Unnur Jónsdóttir - interview
Unnur Jónsdóttir is a master's student in the art education department of LHÍ
„In my youth, the conservatory was a bit my second home My older brothers were both students there when I was born and besides, my mom was the school's secretary and really still is“ It was never a question of whether I would go to music studies, but rather which instrument would be chosen Somehow I ended up being both a member of Seltjarnarness School Trumpet Orchestra, blowing clarinet for more than 10 years but then my main instrument from the age of 9 was cello, “ Unnur says whose childhood was largely set within the walls of the conservatory.
„Somehow, there was never any other option but for the music to be my companion even though I had no direct idea what it looked like from the beginning. After elementary school, I went to study at the Reykjavík School of Music (now MIT) while studying at the Hamrahlíð High School and the great choral work that takes place there. The music was always dominant".
During my high school years, I ended up in all kinds of collaborations with musicians from all walks of life, which made music my main occupation early on, and it has remained so ever since, in various and very diverse forms. “
Photographer: Maximilian König
Unnur has worked at the Music School in Seltjarnarnes since 2019, mainly in private lessons on cello and clarinet, but also in group lessons for preschool students and in musicology subjects.
„Companied by the teaching, I have been fortunate enough to be able to play with a wide variety of musicians, both on stage at home and abroad, as well as with studio recordings It is valuable to be allowed to approach one's art form from different sides, and invaluable to be able to do the music at the same time as a teacher, performer and student“.“
After teaching for several years, Unni began to want more knowledge in relation to his teaching profession.
„I simply wanted to better understand what lies behind good teaching, how and why teachers reach different students, and how creative learning can be nurtured with care and ambition".
I've always been very interested in communication, creativity and how we learn In art education, these areas of interest meet so beautifully The study in the art education department is somehow such a great jumble of creative students and teachers from different backgrounds, all of us are there with the same open and creative mindset which is a great basis for development and knowledge, says Unnur.
Photographer: Maximilian König
„It's simply great to be able to work with a large group of people whose only stated common denominator is art, art creation and art educationWe are internally different but it makes us able to learn a lot from each other We get many opportunities to core our own experiences of learning but also to look at how teachers we want to be for our students I want to say that artists never stop being students and that applies equally to those who pass on art through teaching as well as at concerts, exhibitions or with any kind of artistic act or product Art pedagogy is just learning in learning, we are students and teachers at the same time and it's an incredibly liberating experience“, says Unnur, whose studies have already been useful to her in her music education.
„I have had the opportunity to reflect on both my own learning and teaching, thus have been able to develop my methods and gain more confidence in my own voice as a teacher I feel that I now make decisions more firmly and with a clearer vision“ After graduation, I want to continue building a bridge between music and teaching that is vibrant, creative and nurturing - both for my students and no less myself I hope that I can contribute to the teaching not only being about communication but also about collaboration, creativity and the pleasure of playing music".“
