Researcher
Transforming Institutionalized Music Education for Ecological Transitions: The Case of Näppäri
This doctoral study examines how inclusive and intergenerational music education rooted in Finnish folk music contributes to ecological transitions towards social sustainability in society. The case, Näppäri music education in Finland, challenges the hierarchical master-apprentice tradition of institutionalized music education by offering teaching to all skill levels, ages, and abilities. Using counter-narratives as an analytical approach, the research questions focus on the historical and international context of folk music and Näppäri participants’ and teachers’ experiences and relationship to inclusivity and educational politics of folk music.
The study brings new insights into integrating locality, cultural heritage, and societal change into collective music-making. Aligning with the Sustainable Development Strategy of Finland, the study brings critical perspectives to institutionalized practices in music schools and provides solutions to dismantle discriminatory structures for equal participation in art and culture. Globally, the study offers tools to work for ecological transitions towards equal, musically diverse, and locally rooted music and music education practices.
The Finnish Cultural Foundation have funded the research.
Publications
Lamminmäki, N., Sæther, E., Treacy, D.S., & Westerlund, H. (2026). Counter-labelling as a political act towards sustainability: Ecological transitions in and through Finnish folk music education. In A. Odendaal & D.S. Treacy. (Eds.), Ecological transitions in and through music education. Springer.
Backer Johnsen, H., Capponi-Savolainen, A., Choi, S., Fornhammar, L., Jääskeläinen, T., Kallio, A. A., Kamensky, H., Keskinen, K. A., Kivijärvi, S., Koivisto, T-A., Lamminmäki, N., Lehtinen-Schnabel, J., Mesiä, S., Miettinen, L., Siljamäki, E., Snellman, A., Thomson, K., Timonen, V., Treacy, D., Tuovinen, T., & Vallenius, L. (2020). Collaboratively Navigating Liminality in Music Education Doctoral Studies. In Laes, T. & Hautsalo, L. (Eds.). Remarks on a visionary’s journey. An anthology celebrating Heidi Westerlund. Hansaprint.
Presentations
Presentation: Labels, folk music and the politics of inclusion: Näppäri as a counter-practice in Finland. Intangible Cultural Heritage Seminar. Kaustinen Folk Music Festival, Kaustinen, Finland 14.7.2026.
Presentation: Rethinking music school education through Näppäri:
Intergenerational meaning-making towards socio-ecological sustainability.
7. Folk Music Researcher's Symposium. University of the Arts Helsinki, Finland 27.2.2026.
Symposium presentation: Counterlabelling as a political act towards sustainability: Transitions in and through Näppäri music education. Presidential Sessions. International Society for Music Education. World Conference in Helsinki, Finland. July 31, 2024.
Presentation: Näppäri music education as a counterlabelling act and critical counter-practice. Society and Research in Dialogue. Siba Research Days. Sibelius Academy of the University of the Arts. Helsinki, Finland. March 15, 2024.
Invited speech: Unleashing the Potential of Folk: Equal access, Social change, and the Näppäri Practice. Transformative Resonance & the Arts: Social change, Accountability, and Imagination. Seminar. Malmö Academy of Music/Lund university, Sweden. November 8, 2023.
Presentation: Elevating local musical heritage: Finnish Näppäri practice as a game changer. 3rd European Music School Symposium. University of Performing Arts Vienna, Austria. October 6, 2023.
Invited speech: Between changing society and sustaining heritage: Elevating locality in and through the hybrid Näppäri practice. Communality & the Arts: Place, sustainability and heritage. Seminar in Lund University, Malmö Academy of Music, Sweden. November 8, 2022.
Invited speech: The Finnish Näppäri practice. European Network for Music School Research. Doctoral student forum in the presymposium. University of Performing Arts Vienna, Austria. October 13, 2022.
Symposium presentation: The Näppäri practice: An educational innovation for sustaining local folk music traditions in Finland. International Society for Music Education. World Conference in Brisbane, Australia (online). July 20, 2022.
Presentation: Researcher’s memories as part of data: Seeking social and cultural sustainability in the Finnish Näppäri practice. PhD day in Nordic Network for Research in Music Education Conference. Jyväskylä, Finland.
April 4, 2022.