The school

Tónskólinn í Reykjavík (The Reykjavik School of Music) has been operating since 1991 and receives funding from the City of Reykjavík through a service agreement. The school offers a diverse music education in the form of both group and private lessons. Since its founding, the school has adhered to the National Curriculum for Music Schools, graduating numerous students at the basic, intermediate, and advanced levels.

Teaching takes place at the school’s headquarters at Hverafold 5 in Grafarvogur, as well as in Grafarholt, Úlfarsárdal, Árbæ, and the Bústaðir neighborhood, across sixteen elementary schools and two churches. Instruction is offered during both school and after-school hours. Instruments taught include piano, guitar, violin, viola, cello, flute, voice, and accordion. Students aged 10 and older also attend music theory classes.

Several ensembles are run by the school, including a string orchestra, guitar ensembles, and other chamber groups or collaborative ensembles. The school operates a preparatory department in both Grafarvogur Church and Bústaðir Church, where most preparatory students attend both choir rehearsals and instrument workshops. There is also an active youth vocal group. The preparatory students and the youth group form two choirs: the Grafarvogur Children’s and Youth Choir, and the Fossvogur Children’s Choir.

The school employs 18 teachers, with an annual student body of around 270. Of those, approximately 220 students receive private instruction, while the rest attend the preparatory department or the vocal group. The school is staffed by well-educated and ambitious teachers who utilize personalized, formative assessment and guidance in their teaching. The school actively collaborates with preschools, elementary schools, and other music schools, and regularly participates in a variety of festivals and community events.

The primary objective of Tónskólinn í Reykjavík is to provide high-quality music education, foster young people’s awareness and knowledge of music, and enrich musical practice and cultural life. The school’s goals are achieved through:

• Comprehensive instruction across as many musical disciplines as resources and circumstances permit at any given time.

• Broadening access to music education for as many students as possible by offering a diverse selection of lesson times and teaching locations.

• Diverse opportunities for students to develop their musical talents and critical appreciation, while strengthening their self-image, independence, and creativity.

• Promoting well-being, mental health, and preventative care.

• Emphasizing the social value of making music through various forms of ensemble playing, collaboration, and dialogue.

• Providing students with regular opportunities to perform, both within the school and in the wider community.

• Preparing students for further studies in music, enabling them to become either active participants in musical life or appreciative audiences.

According to the National Curriculum, music schools play a multifaceted role in society. They are tasked with fostering a vibrant musical culture while simultaneously working to enhance the competence, knowledge, and personal development of the individual. The school must take into account the diverse interests, abilities, and maturity levels of its students. Consequently, teaching methods and subjects must be diverse, and flexibility in school operations is essential.

The Beginning

The music school was founded in 1991 by Sigríður Árnadóttir, a music educator and the school’s principal, and Wilma Young, a violin teacher. Wilma maintained a strong folk music group and taught violin for many years but had to retire due to illness and passed away in 2022. Sigríður Árnadóttir was the principal and led the school’s thriving program from its inception until 2023. Edda Austmann then took over as principal.

Name Change

The school’s operations had undergone significant changes, and it expanded into more neighborhoods beyond Grafarvogur, such as Grafarholt, Úlfarsárdalur, Háaleiti, Bústaðir and Árbær. The name of the school, Grafarvogur Music School ended up being misleading for students so a name change was considered. What all the students have in common is that they live in Reykjavík, as the school operates based on a service agreement with the City of Reykjavík.