Music schools were established in 2006 in Cyprus, initially as music high schools (HS) in Nicosia and Limassol and later in 2012 another three HS were established in the other three districts. In 2015 and 2016 all 5 music schools expanded their coverage for the whole secondary level (Gr. 7-12). Their operation falls under the auspices of the Ministry of Education. Despite their twenty-year presence in Cypriot music education, research regarding their operation, curricula, vision, and outcomes, as well as the views of the stakeholders (i.e. administrators, teachers, students and parents) has been sparse (Γιόρτσιος, 2023∙ Γραμμένος, 2020∙ Κατσιάνη & Γεωργιάδης, 2015∙ Μανανά, 2017∙ Theologos & Katsadoros, 2017). In this research paper we aim to investigate the views, experiences, interests, and needs of students from music schools in Cyprus regarding their overall educational experience. Specifically, we will focus our investigation on exploring the views, experiences, and concerns of final-year students from the five music schools in Cyprus regarding the following thematic areas: the curriculum, the quality of the education provided, and the challenges and limitations they encountered during their studies.

The main research questions of the study are the following: What are the attitudes, views, and experiences of graduating music students regarding the education and training that they received during their years in the music HS? What challenges and constraints do students face in their musical education context? What recommendations do they have for future developments in the operation of the music HS? Data will be collected through an online questionnaire (with two open-ended questions) which will be developed by the researchers. The questionnaire will take into consideration the specific conditions and context of music schools in Cyprus, aiming to be as broad and comprehensive as possible. Data will be analyzed using SPSS and cross correlations will be made between the distinct variables. The present research will function as a pilot study aiming for a better understanding of the music schools and contributing towards their advancement.

• Curricula and critical approaches

Yiannis Miralis is Associate Professor of Music Education at European University Cyprus. His areas of interest are world music pedagogy, instrumental music education, community music ensembles. Miralis has a rich teaching experience in schools and universities in Cyprus and the USA. He has presented workshops and papers in various conferences in the areas of music education, ethnomusicology and saxophone and his articles appear in music journals in Greece and the USA. Miralis is a board member of ECMTA and former co-chair of the IVMTC of ISME. He has extensive performing experience as a chamber saxophonist.

Asimina Kondylidou (Phd, LRSM) is adjacent lecturer at the Department of Music of Ionian University (Greece) and scientific collaborator at the postgraduate program of Music Education at European University Cyprus. She holds a Phd in Music Education, a MMus in Music Education, and a MA in Technologies of Learning and Communication (EUC). She also works as a piano and music theory teacher at the National Conservatory of Greece with specialization in preparing students for the graded exams of ABRSM. Her research interests include new methodologies in instrumental and general music teaching, motivation theories and well-being. She is a member of the Hellenic Association for Music Education (EEME), the International Society of Music Education (ISME), and the European Piano Teachers Association (EPTA)

Dr. Ioannou graduated in 2010 as a performer from the Prague Conservatory (DiS) and as an Educator and Instrumental Instructor from Charles University in Prague (BA, MA). A year later, he completed further postgraduate studies (MSc) in the field of Neuropsychology of Music at Goldsmiths, University of London and in 2015 he obtained his PhD in Neuroscience at the Institute of Music Physiology and Musicians’ Medicine in Hanover, Germany. He later continued as a postdoctoral researcher at the same Institute, and as a lecturer at the Hanover University of Music, Drama and Media, and at the Centre for Systems Neuroscience and later as a postdoctoral scientist at CYENS. In 2021 Dr. Ioannou was awarded a Marie S. Curie funding (Individual Fellowship) by the European Executive Agency. His research areas focus on cognitive neuroscience, neurophysiology, motor control, chronic pain, work-related musculoskeletal disorders/diseases, motor rehabilitation, biofeedback systems and interactive technologies. Findings of his research have been published in several international scientific journals and presented at various universities and international conferences in Europe, USA and Canada.