Blended Learning Intensive Programme

HoE

House of Europe International Songwriting Project

The House of Europe International Songwriting Project is an Erasmus+ Blended Intensive Programme (BIP) developed by the Vienna Music Institute (VMI) in collaboration with its international partner institutions. This innovative mobility format combines digital learning phases with an international physical group mobility, enabling students and lecturers to learn, collaborate, and engage in creative processes across national borders.

The project was initiated in response to the growing need for spaces that foster dialogue, encounter, and mutual understanding in the face of global and societal challenges. In an increasingly diverse European society, an important question arises: How can people from different cultural backgrounds connect, learn from one another, and develop new perspectives together? House of Europe views music as a universal language capable of transcending cultural and social boundaries while creating new forms of collaboration and shared experience.

First launched as an Erasmus+ Blended Intensive Programme in 2021, House of Europe has since evolved into an international initiative that brings together music students from European higher education institutions with guest musicians—many of whom have experienced migration or displacement. The project aims to encourage participants to share their personal stories, artistic identities, and diverse experiences, making them visible through creative dialogue and artistic collaboration.

Rooted in European values such as openness, solidarity, freedom of expression, and mutual respect, House of Europe promotes international cooperation, inclusion, and artistic diversity. It creates a space for exchange across cultural and social boundaries, inviting participants to challenge stereotypes, discover new perspectives, and experience the richness of human and artistic expression.

At the heart of the project are questions of cultural identity, belonging, and collaboration: What shapes our cultural background? How can we work together both artistically and personally? And how do we shape our shared “House of Europe”?

Through participatory workshops, participants collaborate as equals, co-write original songs, and present their work in live performances. Different musical traditions, cultural backgrounds, and personal experiences come together to create new and authentic forms of artistic expression.

The combination of digital learning phases, virtual collaboration, and an intensive in-person project week creates a dynamic learning environment that integrates contemporary music production, intercultural exchange, and artistic development. Throughout the programme, participants strengthen their artistic, intercultural, and collaborative competencies while gaining valuable experience in international creative processes.

The innovative mobility curriculum is jointly developed, planned, and implemented by the Vienna Music Institute in cooperation with its partner institutions: Metropolia University of Applied Sciences (Helsinki), HKU Utrechts Conservatorium (Utrecht), Conservatorio di Musica “Luisa D’Annunzio” (Pescara), Centro Superior Música Creativa (Madrid), and the University of Tartu – Viljandi Culture Academy (Viljandi).

House of Europe Songwriting Project – Winter Semester 2026

The Vienna Music Institute has had the pleasure of hosting this unique project twice – first in 2023 and again in the Summer Semester 2026. The next edition will take place at our Erasmus partner institution, the Viljandi Culture Academy in Estonia. We are excited to continue this international collaboration and to provide students with new opportunities for musical exchange, creative collaboration, and cross-cultural connections.

Embracing Roots in a Multicultural World - My Songwriting Journey

The project unfolds in three main phases:

1. Online Course (1 ECTS credit, open to all students)

Online Classes - Dates:

1. September 25, 13:00-16:00 CET

2. October 02, 13:00-16:00 CET

3. October 09, 13:00-16:00 CET

4. October 16, 13:00-16:00 CET

Format: Online Course

The online course is open to all students, regardless of whether they participate in the on-site programme.

The application form will be open until 14 September 2026.

2. Intensive Week (2 ECTS credits)

Dates: October 25–31, 2026

Held on-site at Viljandi Culture Academy in Viljandi, Estonia this is the heart of the project. Students and guest musicians form small international teams to write and perform new songs together, guided by teachers and professional artists.
Participants: 3–4 selected students per institution (approx. 18–20 students total from 6 countries).

3. Post-Production Period (2 ECTS credits)

Dates (time tba):

November 06, 2026
November 27, 2026
December 18, 2026

Participants from the Intensive Week will work remotely to re-record, refine, and produce their songs to a professional, potentially publishable level. Sessions will be mentored by an experienced producer.

Participation Requirements

Students from the 3rd semester onward in:
Instrumental/Vocal Studies, Songwriting, Electronic Music, Music Production, Composition, Media Composition, or Creative Musicianship
Proven experience in songwriting and stage performance
Excellent English proficiency and strong teamwork skills

Green Travel – Sustainable Travel with House of Europe

As part of the Erasmus+ Green Travel initiative, we are committed to promoting more sustainable international mobility. Participants of the House of Europe project are encouraged to use environmentally friendly means of transport such as trains, buses, or other low-emission travel options for their journey to and from the programme. By choosing sustainable travel, the journey itself becomes an integral part of the international learning experience.

Here, participants share their personal Green Travel experiences and reflect on their sustainable journeys to the House of Europe project weeks.

Green Travel Stories – Experiences from the House of Europe Project

Experience Report by Touko Kinnunen

Experience Report by Koppány Gerner

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"Die ganze Woche war ein einziges Highlight für mich! Für meine Zukunft nehme ich mir mit, dass ich in Zukunft jede Gelegenheit nutzen werde, wieder an ähnlichen Projekten teilzunehmen, ich habe so viel dabei gelernt, auf musikalischer organisatorischer und menschlicher Ebene. Ich habe wirklich jeden Moment genossen und bin mit 20 neuen Freund*innen aus den verschiedensten Ländern und neuen Liedern nachhause gekommen."

(Konstantin Liangos, IGP-Student Gitarre)

"It was a unique experience! I already had a basics of songwriting and co-writing, but this experience taught me to work with any person from any part oft he world with different musical tastes or backgrounds. I learned to believe more in my music, I felt free from judgments. The day oft the final concert was magical!"

(Roberto Randazzo, Music Production-Student)

"For me personally, the biggest thing I learned this week is that great things happen when you allow yourself to be confident and spontaneous and open, musically but also in general with yourself and others. I am so incredibly grateful I got to be a part of this amazing project and I absolutely adore every piece of music that was created (all of them are still stuck in my head) and I met so many nice cool people which hopefully I’ll see again very soon!"

(Alia Wüschner, Songwriting-Studentin)