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Since its inauguration in 1979 in the Raval district of Barcelona, Taller de Músics has been a living organism in constant evolution, deeply rooted in the city and with a clear international vocation. Its restless, activist and committed spirit transcends the classroom giving rise to orchestras and groups, productions and management of artists, record releases, festivals and programmes, social inclusion projects, research, and its own creations and the concert hall Taller de Músics 24.
Taller de Músics was founded in 1979 in the Raval district of Barcelona, reflecting the creative boom of the time and the confluence of musicians from different musical and geographical backgrounds. Initially, it was structured around a music school specialising in jazz, modern popular music and flamenco. By playing in a group and stepping on stage, Taller de Musics makes the pedagogical method unique. The school was born with a desire for change and internationalisation, which is why it created the I International Jazz Seminar in its first months of activity already, followed by 30 more editions. The seminars attract leading figures from European and American jazz, such as Brad Mehldau, Max Roach and Thad Jones, and in a short time, the message and philosophy of Taller de Músics’ teaching became public knowledge.
The projection of flamenco on the foreground materialised at the end of the 80s, after the creation of the Carmen Amaya International Seminar, with the active and passionate participation of Enrique Morente. It was these seminars that brought together countless American and European jazz musicians with flamenco artists from all over the world so that they could get to know each other as artists and share their admiration for the sophistication and depth of the two musical languages, jazz and flamenco, the two genres that are part of the Taller de Músics’ DNA.
From its very first steps, Taller de Músics has shown two of its most distinctive differential characteristics, its wide-ranging stylistic views and a natural tendency towards freedom in the right sense.
The encounter of musicians from different musical and geographical backgrounds was naturally and closely related to the environment of the Taller de Músics. From the beginning, a community was created, made up of musicians, teachers, students, school workers and neighbours from the Raval. Taller de Músics’ attachment to this neighbourhood has been a major influence in the coexistence and transformation of the area that includes Príncep de Viana, Requesens and Cendra streets, improving the living conditions of the neighbourhood. All the people who move around Taller de Músics identified with the social problems of the neighbourhood, and their desire for progress and everything that has to do with human relations in a district that borders on marginality and that nowadays still faces with important social challenges.
The unique and singular pedagogical method thrives and in 2009 and Taller de Músics Bachelor of Music (ESEM) was born, located in the Sant Andreu district. The first expansion took place, true to its commitment to taking root in the environment. If one idea has to summarise the institutional trajectory of the Taller de Músics, it is the social impact that it has generated from creation and musical talent, both in the neighbourhoods of its city and in the schools with which it works, as well as on the stages where it is active. Its work helps the development of our future generations.
The Taller de Músics is a referential institution in the teaching of popular music, both nationally and internationally. Students participate in a creative, dynamic and innovative environment that allows them to learn and develop a musical career oriented towards any genre and at any level.
We pursue two main objectives, always respecting the criteria of professionalism and efficiency. On the one hand, to offer a solid and complete training. On the other hand, to adapt the educational lines to the realities of the moment, betting decisively on training that facilitates insertion of our students in the labour market.
However the Taller de Músics is much more than that, as it stands out as a platform that develops a whole set of activities aimed at promoting and divulging music.
Our aim is to create an open and restless spirit in favour of the musical knowledge, both from an individual point of view, with the learning of the instrument, and from a collective point of view, by means of the practice divided in subjects like Instrumental Ensemble, Harmony, Arrangements, Musical Language, etc. And from this, to lay the foundations for the technical requirements necessary for the future professional practice of music.
Our Study Plan is focused on a creative praxis, with abundant proposals of the intersection with diverse musical languages, and distancing ourselves from all those formulas that seem closed to us for learning. It also offers other programmes for teaching and disseminating music adapted to current musical and technological demands.
The bachelor of Music offers advanced studies in Jazz and Modern Music Performance, Flamenco Performance, Composition, Music Pedagogy and Production and Management.
The Bachelor Degree was incorporated into the Taller de Músics during the 2009-2010 academic year. For this purpose, the facilities of the Centre Cultural Can Fabra, in the Sant Andreu district, were adapted with the aim of teaching this knowledge in a space specially designed to cover the specific needs of this type of studies.
Closely related to the curriculum of the Taller de Músics there are a series of courses, masterclasses and seminars that allow extending the knowledge acquired during the regular course.
The commitment to teaching, sharing and spreading music has been a priority for Taller de Músics. Currently, the Management & Productions department is known as one of the references in the field of cultural management of modern music. It participates in the most relevant music festivals and events. It works on the promotion of musicians linked directly or indirectly to the Taller. It produces its own shows and research work. It offers solid and experienced platforms in the process of accompanying author’s creations, as is the case of the Original Jazz Orchestra Taller de Músics (OJO). Finally, it brings together the best and most diverse groups to offer shows and concerts adapted to different events, whether public or private and manages the tours of around 20 shows and artists.
The Colección del Taller aims to record the musical activity that takes place in Barcelona, especially in the field of jazz and improvised music. The recordings that have been made so far within the collection are a compilation of music of some of the creators and performers who have been working in Barcelona for some time. Among them are well-known artists like Tete Montoliu, Pau Riba, Miguel Poveda, Los Aurora, Big Mama Montse and Chicuelo, among others.
The Social Projects Area was created in 2014, developing a line of work within the field of social intervention to bring musical practice closer to diverse sectors of the population, especially the most vulnerable or underprivileged. This area is based on the work of Taller de Músics in the Raval and the experience of projects such as Raval Kids (2010), Rumba al Mundo (2012) and Ritmo es Vida (2014).
The three programs that make up the Social Projects department since 2014, are born from the conviction of the transforming potential of culture as a tool for inclusion and empowerment. The most outstanding musical projects are Taller Obert and Cabal Musical. They both enjoy professional support to become artistic proposals with a projection and a path within the sector.
In 2016, the music hall Taller de Músics 24 is inaugurated. It is part of the Association of Concert Halls of Catalonia (ASACC), so it participates in Curtcircuit and Club Circuit. In addition to concerts, the hall also hosts masterclasses, flamenco dance classes and various artistic residencies for the creation of new productions.
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ÀLEX SERRA
CARLOS AGUILAR