Music play groups

There are over 50 music play groups for 0–10 years old children taking place in different parts of the town every year. The main features of the groups:

• Family groups are for the youngest ones (0–2 years), last 45 minutes and the parent and the child attend the lesson together.
• 3–5 years old can attend play groups alone (45 or 60 minutes).
• 5–6 years old can participate in “kantele” instrument groups (60, 75 or 90 minutes), which include playing, singing and listening to music. Participants should have an own 5-string “kantele”.
• 7–10 years old can attend music training groups (75 minutes), which aim to stimulate interest in music. Emphasis is in doing in practise and include singing, moving, listening and playing – and getting familiar with different instruments.
• For 7–8 years old there are also ukulele lessons (45 or 60 minutes).
• 7–10 years old can attend also musical afternoon clubs (45 or 60 minutes) after the school. The clubs are organised at schools and they are open to all interested in music.

Full list of groups is available in Finnish: https://www.joensuu.fi/musiikkileikkikoulu/ryhmat

The list of fees (Lukukausimaksut) in Finnish: Lukukausimaksut - joensuu.fi (click Avaa dokumentti)

Music school for the young

About 500 people take annually part in music school education, and every year 60–70 new students are admitted. The application period is in the spring. The students are selected based on entrance exam. The suitable age when to start the music school varies individually and depends also on the instrument. There is the choice of ca. 20 instruments available.

Music school is a somewhat intensive hobby. In a typical week, there is a 30–60 minute music lesson with a teacher, lesson of music theory (from 10 years onwards) and orchestra training. In addition, regular training at home is required. The motivation of the student is an important prerequisite for a successful hobby experience. It is possible to borrow an instrument from the conservatory library with a fee depending on the instrument. Teachers can also supervise in obtaining an own instrument.

Some estimates of the earliest age when it is possible to start the education with a certain instrument are as follows (note the individual variation):

• at the age of five: classical guitar, violin, viola, cello, piano, accordion
• at the age of six: kantele
• at the age of seven: double bass, clarinet, saxophone, trumpet
• at the age of eight: flute, French horn, drums
• From 9–10 years onwards (sometimes depending on the size of the child, permanent teeth, etc.): oboe, bassoons, tube, electric guitar
• From 16 years onwards: singing

The music school fee includes music lesson, theory, and orchestral practise. Fee depends on the length of the weekly music lesson (30–90 minutes).

Open line: Flexible music studies for adults and the youth

Open line allows one to take music studies flexibly or follow the curriculum of the music school. Studies are planned according to the personal aims of a student. New students are taken every autumn. There is no entrance exam, the places are filled in the order of application. The number of places available varies annually. Teaching time of the main instrument is 22,5–45 minutes in a week and the corresponding fee is approximately twice the fee in music school. The fee includes also the possibility for music theory studies and group playing.

Vocational education in music, upper secondary level

Conservatory offers vocational qualification in music for students aiming to become musicians. One can apply after completing the comprehensive school syllabus. The duration of studies is circa three years. The study curriculum includes e.g. individual instrumental tuition, theory of music and orchestral / group studies. In Joensuu, students have the opportunity to concentrate in classical music, pop&jazz or in folk music. The number of students is 70–80 and teaching language is Finnish. Students who have completed the vocational qualification in music can apply for higher education studies (e.g. universities, academies of music).

How to apply

Enquiries: Vice rector anneli.hynninen@joensuu.fi

Online applications via Wilma online service are preferred for all studies (available in Finnish):
https://joensuunkonservatorio.inschool.fi/browsecourses

For music play groups, application time is in November for groups starting in January and in May for groups starting in August.

There is an entrance exam for the music school, the application time is spring.

The application time for open line is continuous, new students are normally taken in the autumn.

Applications for vocational education are taken continuously, the process includes an entrance exam. Studies start normally in the autumn.