Music education in Croatia during the period of socialist realism: the first ten years of work of the music schools in Vinkovci and Pula

Abstract

The paper suggests reasons for the establishment of music schools in Croatia in the first years after World War II and illustrates the common features and the differences in their activities from the examples of two music school, those of Pula and Vinkovci. Following a method of comparison, the article investigates the circumstances and the reasons for their establishment, the interest of young people to learn certain instruments, teaching staff education, concert activities of the schools, influence of political institutions on their functioning etc. Directly after their establishment, the schools of Vinkovci and Pula were suffering the same problems: lack of qualified staff, large number of students, poor material conditions and expectations of the politics. During the mid-1950s positive trends emerged: teachers were being educated, proper housing was found for both schools etc. The Music School of Vinkovci, having well qualified staff, undertook to organise concert events enabling the citizens of Vinkovci to learn about numerous renowned music artists. The Music School of Pula, on the other hand, was oriented towards setting the conditions for the opening of the secondary music school and a higher education school where music teaching staff could be educated.