An unforgettable finale for the EDI project in Eskilstuna!

Already during the morning rehearsals, it was clear that this was a special day. A sense of anticipation filled the air among both pupils and teachers. In the foyer, children proudly shared who would be coming to watch: mums, dads, siblings, grandparents. For many, this was the first time ever performing on a large stage.

When the audience arrived after lunch, the auditorium quickly filled up. Programmes were handed out and the atmosphere was both warm and ceremonial. As the pupils entered the stage, they were met with applause – some waved enthusiastically to their loved ones, others smiled shyly. One parent later shared that she had never dared to imagine her child standing on stage, let alone performing in front of a full audience.
- That the pupils got to be artists, not just an audience – that was huge, says music teacher Carna.

A concert filled with courage, expression and joy

The concert clearly demonstrated how EDI methods enable participation on the pupils’ own terms. The pieces were based on visual supports the pupils use in everyday life and on scores developed from their own interests. The instrumentation combined digital tools, synthesisers, iPads, small percussion instruments and everyday objects transformed into sound sources.

- Their patience was incredible, Carna says. They got through the dress rehearsal, gathered their strength and then delivered an amazing performance.
Teacher Cattis describes the concert as a deeply moving experience:

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- There were so many goosebump moments. Seeing how involved everyone was, and how proud they felt – it was magical for both pupils and parents.

She also highlights how meaningful it was that several pupils who had previously been more hesitant dared to take space:
- Almost everyone came up on stage at the end. Standing in front of an audience is unfamiliar for many of our pupils, which made it even more powerful that they did it with such joy.

Parent Ylva noticed a clear change in her son over the course of the autumn:

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- He’s become braver, more confident. Daring to take space – that really matters. I truly believe this builds self-esteem.

The concert ended with all pupils gathering on stage to sing “Musiken är slut för idag” (“The music is over for today”). Many also noted the impact on pupils who had not participated directly in the project. Carna describes one pupil sitting high up in the stands, dancing, clapping and beaming with joy:
- That’s wonderful too – that the pupil could take part in their own way and simply long to be up there one day.

Behind the concert was a strong collaborative effort between ShareMusic and the schools’ teachers and support staff. Both Carna and Cattis describe the collaboration as one of the project’s greatest strengths.
- We really were a team,” says Carna. Starting with a joint professional development day for all teachers and assistants made the collaboration easy and inspiring.

She continues:
- After the concert, we were filled with gratitude and emotion. Seeing the pupils’ pride and being part of that is something we’ll carry with us for a long time.

The concert at Scenkonst Sörmland thus became not only a conclusion, but a powerful testament to what EDI methods can make possible: more ways to express oneself, more pathways into music, and more moments where pupils feel that their voices, their sounds and their music truly matter.

More material is coming soon

In the near future, we will publish additional articles, interviews, images and film clips from both the project and the concert on our website, offering deeper insight into the work, the pupils’ processes and the creative solutions developed throughout the autumn.

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