Summer School

Creativity Sounds – Intensive Week in Finnish Music Pedagogy

Experience a one-week deep dive into the core strengths of Finnish music pedagogy at the Finnish Music Campus in Jyväskylä! The programme is delivered by experienced pedagogues and active performers, and it is designed for classical instrumental and vocal teachers, ensemble leaders, and advanced music pedagogy students. In addition to high-quality academic content, the programme offers a distinctive Finnish learning experience through thoughtfully integrated nature and cultural elements of Central Finland, supporting reflection, well-being, and professional exchange.

Field of study

Culture

Duration

24.05.2027 - 27.05.2027

Price

850€

Finnish Music Pedagogy – Integrative Approaches for Contemporary Music Education

Finnish music pedagogy is internationally recognised for its high educational quality, learner centred philosophy, and strong integration of pedagogy and practical musicianship. As learning environments evolve and learner diversity increases, music educators are challenged to continuously refine their pedagogical expertise, teaching practices, and interaction skills. This intensive training programme deepens professional competence through the core strengths of Finnish music pedagogy by integrating positive pedagogy, instrumental and small-group pedagogy, and performance coaching into a coherent, practice-oriented framework. The programme is delivered by experienced pedagogues and active performers. In addition to academic content, the programme offers a distinctive Finnish learning experience through thoughtfully integrated nature and cultural elements of Central Finland, supporting reflection, well-being, and professional exchange.

Learning objectives and target group

After completing the programme, participants will be able to:

understand the key principles of Finnish music pedagogy and apply them in diverse educational contexts
utilise methods of positive pedagogy to support learner motivation, engagement, and learning
apply practical approaches in instrumental teaching and small-group pedagogy
guide performance coaching processes and support learners in varied performance situations
build international professional networks and exchange pedagogical expertise with peers and specialists

This programme is designed for classical instrumental and vocal teachers, as well as small-group and ensemble teachers, working in music schools, conservatoires, or higher education. It also suits advanced pedagogy students who already teach or are about to begin teaching.

Content and preliminary schedule

The programme covers an introduction to Finnish music pedagogy, key approaches in instrumental and performance teaching, and an orientation to Finnish culture. Jamk University of Applied Sciences reserves the right to make changes to the preliminary schedule. Visits and cultural activities will be confirmed later.

Monday May 24 – WELCOME!

- Introduction to the programme
- Key lectures: Positive pedagogue, Finnish instrumental pedagogue
- Finnish Music Campus tour
- Teachers’ opening concert

Tuesday May 25 – Instrumental Pedagogue

- Key lectures: Piano and vocal pedagogue
- Teaching demonstrations and reflection
- Optional cultural walk in Jyväskylä

Wednesday May 26 – Small-group Pedagogue

- Key lectures: Chamber music, lied and interaction
- Improvisation based teaching approaches
- Teaching demonstrations and discussion

Thursday May 27 – Performance Coaching

- Key lecture: Embodied attunement in performance
- Group work and reflection
- Closing session
- Guided nature excursion to Ladun Maja (Trail Lodge): outdoor social gathering with food and optional sauna and swimming

The programme takes place at Jamk University of Applied Sciences, Finnish Music Campus, address Pitkäkatu 18–22, 40700 Jyväskylä. https://www.jamk.fi/en/contacts/finnish-music-campus

Cost

EUR 850 per student (including VAT), minimum 15 students up to 25 students in total. Final fee confirmed closer to the programme.

The cost includes programme design and implementation, administration, tutoring, cultural visits, social activities, and transportation for activities according to the programme.

The cost does not cover expenses concerning visa, international travel, accommodation, meals, or local transportation in Finland for any activities outside the programme.

How to get to Jyväskylä

Jyväskylä is located in Central Finland, approximately 3,5 hours from the Helsinki airport by train or bus. The cheapest and easiest option is to purchase a bus ticket online well in advance. https://visitjyvaskyla.fi/en/arriving/

Accommodation

Here are some affordable accommodation options near the Jyväskylä city centre.

Hotels

Hotelli Milton (Jamk contract prices by email or phone, mention Jamk University of Applied Sciences)
Hannikaisenkatu 29, 40100 Jyväskylä
tel. +358 14 337 7900
info@hotellimilton.com
https://hotellimilton.com/en/etusivu-english/

Greenstar hotel
Heikinkatu 3, 40100 Jyväskylä
tel. +358 10 423 9391
jyvaskyla@greenstar.fi
www.greenstar.fi/en/hotels/jyvaskyla/

Hostels

Time Hostel & Apartments Finland Ltd.
Vaasankatu 29, 40100 Jyväskylä
tel. +358 50 349 7070
info@timehostel.fi
www.timehostel.fi

Forenom Hostel Jyväskylä
Kauppakatu 20, 40100 Jyväskylä
tel. +358 20 198 3420
info@forenom.fi
https://www.forenom.com/hostels/jyvaskyla/

Furnished apartments:

Forenom Aparthotel Jyväskylä (a mix between hotel and apartment)
Kilpisenkatu 8, 40100 Jyväskylä
tel. +358 20 198 3420
info@forenom.fi
https://www.forenom.com/aparthotels/jyvaskyla/

