Kaisa Johanna Vähi
I am an Estonian violinist, teacher, and doctoral researcher at the Sibelius Academy, University of the Arts Helsinki.
About my research
My research project,
Instrumental Pedagogy in the Context of Political Regime Change: A Systems View to Estonian Music Schools’ Curricular Adaptability,
investigates how the 85 Estonian public music schools, with more than 11,000 students, have adapted to a new political regime and changing societal expectations following the country’s re-independence from the Soviet occupation in 1991.
Estonian music schools are mostly publicly funded and, at least in principle, easily accessible to any child interested in learning music. However, they carry a complex historical background. The Estonian music school system dates back to the 1950s – the most repressive period of the Soviet times – when the primary purpose of instrumental education was to prepare children for their future careers as performers. Although Estonian general education has undergone several reforms and curricular changes since then, the curricula in music schools still largely rely on the contents of their Soviet predecessor.
Through my research, I aim to address questions inspired by this situation: whether and how this system meets the needs of the democratic society that has justified expectations of accessible and democratic extracurricular education.
- How I learned that faster is not necessarily better
Both the European Music School Research and ISME conferences that I attended last year had sustainability as their focus topic, which means I’ve spent a significant amount of time thinking about that and… Read more: How I learned that faster is not necessarily better - Conference summer 2024
At the end of July, the 36th International Society for Music Education (ISME) World Conference took place in Helsinki, preceded by the pre-seminar of the Commission for the Education of the Professional Musician… Read more: Conference summer 2024 - Why?
I have always wanted to understand why something must be done one way and not the other; why some people act the way they do, or why things are the way they are.… Read more: Why?
Publications
Vähi, K. J., López-Íñiguez, G., Westerlund, H. (forthcoming). Estonian music schools amidst societal transitions: A call for future-oriented curriculum thinking.
Vähi, K. J., & Peiel, H. A. (2024, October 4). Õnnelikud lapsed on oht Eesti tulevikule? [Happy children are a threat to Estonia’s future?] Sirp. https://www.sirp.ee/onnelikud-lapsed-on-oht-eesti-tulevikule/
Vähi, K. J., & Snellman, A. (2024). The paradox of a conference on sustainability – a report: “Music schools and their ecosystems: Building sustainable futures”. Finnish Journal of Music Education, 27(1).
Vähi, K. J. (2023). Book review: Learning and teaching in the music studio. A student-centred approach, by J. I. Pozo, M. P. Pérez-Echeverría, G. López-Íñiguez, & J. A. Torrado. Finnish Journal of Music Education, 26(2).
Presentations
delivered
Vähi, K. J. (2025, April 9). “How do Estonian music schools’ curricula reflect students’ wellbeing and lifelong learning? A reflexive thematic analysis”. Paper presentation at Nordic Network for Research on Music Education (NNRME) main conference, Hurdal (Norway).
Vähi, K. J. (2025, March 25). “Ethical dilemmas concerning researcher bias: Conducting qualitative research in familiar settings”. Presentation at Sibelius Academy Research Days, Helsinki (Finland).
Vähi, K. J. (2024, August 1). “Instrumental teachers’ pedagogical preparedness in post-Soviet Estonia: Advocating for more inclusive and learner-centred music schools”. Poster presentation, 36th World Conference for the International Society for Music Education (ISME), Helsinki (Finland).
Vähi, K. J. (2024, July 23). “Music school teachers’ professional position in Estonian society: Finding balance between traditions and sustainable innovation”. Invited keynote, ISME Commission for the Education of the Professional Musician pre-conference seminar in Tallinn (Estonia).
Vähi, K. J. (2024, March 14). “Music schools’ curricular development in post-Soviet Estonia: Advocating for more inclusive and learner-centred instrumental education”. Presentation at Sibelius Academy Research Days, Helsinki (Finland).
Vähi, K. J. (2023, October 5). “Instrumental pedagogy in the context of political regime change: A systems view to Estonian music schools’ curricular adaptability”. Presentation at the doctoral forum of European PicME network at European Music School Symposium “Music Schools and Their Ecosystems: Building Sustainable Futures”. University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna (Austria).
Lesson to Lesson
In addition to my music-related activities, I am also one of the founding members of a non-profit organisation called Lesson to Lesson. Our goal is to promote teacher and student well-being through research-based knowledge on learning in both general education and music school settings. You can keep up with our activities through our social media pages!
Kaisa Johanna Vähi
kaisa.vahi@uniarts.fi
My doctoral studies at the Sibelius Academy, University of the Arts Helsinki, are funded by Estonian Ministry of Education and Research, Estonian Education and Youth Board, and Kone Foundation.