Paraguayan Music Education: A New Organizational Framework for conservatories and Schools
A doctoral thesis, “The conservatories and music schools of Paraguay, an organizational proposal for their management,” was successfully defended on October 9, 2025, at the sala de Graus of the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona by Juan Nicolás Samudio Bareiro. The research, supervised by Dr. Carme Armengol and Dr. Cristina mercader of CRiEDO, underwent examination by a committee comprised of Dr. Òscar flores (University of Lleida, president), Dr.Fernando Lara (University of Granada,member),and Dr. Anna Díaz-Vicario (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, secretary).
The study investigated the current state of music education infrastructure and management in Paraguay, pursuing three core objectives: identifying the physical characteristics of music education centers, analyzing the perceptions of teachers and administrators regarding existing management practices, and examining proposed improvements from these key stakeholders.
Employing a mixed-methods exploratory approach,the research revealed persistent challenges despite ongoing efforts to modernize facilities. Important deficiencies were identified in areas such as acoustics, spatial layout, and accessibility for students wiht diverse needs.Furthermore, the study highlighted a critical shortage of essential resources, including libraries, auditoriums, and dedicated digital environments to support both academic instruction and administrative functions.
In response to these findings, the thesis proposes a focused plan for improvement centered around three key areas. First, the establishment of instrument lending banks would broaden access to a variety of instruments for students.Second, the adaptation and soundproofing of existing classrooms are recommended to create optimal learning environments for high-quality music instruction. the thesis advocates for the provision of well-stocked libraries offering diverse and accessible pedagogical materials to support both students and educators. This organizational proposal aims to strengthen the foundation of music education within paraguay’s conservatories and schools.
