Music in the classroom, the Uto Ughi plan for young people kicks off. Valditara: the Italian national school orchestra is born

ASSISI. Freedom is music. Against the backdrop of Antonio Vivaldi's notes, in the splendid setting of the Papal Basilica of San Francesco in Assisi, the maxi plan to strengthen music in schools presented by Education and Merit Minister Giuseppe Valditara, together with Maestro Uto Ughi, one of the greatest violinists of our time, gets underway.

"Today the national orchestra of the Italian school is born. It is a decision that I strongly wished for in order to valorise the extraordinary contribution that high schools of music and our musical culture offer to the society of our country," said Minister Valditara, during his speech in the Basilica of San Francesco in Assisi, at the concert-event of maestro Uto Ughi, promoted by the ministry in collaboration with the great conductor's foundation. "This national orchestra must be something that not only enhances the extraordinary experiences of young people from music high schools," the minister continued, "but also encourages young people, the public, the population to approach the beauty of classical music. Valditara then emphasised that: "In November there will be an important first public performance. This orchestra will give life to regional orchestras, so as to multiply the opportunities for young people and classical music listeners'. 'In the national programmes,' he went on to say, 'we wanted to strengthen musical culture in schools, starting with nursery and primary schools, sensitivity education, and singing.

The 'Uto Ughi for Young People' project also kicks off, an educational journey involving students in the main theatres of Italian cities, where they can enjoy listening to classical music also through the rediscovery of cultural venues. A journey through the history of music with music performed live. "The initiative aims to make young people aware of beauty, not only music, but art in general, and to convey to them the importance of cultivating art and culture. Art is a precious and spiritual good that everyone should have access to,' explains Maestro Ughi.

The way forward is an all-round enhancement of music. Central to this are the new national curriculum guidelines for pre-school and first-cycle schools, on which a public consultation is now open. In this document, it is envisaged that in secondary school music education will assume an even more articulated function, since it not only sharpens sensitivity and conscious listening, but also aims to educate aesthetic taste and understanding of the musical heritage through active immersion in the sound experience. Fundamental tools are the analysis and interpretation of musical works to develop critical thinking and the ability to place artistic creations in their historical and cultural context. Ensemble music practice, through school orchestras and choirs, is a valuable tool for personal and collective growth, reinforcing the value of collaboration and sharing.

In the light of the central role attributed to knowledge and to the teacher's magisterial function ('magis, moreover, flywheel of a pupil's desire to learn'), highlighted in the introduction to the new document, the New National Directions for the Curriculum outline a pathway for the transformation of music teaching, promoting a broad and articulated didactic mediation, which skilfully integrates vocal, listening and instrumental practice to ensure accessible and inclusive learning.