Digital music workshop at Carlo Urbani in Ostia
‘Hey, come! Look!’
Our colleague Annaleda calls us in turn to stand in front of her computer screen. The scene we see seems almost fake and the protagonists unrecognisable. They are attentive, focused, tidy, serene and smiling. They are the students of the Carlo Urbani high school in Ostia engaged in the end-of-year event, the Christmas Concert. In the audience the extended school community, not only families, but also friends.
For the final performance they have constructed a real set list of musical performances. There is some uncertainty, but it doesn't matter. They start again. They back each other up, they support each other, they have discovered harmony and the ability to team up.
Imagine all the people
Sharing all the world
You
You may say I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
and the world will live as one
The highlight is Imagine by John Lennon. The emotion is palpable. ‘The most beautiful things of these hours were the passion and commitment that everyone put into expressing their emotions through music, and the emotion was very strong,' says Laura Ubaldi, 22 years old, from the Marche region, with a musical dream in her drawer and a year of digital community service lived with passion at the Fondazione Mondo Digitale.
How did this result come about?
The ‘Digital Music’ project, implemented at the Carlo Urbani Institute in Ostia, a school led by headmistress Rosa Caccioppo, offered students a 40-hour intensive workshop from October to November 2024 to explore the world of music, highlighting the connection between musical traditions and modern technologies. The project was financed by funds from the National Recovery and Resilience Plan within the framework of DM 170/2022 - Actions to prevent and combat early school leaving. The project involved students between the ages of 14 and 17, who explored various aspects of music, from composition to performance, including legendary figures from the music scene.
‘The project produced significant results from a musical and human perspective. The students developed creative skills, learnt to work in a team and gained a broader view of music. The musical composition allowed them to freely express their creativity, while the preparation of the concert offered a concrete opportunity to put into practice what they had learnt,' writes project manager Vincenzo Sivero in the final report. ‘The final concert was the culmination of the project. The students performed in front of their peers, teachers and parents, demonstrating great commitment and passion for music. This event highlighted the teamwork and dedication of the participants, showing the progress made along the way.’
‘I am proud of you,’ concluded Headmistress Rosa Caccioppo, ’you are wonderful children and you will be wonderful citizens, because music truly elevates us. And why not form a school music group? The headmistress has already launched the next challenge...
