The second summer school of the Joint Music Master took place on the island of Schiermonnikoog, The Netherlands, in the summer of 2011. The summer school serves as an opportunity for students to work together and expand their networks within a community of practitioners. First year students attend this summer school, which gave them an impression of what the Joint Master programme involves. All mentors and a number of tutors attended as well.
In the 2011 summer school fifteen students from five European conservatoires worked on various projects together with the inhabitants of the island Schiermonnikoog. They developed musical projects and also film projects. Professional English filmmaker Christopher Daniels has coached the students while they were making their films based on stories of the inhabitants of the island. The films they have made are based on material the students obtained through interviews, but also on older existing films about the island. The group also worked with a home of the elderly on the island. The idea was to let the music and film project be inspired by the stories of the elderly and by the surrounding nature.
The input of the students is the most important factor for putting the programme together. Where do their affinities lie, what are their special talents? These issues were resolved in the first few days. Based on students’ talents and preferences they were coupled to residents of the island with whom they worked throughout the week. At the end of the week a final presentation took place by the students for the inhabitants of Schiermonnikoog. The day after a musical marathon took place with music played all over the island.
Documentary 'Reflections on an Island'
(by Chris Paul Daniels)