Anna Jónsdóttir

 

The subject of this master thesis is to examine, whether the mediation of Icelandic folk songs in interesting places, combined with storytelling and participation art, can enhance the cultural awerness of students and support teaching in social studies and even art. Whether the event, which is not a traditional lesson, can encourage interest and increase knowledge about the Icelandic cultural heritage and the conditions prevelent in iceland in earlier times. How does the oppertunity to listen to live music affect students, and how does it affect aesthetics, perception and artistic events, in regards to teaching and learning.

 

The study is a qualitative art research study, that utilizes the case study method and action research. The main subject of the study was a series of concerts, containing Icelandic folk songs, sung without accompaniment, mixed with storytelling and participation art. The series contained four concerts in the Reykjavík area, for students in the 6th grade and their teachers, in september 2019. Two of the concerts were performed in the yard of a house that previously housed „Álfurinn“ in Kópavogur and two of the concerts were in a clearing in Gálgahraun in Garðabær.

 

 

The data gathered was; questionnaires filled out by students and teachers about their experience of the event, sound and video recordings from the concerts, participation observations and journal entries from the researcher, with emphasis on the prelude to the concerts as well as their implementation.

 

The results of the study indicate that the students' experience was owerall positive and the events a success. Also that the storytelling and participation of the students increased the value of the concerts.