Published on 05 Jan 2026
Dissemination Activities and Inclusive Practices
1–12 December 2025
1–12 December 2025
As part of the MuVie project's dissemination activities, Anna Nicotra (Siena Jazz University) conducted an exploratory study at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam to understand the solutions adopted over time to support students with special educational needs. This experience also provided an important opportunity to present the MuVie project, outlining its aims, methodological approach and results achieved to date, and to foster direct dialogue with one of Europe's most prestigious music institutions.
The Conservatorium van Amsterdam (CvA) is the largest music academy in the Netherlands and forms part of the Amsterdam University of the Arts. It offers a wide range of courses in classical music, jazz, pop, electronic music, early music, music education and opera. The institution has around 1,500 students, most of whom come from a variety of European and non-European countries, reflecting its strong international focus. Its teaching staff consists of over 350 lecturers, many of whom are internationally renowned soloists and orchestral musicians. Thanks to its high artistic and pedagogical standards and structure, the CvA is recognised as one of Europe's leading conservatoires, with a strong focus on innovation in music education. In this context, the CvA pays particular attention to the needs of students with disabilities, adopting a flexible, personalised approach to learning. A key figure is the Student Counsellor, who acts as a tutor and advisor, supporting students throughout their studies and facilitating communication between students, teachers, and internal services. They address not only administrative and legal matters, but also issues related to learning difficulties, disabilities, neurodiversity, emotional challenges, stress, study motivation and work organisation, contributing to the identification of appropriate educational solutions such as adaptations to teaching methods or assessment formats.
The CvA invests in the continuous professional development of its teaching staff by offering training focused on inclusive pedagogy. Examples include the “Music Experience in Special Education” course, which introduces multimodal approaches designed to meet the diverse needs of students. These initiatives are complemented by symposia and workshops dedicated to musical inclusion. Examples include the “Arts beyond Ableism” symposium, which was held in 2023 and focused on disseminating inclusive practices and the use of adaptive technologies in the arts. Additionally, the conservatoire collaborates with external specialised organisations. In the Netherlands, Dedicon is the leading national organisation for accessible formats and has produced over 1,100 pages of Braille music scores, which could be a valuable resource for blind students.
The Conservatorium van Amsterdam (CvA) is the largest music academy in the Netherlands and forms part of the Amsterdam University of the Arts. It offers a wide range of courses in classical music, jazz, pop, electronic music, early music, music education and opera. The institution has around 1,500 students, most of whom come from a variety of European and non-European countries, reflecting its strong international focus. Its teaching staff consists of over 350 lecturers, many of whom are internationally renowned soloists and orchestral musicians. Thanks to its high artistic and pedagogical standards and structure, the CvA is recognised as one of Europe's leading conservatoires, with a strong focus on innovation in music education. In this context, the CvA pays particular attention to the needs of students with disabilities, adopting a flexible, personalised approach to learning. A key figure is the Student Counsellor, who acts as a tutor and advisor, supporting students throughout their studies and facilitating communication between students, teachers, and internal services. They address not only administrative and legal matters, but also issues related to learning difficulties, disabilities, neurodiversity, emotional challenges, stress, study motivation and work organisation, contributing to the identification of appropriate educational solutions such as adaptations to teaching methods or assessment formats.
The CvA invests in the continuous professional development of its teaching staff by offering training focused on inclusive pedagogy. Examples include the “Music Experience in Special Education” course, which introduces multimodal approaches designed to meet the diverse needs of students. These initiatives are complemented by symposia and workshops dedicated to musical inclusion. Examples include the “Arts beyond Ableism” symposium, which was held in 2023 and focused on disseminating inclusive practices and the use of adaptive technologies in the arts. Additionally, the conservatoire collaborates with external specialised organisations. In the Netherlands, Dedicon is the leading national organisation for accessible formats and has produced over 1,100 pages of Braille music scores, which could be a valuable resource for blind students.
The MuVie project's dissemination activities were structured across several stages. An initial meeting was held with Mirjam Pool, Student Counsellor at the CvA. She provided an overview of the institution’s commitment to inclusion and the operational approaches adopted to address students’ needs. During this meeting, Anna Nicotra presented the MuVie project and the work carried out at the Siena Jazz University, opening a dialogue on possible future collaborations and opportunities to develop new inclusive practices.
Subsequently, Anna Nicotra participated in a demonstrative activity involving conduction and improvisation, which was hosted by Professor Michael Moore in his class. This experience enabled direct exploration of an open and inclusive educational environment based on listening, interaction and appreciation of diverse modes of musical participation.
A pivotal moment in the dissemination process was a two-hour workshop organised by the CvA in collaboration with Debby Korfmacher, the coordinator of the postgraduate programme in Music Education, who is also an active lecturer on themes of inclusion, disability, and music education. The session involved Master's students in Music Education and future school music teachers, and was both practical and informative. Key topics addressed included Braille writing and music notation, and the main challenges faced by blind students studying music. Specific difficulties were discussed, such as limited access to Braille scores, the inability to sight-read, and the complexity of chord symbols in jazz notation. Building on these challenges, the origins of the MuVie project were presented, emphasising its objective of providing effective digital tools and solutions for students and teachers alike.
Student participation was particularly active and engaged. There were numerous questions about the study methods of a blind pianist and support strategies that could be implemented in schools. The discussion emphasised that, thanks to current technologies, supporting blind students in music education, including Braille music, is not overly complex, but rather a challenge that can be overcome with the right skills and increased pedagogical awareness.
The future teachers involved recognised their potential role as key figures of reference for inclusion should they encounter blind students in their professional practice. This confirms the importance of the training, awareness-raising and dissemination activities promoted by the MuVie project.
The future teachers involved recognised their potential role as key figures of reference for inclusion should they encounter blind students in their professional practice. This confirms the importance of the training, awareness-raising and dissemination activities promoted by the MuVie project.