Sibelius Academy offers university-level studies for the accordion, guitar and kantele that help each student achieve expertise and knowledge and develop individual artistic vision. The objective of our academy’s internationally renowned instruction is to improve the position of multi-toned and multifaceted instruments as concert instruments. The public can hear the results of our artistic activities at events such as concerts arranged by Sibelius Academy as well as at festivals, on tours and in competitions in both Finland and abroad. Sibelius Academy offers students an educational curve stretching from youth education to doctoral studies that will provide a persevering, high level of professionalism.
Accordion instruction at Sibelius Academy is known internationally as one of the best in the field. Numerous international competition wins, careers and instructional activities are a testament to this. In addition to soloist and chamber music skills, instruction places a special emphasis on enhancing students’ pedagogic readiness to teach others from early education to the university level. Sibelius Academy’s accordion instruction is characteristically attuned to the times. In recent years, students have been given opportunities to expand their musicianship through courses such as practical accompaniment and improvisation. The accordion is a young instrument in terms of being a full-blooded artistic tool of expression, so broad cooperation with Finnish composers has always been one of the key factors of our operations.
The classical kantele instrument group was established in 1987. The unit has become a national cultivator and reformer of kantele music. The core of these studies is to develop versatile instrumental skill and artistic vision. Other key content of studies includes chamber music, pedagogic skills, practical accompaniment, and an introduction to the traditions of the kantele. Students often have the opportunity to work with contemporary composers. Many students have also developed their skills in composing their own music. This is primarily due to the brave work of both teachers and students of the kantele at Sibelius Academy to bring about a degree reform that will better match today’s professional requirements. The first generation of professional kantele players specialised in classical music participates actively in the field of modern classical music and pedagogical work. One of the newest areas of instruction is the electric kantele and innovation in new forms of expression that it provides.
The objective of the guitar programme is to provide a high level of both artistic and instrumental expertise combined with strong pedagogic skills. Our experienced teaching staff and our students interact in a way that makes it possible to convey tradition and skill directly from teacher to student. It is also important to further raise the artistic level of skill in guitar as the guitar is also a very young recruit in the classical music world. Our studies take into account the high level of expertise in both the arts and pedagogy required in the professional world. Students also have the option of choosing as their minor the electric guitar or another instrument, such as the mandolin or banjo, which is useful in the everyday music world.