Soihtu Stay (for an authentic student experience in the student village)
Taitoniekantie 9, 40740 Jyväskylä tel.
+358 50 348 0492
stay@soihtu.fi
https://soihtu.fi/en/stay/

Forenom Serviced Apartments
tel. +358 20 198 3420
info@forenom.fi
https://www.forenom.com/furnished-apartments/jyvaskyla/

Rent Apartment Finland
Kalanterimiehentie 15, 40250 Jyväskylä
tel. +358 50 447 3003
info@rentapartment.fi
https://rentapartment.fi/

Kotimaailma
Kauppakatu 12, 40100 Jyväskylä
tel. +358 50 377 6312
jyvaskyla@kotimaailma.com
http://www.kotimaailma.com

Airbnb (individuals renting rooms or apartments)
https://www.airbnb.com/jyvaskyla-finland/stays

Meals, shops, and public transportation in Jyväskylä

Lunch on Jamk Lutakko campus restaurant costs around 8,5 euros. Meals in local restaurants are typically 12–15 euros. Breakfast (< 5 euros) is also served in the campus restaurant. Participants can also enjoy meals at the Finnish Music Campus restaurant, and at the various dining facilities located on the adjacent Seminaarinmäki campus area. If you want to cook your own meals, you can find convenience stores such as S-market, K-market, and Lidl all around the city centre and in other residential areas. For shopping in your free time, you can stay in the city centre or take a bus or scooter to nearby shopping centres such as Seppä.

Pre-register

To pre-register and express your interest in the programme, visit the following link or scan the QR code and leave your contact information.

Pre-register in the programme Download the Music Summer Campus PDF Brochure

Lecturers

You can find this week’s teacher introductions below.

Tuomas Niininen

Tuomas Niininen works as a Senior Lecturer at Jamk. His responsibilities include teaching classical piano and supervising piano pedagogy. In addition to teaching, his work includes accompaniment coaching and chamber music guidance.

He has performed as a soloist and chamber musician in Finland and Central Europe. Alongside his work as a pianist, he is active as a composer, with output focusing on piano and chamber music. In February 2026, he premiered his own piano work Abstrakteja liekkejä ja taivaita at Hannikaissali as part of the Suomalainen musiikkikampus Chamber Music Week.

He holds a Master of Music degree from Sibelius Academy, and he has also studied piano at the Keski-Suomen Conservatory and the Conservatoire de Paris.

Kaisa Ranta

Kaisa Ranta is an active and versatile soprano with wide-ranging stage experience in opera, operetta, and musical theatre. Her professional repertoire spans lyric to coloratura roles. She performs extensively as a concert singer in lied (art song) and chamber music. She is also a sought-after soloist in sacred music performances and feels equally at home in contemporary music. Kaisa works as a Lecturer in classical singing and vocal pedagogy at Jamk.

She won the Lappeenranta Singing Competition in 2006 and was a semifinalist in the Mirjam Helin International Singing Competition in 2009. Kaisa made her debut at the Finnish National Opera and Ballet in 2006 and has since returned there regularly as a guest soloist. She has performed internationally and alongside her artistic work, she has served as the artistic director of the Muhoksen Musiikkipäivät music festival.

Kaisa studied at Oulu University of Applied Sciences and Turku University of Applied Sciences, and graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Music Pedagogy in 2004. She then completed a Master of Music degree in Opera Singing at the Sibelius Academy’s solistic department of the University of the Arts Helsinki in 2008. Currently she is finalizing her artistic doctorate at the Sibelius Academy’s DocMus Doctoral School, focusing on phenomena in the “in-between” space of performer and audience.

Eeva Oksala

Eeva Oksala is a violinist and Doctor of Music (DMus), and a versatile performer active as a soloist and chamber musician. She is a Senior Lecturer in violin performance and research studies at Jyväskylä University of Applied Sciences (Jamk).

She has performed widely at Finnish and international festivals. In 2018, she premiered Timo Alakotila’s Violin Concerto No. 4, Between Three Worlds, as soloist with the Police Band, and later appeared as soloist with other Nordic wind orchestras. In 2025, she also premiered Timo Hietala’s violin concerto, Polar Fire, as soloist with the Police Band; the performance was broadcast by the Finnish Broadcasting Company (Yle). Her artistic work also includes genre-crossing projects: she co-founded Finngips in 2004 and served as artistic director of Kangasala salon music (2012–2016).

Oksala studied at Tampere Conservatoire and later at Sibelius Academy of the University of the Arts Helsinki (2002–2008), where she studied with Professors Mi-Kyung Lee and Kaija Saarikettu. Her artistic doctorate was examined in 2018 at the Sibelius Academy of University of the Arts Helsinki; her research focused on musicianship, performance, and the factors shaping performer development, alongside an accompanying concert series.

Eliisa Suni

She works as an opera rehearsal pianist and coach with Savonlinna Opera Festival and Jyväskylä Opera. In 2019, she received the Central Finland Art Prize (Keski-Suomen taidepalkinto) in recognition of her nationally significant work as an accompanist and opera coach.

Originally from Pyhäjoki, she has pursued extensive studies in piano and accompaniment, including an MA in Musicology from the University of Jyväskylä and graduation from the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre, where she studied with Professor Ivari Ilja.