The SSPM over the years

While packing the archives for the move of the central secretariat, I realized how much the SSPM has changed in a short time:

Before 2005, almost everything revolved around professional training within the SSPM: you became a member because you had graduated from the SSPM yourself, or you were a member because you trained students through the SSPM.
As a reminder: in 2005, the SSPM decided to make professional training independent, as this was the only way to meet the requirements of the "Bologna reform", but also because professional studies were digging an ever-widening hole in the association's coffers. In 2007, responsibility for vocational training was transferred to the ASMP Foundation, which together with the Kalaidos University of Applied Sciences founded the ASMP University of Music in 2009, which later became the Kalaidos University of Music.

The SSPM's main focus then gradually shifted away from "professional training".

Now what?

The SSPM asked itself many questions: are we still needed? What are the SSPM's tasks if it no longer trains professionals? Does membership of the USS, decided by the 2005 AD, bring us anything? What are the tasks of the "new" SSPM?
In 2011, the Central Committee organized several meetings in Lucerne for interested members, at which these issues were discussed in depth. It soon became clear that members wanted to preserve and develop their association. They thought it should become a simple professional association. But while some wanted a simple trade union, others wanted above all to retain their services and would have preferred to leave the USS straight away. All agreed, however, that the association should be committed to professionalism in music pedagogy. The association should only accept qualified music pedagogues.

The large incision

Nobody expected the Corona pandemic. For many of our members, existential questions suddenly arose. The SSPM was able to support many of them by obtaining all the important information as quickly as possible, collating it and passing it on to members. Some presidents were "retrained" as crisis managers, learning on the job. The fact that we have hardly been able to obtain compensation for freelance teachers is explained by the fact that teaching artists are classified as either educational or cultural, depending on where costs can be avoided. Nevertheless, we managed to ensure that as many of our events as possible could take place, and since we made sure that no one was contaminated during the events thanks to good protection concepts, we were able to demonstrate that musicians are not a dangerous species - and neither are singers.

The SSPM has probably even benefited from the crisis in its move towards professionalization.

The SSPM today

Today, the SSPM is simply a professional association. Over the course of its 131 years, it has constantly developed new service offers, which enables it to offer its members such a wide range that, in fact, all music educators can benefit from membership.
However, some of these services must be actively obtained.
The SSPM provides: the RMS subscription, the agenda and reference rates for private music teaching. It is involved in negotiations with the political world and in exchanges with other associations for a fundamental improvement in the situation of music teachers.
If you have problems at work, you can get support from the SSPM and, if necessary, free legal advice.
You need to actively manage your profile on mein-musikunterricht.ch and on rent-a-musician.ch - but here too, we'll be happy to help.
At section level, you can have your students perform in auditions, take part in teachers' concerts, take part in reduced-price further training courses, or teach a class yourself.
Take advantage of the wide range on offer and let us know if you have an idea for another important service!

Outlook

Difficult times lie ahead: the baby-boom generation will gradually retire, and some of these members will leave the association. Recruiting new members is becoming increasingly important if we are to avoid having to increase membership fees or limit benefits.

The title of "music pedagogue" is still not protected, or only in the cantons of Vaud and Lucerne, and only for jobs in music schools.

The shortage of qualified staff caused by the wave of retirements, which is already a reality for instruments such as the piano and guitar, can lead music schools to hire staff with no pedagogical training, who can be paid lower salaries, which could lead to widespread wage dumping.

And we must politically ensure that music, dance, theater and art educators get a lobby and are finally recognized as "cultural creators plus educators".