Marta Tracana

Biography

Marta Garcia Tracana, from Porto-Vila Nova de Gaia, recognized her preference for music in a very early age: she began her musical studies at the age of four and continued through primary and secondary school. At university level, her training focused on Music Education and Music Teaching, having professionalized in both branches of teaching (pre-Bologna degree and post-Bologna Master’s degree). In the field of research, she has focused on Child Studies, in the speciality of Music Education (Master’s and PhD), investigating issues related to musical performance in formal and non-formal contexts, the curriculum and teacher training in the generic and specialized branches of music education and teaching, and educational policies and their implementation in the field. Her professional career spans mainstream education (since 2001), higher education and scientific research (since 2005), and specialized artistic music teaching in informal education (since 2013). She keeps in constant contact with the reality of Portuguese schools and with formal and informal artistic and musical projects, as well as organizing arts festivals on a voluntary basis. She considers that she has a global view of the reality of Music Education and Teaching in Portugal, recognizing its strengths and weaknesses, and knows first-hand the impact of the implementation of different educational policies over the years. Her experience in the field of educational, professional and scientific sciences and her practice of constantly questioning the phenomenon of education and teaching encourage her to continue investing in academic and scientific training and scientific research.