Sounds of Change Academy -
the Netherlands

Training of musical Changemakers

We offer an intensive five-day training, with a sixth return day, for professionals and advanced students who want to learn to work with music and with the Sounds of Change method and mindset. The training is open for people who already have experience in leading music sessions for and with groups, community music projects and/or work experience as a music therapist.

Music changes the world because it changes people

During our work in (ex) conflict zones in various places in the world, we discovered that creative music processes can have a transformative effect. During the moments of making music, improvising and composing together, music not only brings a lot of fun, but also provides connection. People slowly but surely dare to express themselves in the created safe space and listen better to each other. They will discover their own ideas and introduce them into the group process. The personal and group reflections on the process lead to a stronger connection with yourself and the group. Music thus acts as a means of bringing about social change and teaching children, young people and adults the 'life skills' that are so important for the future, our future.

Content

This training is about:

  • deepening your own creativity through improvisation and composition;

  • insight and techniques to facilitate creative music processes, the process in which the input of others and the strength of the group is used;

  • creating a safe environment in which people dare to express themselves;

  • listening, collaborating, experimenting and reflecting;

  • recognising your own role, need and influence in the creative process;

  • non-verbal and non-violent communication;

  • working with minimal resources and making music together with various musical levels.

Filmmaker Joris Postema and his team followed the training process of our Sounds of Change Academy in the Netherlands in 2021/22. They followed our Academy trainees learning the Sounds of Change method and filmed them giving six weekly music workshops at four Dutch AZCs (asylum seekers’ centers) before finally making a catchy about the experience.