.png){kind=small}
Research & development projects
Dr. Siljamäki believes the arts can be the transformational momentum for socially sustainable futures.
Siljamäki is currently the lead-PI of a research and development project which explores how the social learning environment can be developed through an improvisation pedagogical approach . Prior to this she has worked e.g. as a post doctoral researcher at the Uniarts Helsinki in two transnational research and development projects (Artwork and Fast45) that explore the future of the art profession and the expanding professionalism of artists.
Her interests include the interface between art and well-being, improvisation in all forms, collaborative learning, collaboration, group work, interaction, multiprofessional collaboration, socially engaged art, societal value and meaning of the arts, learning environments, creative methods, applied improvisation, art-based methods and facilitating and enabling change.
You can find examples of past and current research projects and results on this page.
Improvisation as transformational momentum
for equity and safety in school communities
The project explores the potential of improvisation as transformational momentum in the school community. The project is motivated by concerns about the growing malaise in school communities and the realisation of equity. Siljamäki as the lead-Pi works collaboratively with two music teachers as they develop their own professional work during the academic year 2023-2024.
The project is supported by the Kone Foundation in 2023-2026.
Project webpage here
Social media: @improvisaatio.muutosvoimana
Publications:
Siljamäki, E. (2023). Sosiaalista kestävyyttä improvisaatiopedagogiikkaa soveltaen [Improvisation pedagogy for social sustainability]. In H. Partti & M-L. Juntunen (eds.) Musiikkikasvattaja muutoksessa [The changing music educator]. DocMus publications, 423-428.
Socially engaged art curriculum for training artists
Results from the project artwork 2021-2023
The artwork project aimed to train artists for socially engaged arts (SEA) practice, which aims to influence and instigate social change through art or artistic processes.
Collaboratively with Dr Kai Lehikoinen, Siljamäki developed a curriculum for training artists into SEA practice and an introductory online course to the practice: "Introduction to socially engaged arts practice". All the results can now be found in the projects' free online platform (see below), including a research-based curriculum for training artists into SEA.
The Artwork project (2021-2023) was implemented in partnership between five European countries with Erasmus+ funding.
Free Moodle resources for Socially engaged arts (SEA) practice:
https://moodle.uni-t.org/course/view.php?id=74
Publications:
Lehikoinen, K. & Siljamäki, E. (Forthcoming). Socially Engaged Arts (SEA) Practices: Key Skills and Capabilities. Research in Arts Education.
Art for resilience and flexibility in working life
A service concept designed to develop flexibility and resilience in working communities.
See the Artsmend service model (2021) (only in Finnish).
A socio-ecological perspective on improvisation in music education
Article based PhD
In her PhD (2021), Siljamäki brought together two diverse cases of choral singing and improvisation, with herself as an insider in both. In the published book she synthesizes the research results and advocates for the role of improvisation pedagogy and safe learning environments in art and well-being. You can read and upload the book (Pdf) "Plural possibilities of improvisation in music education: an ecological perspective on choral improvisation and wellbeing" here.
Publications:
Siljamäki, E. (2021). Plural possibilities of improvisation in music education: an ecological perspective on choral improvisation and wellbeing. Doctoral dissertation, University of the Arts Helsinki. Studia musica 86. http://urn.fi/URN:ISBN:978-952-329-241-3
Siljamäki, E. (2021). Plural possibilities of improvisation in music education: An ecological perspective on choral improvisation and wellbeing. Lectio praecursoria. Finnish Journal of Music Education, 24(2), 152-157.
Siljamäki, E. (2021). Free improvisation in choral settings: An ecological perspective. Research Studies in Music Education, 44(1), 234–256. https://doi.org/10.1177/1321103X20985314
Siljamäki, E. (2021). Improvisaatio moninaisuus musiikkikasvatuksessa - katsaus tutkimukseen ja tulevaisuuteen [Plurality of improvisation in music education - review of research and the future]. Musiikkikasvatus, 24(1), 90-99.
Siljamäki, E. & Kanellopoulos, P. A. (2020). Mapping visions of improvisation pedagogy in music education research. Research Studies in Music Education, 42(1), 113–139. https://doi.org/10.1177/1321103X19843003
Choral singing and improvisation for social anxiety
Collaboration with the university health services.
Siljamäki developed a new kind of choral activity in a multidisciplinary collaboration with psychologist Ninni Rehnberg (YTHS) and physiotherapist Päivi Hamari (YTHS), combining improvisation and singing with social anxiety management and peer support. Siljamäki was also part of the research team that examined this project, which was carried out in collaboration between the Student Health Foundation (YTHS) and the Sibelius Academy of the University of the Arts Helsinki
Publications:
Jansson, S.-M., Westerlund, H. & Siljamäki, E. (2016). Taide sosiaalisena oppimismuotona – opiskelijoiden kokemuksia jännittämisestä [Art as a form of social learning - students experiences of social anxiety]. Aikuiskasvatus 36(1), 37-49. https://journal.fi/aikuiskasvatus/article/view/88473/47650
Siljamäki, E. (2021). Plural possibilities of improvisation in music education: an ecological perspective on choral improvisation and wellbeing. Doctoral dissertation, University of the Arts Helsinki. Studia musica 86. http://urn.fi/URN:ISBN:978-952-329-241-3
