World Music School Helsinki

13/09/2026

International interest in Kannus is growing.

World Music School is currently in discussions with two European Institutions, collaborations that could bring international musicians, workshops, residencies and performances to Kannus.

Our aim is to develop the Kannus railway station into a place where local and international musicians can meet, create and perform together.

Nothing is confirmed yet, but the conversations themselves show the potential of building an internationally connected cultural hub in Kannus.

More soon.

12/09/2026

Who gets to make the first sound?

Our new article develops ideas from Pedro Aibeo’s talk The Acoustics of Belonging, presented at the UNESCO Creative Cities Forum in Varaždin.

One of the starting points is simple:

Music is a language.

And language would be absurd if only professionals were allowed to speak.

The article asks what happens when music is not only performed for people, but used as a space where people can meet, teach, learn, make mistakes, borrow from one another and begin something together.

It also asks a question for every City of Music:

Should success be measured only by how much music is programmed, or also by how much musical life people themselves are free to initiate?

“The point is that somebody was allowed to begin.”

Read the article:
https://worldmusic.school/the-acoustics-of-belonging/

Watch the full talk:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bn8NhmAP15U

What makes a city belong to its citizens? And what happens when par...

28/08/2026

We hosted again this year, for the 3rd year on a row, the airientation event of the Air Guitar World Championships - Ilmakitaransoiton MM-kisat of 2026! 😀😃🙂

25/08/2026

Our Chairman aibeo will be speaking on music, architecture and democracy at the upcoming UNESCO event in Croacia

21/08/2026

So here it is, our World Music School just expanded to Nepal!:-)

15/06/2026

The World Music School AIR is proud to announce that it will once again host Airientation, the official welcome event of the Air Guitar World Championships, on 26 August 2026.

We're excited to announce that World Music School AIR will once again host Airientation, the official welcome event of the Air Guitar World Championships, on 26 August 2026.

For many years, Airientation has been the moment when air guitarists from around the world first come together before the championships. Since 2024, this tradition has found a home at the World Music School AIR, the world's first permanent air guitar school in Oulu. Expect a unique mix of Finnish traditions and international culture, including community activities, music, sauna, games, food, workshops, and the opportunity to meet performers arriving from across the globe.

As Oulu celebrates its year as European Capital of Culture, Airientation 2026 will be a special opportunity to welcome the world to our city through creativity, participation, and the spirit of Make Air Not War. More details coming soon.

Air Guitar Australia Air Guitar Kenya Air Guitar Canada Air Guitar World Championships - Ilmakitaransoiton MM-kisat Denver Air Guitar US Air Guitar Yle Oulu

12/04/2026

World Music School turns 10.

What began as an experiment in music education grew into something much wider: live events, folk dances with live music, international collaborations, the Open Mic / podcast, and now a new phase of expansion into Nepal.

Over the past decade, World Music School has worked to connect cultures through music not as a slogan, but as practice. We built events where different traditions meet in the same room. We created spaces where beginners and experienced musicians could learn together. We invited artists from many backgrounds to perform, speak, teach and share.

One important part of this journey has been the World Music School Open Mic, launched in 2020 with Helsinki Open Waves in Caisa. What started as a monthly live show became a polylingual platform where musicians could speak about their work, play music live, and be heard across borders.

And now, 10 years on, the story keeps growing. World Music School is entering a new chapter with stronger international links, including the development of work in Kathmandu and a broader network connecting Europe, Nepal and Portugal.

Thank you to all the musicians, dancers, guests, teachers, partners, volunteers, listeners, audiences and friends who have been part of this journey.

10 years behind us.
A lot still ahead.

31/03/2026

Our first-ever event featuring Folk Dances with Live Music was in 2016 about Kurdish Iranian traditions, a powerful expression of unity, resilience, and collective joy through music and dance.

In the years that followed, in 2020, we continued this path by hosting a similar event focused on Palestinian music and dances, celebrating another rich cultural heritage.

Today, as conflicts continue to affect communities across the region, we stand with the families and people of Iran and Palestine.

We condemn the ongoing wars and the suffering they bring.

Through music, dance, and cultural exchange, we will continue to promote dialogue, understanding, and peace.




Caisa

14/03/2026

Our first guest in 2020 of our podcast was Gian Majidi, an Iranian-Finnish singer and composer living in Finland. He shared music, stories, and reflections on cultural identity and artistic life.

At times when news from Iran is again filling the headlines, it feels important to remember the human side: artists, musicians, and communities who build bridges through culture.

Music reminds us that beyond politics and conflict, there are voices, traditions, and people connecting the world.

Listen to the episode here:
https://worldmusic.school/the-show/gian-majidi/

Visit the post for more.