Sound Soils

The research questions are: 

• What music practices exist in the rural areas of the northern Netherlands? 
• Which music practices engage with local themes, and how is this done in practice? 
• What opportunities do rural areas in the northern Netherlands offer for musicians, and what roles and working methods can they adopt in these contexts? 

Gaining a better understanding of the roles and working methods of musicians and music organisations in rural music practices in the northern Netherlands, with specific attention to participatory elements.

• Greater awareness among (trainers of) music professionals of meaningful career opportunities within social contexts. 
• Increased attention to and interest in rural contexts as valuable settings for professional musicians, along with the dissemination of knowledge about the possible roles and working methods that can be applied in such settings. 

1. Better understanding of rural (participatory) music practices and exploration of roles and working methods within these practices; 
2. Collecting future visions of musical activity from residents of the northern Netherlands; 
3. Mapping the people, organisations and stakeholders shaping and active in the music field in rural northern Netherlands; 
4. Describing trends and development opportunities for professional musicians working in or aiming to work in rural contexts. 

The research findings are applied directly within the music practices already involved in the project and are also made available for wider use through publications and (working) conferences. In addition, the results of the analysis in Sound Soils serve as a starting point for follow-up (action) research into participatory music practices in rural contexts. 

Consortium partners Arnaud Oosterbaan/Nootstroom and Setareh Nafisi represent artistic activity in the Northern Netherlands and its connection with the (inter)national music field. They contribute to the exploration of the roles and working methods of musicians in rural contexts. In addition, practice-based researcher and maker Ruth Koops van ’t Jagt participates in the project.