The SMPV through the ages

When I vacated the Central Secretariat, I was struck by how much SMPV Switzerland has changed in such a short space of time:

Before 2005, much of the association revolved around professional training: you became a member because you had completed your own teaching diploma course at the SMPV, or you were a member because you trained students yourself through the SMPV.
Even back then, members benefited from individual services, but the main focus was the private SMPV music study program.

As a reminder: in 2005, the SMPV decided to make vocational training independent because this was the only way to meet the requirements of the "Bologna reform", but also because vocational studies were tearing an ever larger hole in the association's coffers. In 2007, responsibility for vocational training was handed over to the SAMP Foundation, which in 2009, together with the Kalaidos University of Applied Sciences, founded the SAMP AG School of Music, which in turn later became the Kalaidos School of Music.

The SMPV supported the young conservatoire until all students enrolled on an SMPV course had obtained their SMPV diploma. However, the SMPV's main focus increasingly shifted away from the topic of "vocational training".

What now?

The sections, whose main task has always been to look after their members and offer useful services for music teachers, were not about to undergo a drastic change of direction.
The central association, on the other hand, asked itself many questions: Do we still need it? What are the tasks of the SMPV if it no longer offers vocational training? Does the membership of the SGB decided by the 2005 DM bring us anything? What are the tasks of the "new" SMPV?
In 2011, the Board of Directors organized various meetings in Lucerne for interested members at which these issues were eagerly discussed.
It quickly became clear that the members wanted to preserve and further develop their association. They felt that it should become a purely professional association.
But while some wanted a pure trade union, others were satisfied with the popular services and wanted to leave the SGB straight away. Everyone agreed that the SMPV had to stand up for professionalism in music education. The association should only accept qualified music teachers. This would send a signal in the direction of the protected professional title "SMPV music teacher".

The big break

Nobody had expected the coronavirus pandemic. Many of our members were suddenly faced with existential questions. The SMPV was able to help many of them with advice and support: obtaining all the important information as quickly as possible, bundling it and passing it on to members. Many a presidium was "retrained" - learning by doing - to become a crisis manager. The fact that we were hardly able to obtain any compensation for freelance teachers is due to the fact that cultural workers who teach are either assigned to education or culture, depending on where costs can be avoided. However, we were able to ensure that as many of our events as possible could take place, and because we used good protection concepts to ensure that no one was infected at the events, we were able to show that musicians are not a dangerous species - not even singers.
Unfortunately, some members had to change jobs during this time. The crisis made others particularly strong. It probably even helped the SMPV on its path to professionalization.

The SMPV today

Today, the SMPV is a purely professional association. Throughout its 131-year history, the central association and the sections have constantly Service offers This is why it can offer its members such an unusually wide range of services that all music teachers could actually benefit from membership.
However, some of these services have to be obtained actively.
The SMPV provides: the SMZ subscription, the agenda that is still popular with many and the standard rates for private music lessons. In negotiations with politicians and in discussions with other associations, it advocates a fundamental improvement in the situation for music teachers. If you have problems at work, you can find support from the central association or the sections and, if necessary, you can also get free initial legal advice.
You have to make an active effort to maintain your profile on my-music-lessons.ch and on rent-a-musician.ch - but we will also be happy to advise you.
SMPV members can insure their earnings in the sub-mandatory area with the Music and Education Pension Fund.
At section level, you can have your students perform in music lessons, give teacher concerts, attend practice-relevant, discounted further training or even give a course yourself. You can find all the information you need at smpv.ch/service
Take advantage of our wide range of services and let us know if you have an idea for another service!

Outlook

Challenging times lie ahead: the baby boomers are gradually retiring and some of these members will be leaving the association. Recruiting members will become increasingly important if we do not want to have to raise membership fees sharply or restrict services.
The job title "music teacher" is still not protected, or rather only in the cantons of Vaud and Lucerne and there only for employment in music schools.
The shortage of skilled workers caused by the wave of retirements, which is already real for the instruments piano and guitar, can lead to music schools employing untrained teaching staff who can be paid lower wages, which could lead to wage dumping in general.
And politically, we must ensure that music, dance, theater and art teachers are given a lobby and that they are finally recognized as "cultural workers plus pedagogy".