journals/ijcm

In this conversation with Alicia de Bánffy-Hall, Kathleen Turner shares her journey into community music, highlighting the profound impact of her early experiences in choirs, particularly the Omagh Community Youth Choir in Northern Ireland. She discusses her academic exploration of autoethnography and narrative inquiry, emphasizing the importance of personal experience in research. Kathleen reflects on her PhD journey, the shift in her research focus towards the role of community musicians, and the significance of agency in community music. She also addresses the challenges and innovations in teaching during the COVID-19 pandemic, illustrating the resilience and creativity of community music practices.

Our guest: Dr Kathleen Turner is a singer songwriter, community musician and arts practice researcher at the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance, with a specific interest in autoethnography and narrative inquiry. She teaches on a number of programmes including MA Songwriting and BA Performing Arts. Kathleen Turner is also a member of the editorial board for the International Journal of Community Music.

Take a look at Kathleen Turner's article "The grief and the possibility: An autoethnographic reflection on teaching community music at third level during COVID-19" in the IJCM here:
https://intellectdiscover.com/content/journals/10.1386/ijcm_00076_1

More information about the International Journal of Community Music:
https://intellectdiscover.com/content/journals/ijcm

This podcast series is hosted by Alicia de Banffy-Hall and Roger Mantie and produced by  ‪Laurie Hall. 

In this special episode of the IJCM Conversation Series, hosts Alicia and Roger reflect on the highlights of Season One, sharing personal journeys into community music, current research projects, and memorable moments from their guests. They discuss the evolving terminology and impact of community music, challenges of working in multiple languages and how they feel now after completing season one and hearing their guests stories. 

Our hosts:

Alicia de Bánffy-Hall is a professor for music in social work/ community music at the University of Applied Sciences in Düsseldorf, Germany and editorial board member of the IJCM, co-founder of the Community Music Netzwerk and Commissioner of the Community Music Activity Commission. https://aliciadebanffyhall.blogspot.com/

Roger Mantie is a professor in the Arts, Culture and Media department at University of Toronto Scarborough (Canada) and Senior Editor of the International Journal of Community Music.

https://www.utsc.utoronto.ca/acm/roge…

More information about the International Journal of Community Music: https://www.intellectbooks.com/international-journal-of-community-music

This podcast series is hosted by Alicia de Bánffy-Hall and Roger Mantie and produced by @LaurieHallLJH.

In this conversation, Antonella Coppi, Johann van der Sandt and Alicia de Bánffy-Hall discuss the special issue on Italy published in 2024. Antonella and Johann share how they got involved in community music, what challenges they have faced in introducing the concept of community music in Italy and the progress they have made in developing the field. They also talk about the articles published in the special issue on community music in Italy, which cover topics such as community opera, university choirs, and the cultural heritage of a community. The conversation concludes with a discussion on the future of community music in Italy.

Our guests:
Prof.Dr. Antonella Coppi is an Associate Professor of general and social pedagogy at IUL, Florence.  She has been an academic lecturer since 2003  and conductor of the university choir and orchestra of the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia.
Prof.Dr. Johann van der Sandt is a professor of music education and musicology at the Free University of Bolzano, Italy. His research focuses on choral conducting and music pedagogy.
More information about the International Journal of Community Music:
https://www.intellectbooks.com/international-journal-of-community-music

Take a look at the Special Issue on Community Music in Italy  in the IJCM here:
https://intellectdiscover.com/content/journals/ijcm/17/1 

This podcast series is hosted by Alicia de Bánffy-Hall and Roger Mantie and produced by Laurie Hall. 

In this conversation, Meg Elkins, Paul Watt and Alicia de Bánffy-Hall discuss the special issue on busking published in 2023. Meg and Paul share how they got interested in the topic of busking, and talk about its history and evolution. They highlight the role of buskers in a community and the strategies buskers use to engage the audience. The conversation explores the role of busking in creating a sense of space, excitement, and occasion. It discusses how buskers contribute to the cultural experience of tourists and how busking can also be a form of political expression. The conversation highlights the importance of community and the connections between buskers around the world. They conclude the  conversation by discussing the motivation behind the special issue and its main takeaways, including the importance of community, commodification, and the inclusion of buskers' perspectives.

Our guests:
Dr. Meg Elkins is a senior lecturer in economics at the school of Economics, Finance, and Marketing at RMIT University (Australia). Her research with buskers seeks to understand how new technologies can be used to help artists create more sustainable livelihoods.
Prof. Paul Watt is adjunct professor of musicology in the Elder Conservatorium of Music, The University of Adelaide and director of research at the Busking Project, Berlin, which is a non-profit organization that promotes  busking and street performance around the world.

More information about the International Journal of Community Music:
https://www.intellectbooks.com/international-journal-of-community-music

Take a look at the Special Issue on Busking in the IJCM here:
https://intellectdiscover.com/content/journals/ijcm/16/2?utm_campaign=shareaholic&utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=socialnetwork

This podcast series is hosted by Alicia de Bánffy-Hall and Roger Mantie and produced by Laurie Hall. 

In this conversation, Alicia de Bánffy-Hall and Roger Mantie discuss the special issue on community music in Germany published in 2016. Alicia explains that the special issue came about during a time where community music emerged in Germany as a distinct field. She highlights the contributions of the Munich Community Music Action Research Group in developing community music within Germany. Co-edited by Alicia, Burkhard Hill, and Theo Hartogh, the issue invited diverse contributions, covering topics like the development of community music in Germany, intersections with music therapy programs and socio-cultural work and the education of community musicians. Since the publication of the special issue, there have been significant developments in community music in Germany, including the establishment of the Community Music Netzwerk, the expansion of community music training programs, and the integration of community music in cultural institutions.

More information about the International Journal of Community Music:
https://www.intellectbooks.com/international-journal-of-community-music

Take a look at the Special Issue Germany in the IJCM here:
https://intellectdiscover.com/content/journals/ijcm/9/1 


This podcast series is hosted by Alicia de Bánffy-Hall and Roger Mantie and produced by Laurie Hall.