Call for abstracts 2027

Call for papers

We are pleased to announce the 13th Conference of the EuNet MERYC European Network of Music Educators and Researchers of Young Children University of Iceland, School of Education Reykjavík,

Musical Foundations for Life: Shaping Futures Through Early Music Participation

MERYC 2027 in Iceland

The 13th MERYC Conference will be hosted by the University of Iceland, School of Education, Reykjavík, Iceland from 2. – 5. June 2027. The conference title is: Musical Foundations for Life: Shaping Futures Through Early Music Participation. The focus of MERYC2027 is interdisciplinary discussion and dissemination of new, unpublished research relating to the field of music and early childhood (0-8 years), in education (school and extracurricular contexts), and everyday life both in theoretical or conceptual research as well as reports on and innovative approaches to practice. The overarching aim of MERYC is to improve European research and practice with young children and music.

International perspectives

World events in the past years and discussions in the board have led us to extend our remit to include international perspectives for this conference. We consider there is a need for the encouragement of international dialogue, and that music and music education are powerful tools for developing shared understanding and dismantling barriers between people. On this occasion we believe this is of greater importance than to focus on European research perspectives: we desire to create processes of making music together for all. As an endeavour towards peace, mutual understanding and shared dialogue we invite researchers and educators across the globe to join us to offer international perspectives to our European discussions of music education and research with young children.

Conference chair

Helga Rut Gudmundsdottir, professor of Music Education at University of Iceland, School of Education

Keynote speakers (confirmed)

Laura Huhtinen-Hildén, Principal Lecturer, Researcher - Cultural Wellbeing & Music Education Degree Programme Creativity and Arts in Social and Health Fields Metropolia University of Applied Sciences, Finland Spaces of Wonder: Possibilities Through Creative Participation

Trihn Nguyen, Postdoctoral Fellow, Italian Institute of Technology, Rome, Italy Research Associate, University of Heidelberg, Germany Musical beginnings to social engagement, A multimodal perspective

Submissons

Submissions are invited for:

1. Spoken papers (empirical, theoretical or practice)

2. Symposia

3. Workshops and Demonstrations

4. Posters

The main conference language is English. Participants who wish to present the spoken paper in their first language can do so, but are asked to prepare an English translation of the text and show it as a presentation slideshow while speaking.

1. Spoken papers

Spoken papers will be allocated 30 minutes, consisting of 20 minutes for presentation, 5-10 minutes for questions & discussion.

Spoken research papers are the presentation of research projects, explaining aims, method (experimental, empirical investigation, ethnological observation, etc.), data analysis, findings, and conclusion.

Spoken practice papers. explain and demonstrate innovative didactical approaches/ pedagogical theories, accompanied by a discussion on the implications for future practice.

2. Symposia

Symposia will consist of a set of spoken papers related to a theme. The total time allowed for a symposium will be 90 minutes to two hours, consisting of three to four 25-minute papers and a discussion (although variations will be considered). Symposium conveners are asked to coordinate the submission of papers - including an abstract for the entire symposium - stating the rationale for the topic, the aims of the symposium, and the set of speakers proposed (see detailed submission information below). A discussant may also be proposed.

3. Workshops and demonstrations

Information on workshops and demonstrations will appear in the Conference Programme, in the Abstract Book, and in the Proceedings. The host university may provide equipment in the form of instruments or other materials if precise information is provided in the proposal. The workshop leaders will be experts in young children’s music education and in training music teachers and educators. They will present practical shared experiences according to specific aims and pedagogical approaches. A demonstration of an innovative pedagogical approach is likely to take the form of a workshop in which participants join in actively. For demonstrations of software or equipment, authors will be responsible for ensuring that the necessary equipment is available. The submission for workshops and demonstrations should include a short description of the aims (which should not have a commercial motive) and a full description of the equipment and facilities required. The time for a workshop will be maximum 60 minutes and for a demonstration session maximum 30 minutes.

4. Posters

Poster presentations will appear in the Conference Programme, in the Abstract Book, and in the Proceedings and will be assigned to designated times in the conference schedule. Depending on the subject and/or content, it may be more appropriate to submit an abstract as a poster for visual presentation rather than a 20-minute spoken presentation. In general, the sorts of papers, which are most effective as posters, are those in which the major conclusions become evident from the thoughtful examination of charts, graphs and photos rather than those, which require the audience to follow a sustained chain of verbal argumentation. Therefore, authors will want to make points in narrative form as brief as possible. The poster paper is able to "stand alone", that is, to be understandable even if the author is not present; moreover it does not typically require audiovisual support. Specific information about poster dimensions and other requirements will be communicated to authors of accepted posters.

Submisson guidelines

All submissions for spoken papers, posters, symposia papers and demonstrations must be sent by filling in the appropriate online form that is available on the MERYC2027 website. Abstracts (350 words) should be structured according to these outlines:

Spoken Research papers

For empirical papers the headings should include:

1. Background

2. Aims

3. Method

4. Results

5. Conclusions

For theoretical / review papers the headings should include:

1. Backgound

2. Aims

3. Main Contribution

4. Implications

Posters

1. Background

2. Aims

3. Method

4. Results

5. Conclusions

Spoken Practice papers

1. Theoretical background and content

2. Age and characteristics of participants (number of children, ages); Type of school (nursery, kindergarten, primary school, music school) or community (communities, childcare centre, family, other); Time and place.

3. Aims of the project

4. Method or pedagogical approach (for example: collaborative learning, individual or group work, self-initiated or adult-led, other)

5. The activities

6. The outcomes

7. Conclusions and implications for future work

Symposium

Symposium organisers should email the conference chair expressing their intention to submit a symposium proposal. The information provided should include: (a) a 350 word general description of the organised session with its purpose, and rationale; (b) authors and title of each contribution; (c) name of a discussant who, if necessary, can be included in the symposium. Symposium papers will be submitted on-line by the authors and will be reviewed.

Workshops and Demonstrations

The headings should include:

1. Background

2. Aims

3. A short description of the activities

4. Implications

5. Specific value and meaning

Authors of spoken papers and posters should also indicate on the submission form one or more topic areas under which the paper might be grouped, and three keywords. The chosen topic areas can be selected from the list below or a new topic area may be proposed.