Music class teaches both music and performance – and makes studying fun!

An electric drum set, a keyboard, a microphone and several bass guitars are lined up in front of the classroom window. The cabinets hold various rhythm instruments, kanteles and ukuleles. There is a piano and an acoustic drum set next to the teacher’s desk. Right now, no one is playing or singing, as the pupils are busy writing stories in Finnish class. This is par for the course for class 4MU at Martinlaakso comprehensive school; they do schoolwork just like other class groups, interspersed with more music instruction. 

“We sometimes suddenly burst into song in the middle of a random lesson,” Lauri says with a laugh.

The schedule of class 4MU normally includes three hours of music per week. At the moment, some extra space has been made in their schedule for music lessons, as the class is rehearsing an opera, which they will perform at the Finnish National Opera in Helsinki. 

“I sing in the opera and have to memorise 45 minutes of song lyrics,” Lauri says. 

Every autumn and spring, the school hosts a concert  where the school’s music classes perform for their parents and relatives. This autumn, however, class 4MU will not be able to participate in the autumn term concert, as practising the opera takes up so much of their time. In addition, Lauri’s teacher Ulla-Mari Vatanen arranged for her class to perform at a nearby nursing home in the spring, to the delight of the residents.  

Singing, playing and performing 

Music classes teach pupils to sing and play instruments, as well as about the structures of music, various composers and their work. Ulla-Mari is an enthusiastic voice teacher and children’s choir coach, so her class does a lot of singing, while her colleague in the next classroom over, Jalo Walamies, specialises in band music. The teachers of music classes have slightly different focuses according to their personal strengths but, in the main, the teaching of all music classes follows the same pattern according to the music class curriculum. 

“With the youngest pupils, we usually start with singing, unisonous songs and canons. We gradually introduce different instruments into the teaching. We encourage everyone to start playing an instrument at the Music Institute or in private music lessons, but it is not mandatory,” says Ulla-Mari. 

Lauri says that he has started playing bass guitar. He also gets instrumental homework from his bass guitar teacher to complete at home. Ulla-Mari says that music class pupils have to do a little more schoolwork at home. 

Pupils who apply for music classes are tested for musicality. According to Lauri, the test involved having to distinguish between different sounds, for example. Pupils can apply even if they do not own an instrument or have any previous playing or singing experience.  

“They encourage us to sing and try out different instruments. We are in a music class because playing and singing is fun,” Lauri says. 

Lauri does not yet know whether he will be a musician when he grows up or whether he will just do music as a hobby. Both options are perfectly OK. Ulla-Mari adds that the pupils learn not only about music, but also how to perform: 

“In music classes, pupils also learn to be on display and become more confident. Performing for an audience is an important life skill.” 

Lauri says that he also suffers from stage fright, but this has lessened now that he has performed on stage more often. Ulla-Mari is proud of Lauri and all the other pupils: 

“We all encourage each other! We have a wonderful, multicultural group and have learned about the music of different countries. We have listened to and performed music from, for example, China and Brazil,” Ulla-Mari says.  

Music classes and their application process in brief 

• Music classes are for pupils who are interested in music. It is not necessary to own an instrument or have any previous playing or singing experience. 
• Music class education starts in the third grade and continues throughout comprehensive school. 
• Many schools in Vantaa offer the opportunity to study in a music class. See a list of the schools on this page, on the Locations tab. 
• Pupils who apply for music classes are tested for musicality. Register for the test in Wilma and apply between 20 November and 8 December 2023. 
• You will be notified by 9 February 2024 if you have been admitted. 
• More information and detailed application instructions: vantaa.fi/musiikkiluokat
• You can also find basic information about music classes and the application process in Albanian, Arabic, Somali, Russian and Estonian at vantaa.fi/musiikkiluokat