European Congress for Musical Education
International “Parents Forum Music Schools“
Toblach/ South Tyrol 11th – 14th October 2001

Subsequent to the international “Parents Forum Music Schools“ on 13th October 2001 in Toblach / South Tyrol, the following parents associations passed the below

Toblacher Declaration

• Federal Parents Representatives (Bundes-Eltern-Vertreter) - Germany
• State Parents Advisory Board (Landes-Eltern-Beirat) – South Tyrol / Italy
• State Parents Associations (Landes-Eltern-Verbände) – Lower Austria, Salzburg and Vienna, Austria

The international „Parents Forum Music Schools“ directs this declaration to all responsible political authorities and individuals on a regional and national basis and to all national State Parents Associations at Music Schools in Europe with the appeal to remain committed to campaign for the:

• Protection of the social importance of Music Schools
• The ongoing development of capacities at Music Schools, and
• The preservation and advancement of Music Schools in Europe

A. About the social importance of Music Schools

1. Music is a basic human need. All citizens interested in music should be given the possibility of a musical education. Music Schools are a basic social service.
2. Music is part of the culture of a society. Musical education allows people to actively participate in the culture. Musical education counts as human education and forms a part of the general education.
3. In a „cultural country“ there is a social responsibility for the musical education, which is to be recognized by public funding. The task of the Music Schools is to enable wide-ranging possibilities to perform music.
4. Under the aspects of structural policy (keyword culture and activity), professional Music Schools are essential for the local, regional and national development of a society.
5. Under the aspects of youth- and educational policy, adequate public investments in the area of musical education are required that have a long-term impact for the future.
6. It is a clear commitment from society (citizenship and politics) to contribute to a nation-wide supply of a necessary and diverse qualified musical education.
7. The possibility for all social stratums to attend Music Schools and the socially accepted offerings of Music Schools are to be secured in special consideration of financially disadvantaged families.
8. The co-operation with schools for general education is to be further developed. It should bring children and adolescences closer to music in a more pro-active and practical way.

B. About the importance of Parents Associations at Music Schools for the cultural policy

1. In order to achieve a better acceptance and enforceability of the parents’ wishes, there is the need of local parents and development associations.
2. The parents have the wish that their children receive musical education. They therefore aid the preservation of not only the Music Schools but also the discretionary access to the activities offered by the Music Schools.
3. In terms of providing a basic cultural service, the parents expect the opening of Music Schools on the basis of affordable Music School fees. For financially disadvantaged families staggered tariffs according to social criteria are to be envisaged.
4. With their personal commitment, parents make a substantial contribution to the cultural and educational development of society.

C. About the importance of State Parents Associations for the music school policy

1. Music Schools are mostly subject to the administrative sovereignty of its German Federal Land. The establishment of State Parents Associations as “lobby groups” is therefore very useful. They work closely with the Music School Associations of the Federal States.
2. Due to its strong network the State Parents Associations support the local Parents Associations in all questions regarding the Music School. The State Associations systematically deal with all overriding problems of the Music Schools (Securing the site of the Music School, comprehensive offering, socially compatible Music School fees, etc.).
3. The State Parents Associations makes the State Departments aware of any potential critical findings of noticeable deficits in the area of Music Schools.
4. They clarify that music education is not only a favorite pastime, but that as part of the social-, cultural and educational policy is an enforceable basic right and not just an ornament but an indispensible basis of humanistic society.

D. About the strategic importance of the Federal Parents Associations

1. Culture and education are one of the federal duties. It makes sense to establish Federal parents Associations. They are a central authority for the Federal State Organisations and partners when developing relevant Music School guidelines for a Federal State (e.g. for music colleges and -universities)
2. The existence of Federal Parents Representatives is a necessary precondition for a bilateral and international collaboration. Federal Parents Representatives work closely with all relevant music political associations on a federal state level (VdM, KOMU, AGMÖ etc.).
3. When dealing with the funding of state projects the Federal Government is regularly the relevant cooperation partner. In addition, the globalization and EU-expansion demands a European representation of the interests of the parents associations.
4. According to the parenthoods, the “support of the parents associations in European countries” will add weight to the music and education policy objectives.
5. A international collaboration of the parents organizations is to be achieved in each nation (e.g. promotion of an international youth exchange, use of EU subsidies). In doing so, a close cooperation with the EMU (European Music School Union) is to be aimed for.