The SSPM charter
While reworking the SSPM website, I came across this carefully drafted charter, and at the presidents' conference we found that those present were completely unaware of its existence.
As we learned from Wolfgang Pailer, Roland Vuataz was very keen for the SSPM to have such a charter, so he saw to it that it was formulated and printed at the end of his term as SSPM president. In a way, it was his farewell gift to the SSPM.
For our charter to have an impact, we need to know about it. And we, the members of the SSPM, must also be able to support our charter. That's why the section presidents are inviting you, dear members, to let us know by the end of the year what you would like to see changed or added. Here is the text in its current form:
The SSPM members' charter
This charter links the general objectives of musical education with a common professional ethic.
General
Music education contributes to human development, supporting and encouraging the openness, sensitivity, expression, imagination, intuition and creativity associated with it. SSPM teachers are always aware of their responsibility and their opportunity to contribute to the development of human beings.
Mutual respect
Musical education means learning to listen to others, while expressing one's own personality. The SSPM teacher works with respect for the student's physical, mental and spiritual integrity, and thus contributes to building a human society based on mutual respect, listening and discernment.
The right to an optimal musical education
SSPM members strive to satisfy the legitimate right to a musical education worthy of the name, and to encourage the students entrusted to them to reach the highest possible musical level.
The pleasure of learning
Progress is a source of pleasure and satisfaction, and is the result of personal commitment, effort and concentration. SSPM teachers encourage this approach.
Musical practice: an opportunity and a responsibility
Musical practice is both an opportunity and a responsibility for teachers. It's an opportunity, because nurturing the teacher's own musical practice has a positive impact on student development. It's a responsibility, too, because it means constantly striving, through practice and further training, to reach a level sufficient to meet the high demands of music. Every SSPM teacher is committed to pushing his or her art to the highest possible level, to the best of his or her ability.
Information, exchange of experience
SSPM teachers keep abreast of advances in music pedagogy. They are open to new ideas and share their experiences.
Public Relations
Whenever they have the opportunity, SSPM teachers strive to raise public and official awareness of the importance of a comprehensive musical education, through teaching and artistic activities, or by taking a personal stand.
Mutual recognition
Musicians express themselves in many different ways. These differences affect instruments, repertoires, styles, "schools", interests and tastes, depending on cultural and geographical origins, as well as professional status. Openness, tolerance and recognition determine mutual relations within and outside the circle of musicians.
The text still seems relevant to me, since it was originally formulated so openly. However, I would like to see it supplemented by a section on the use of digital media and AI. And the topic of "social media" shouldn't be missing either. There needs to be agreement on how teachers, students and SSPM members communicate with each other there, what can be posted, and how we protect the personality rights of others.
I also think it's important to demand that we work together on a political and trade union level to defend the interests of musicians in general and music teachers in particular, and that we work closely with partner associations to this end, as we can only achieve our goals together. I'm also missing something in the paragraph "The pleasure of learning" about the feedback culture, which has a major influence on whether or not the pleasure of making music and practicing is maintained.
And you, dear colleagues, what would you like to change or add to the text, so that you can finally fully support the SSPM charter?
Please send your theme requests, requests for concrete changes and text proposals by December 31, 2023 to marianne.waelchli@smpv.ch
