About Me

Dr Vilma Timonen, a Lecturer in Folk Music at Sibelius Academy, University of Arts Helsinki, stands out with her unique approach to folk music education. Her extensive career as a folk music educator and musician spans various fields with a particular focus on music teacher education and intangible cultural heritage. She is renowned as one of the pioneers in introducing the traditional Finnish folk instrument Kantele into new musical environments.

Her scholarly work focuses on educational development, comprehending a vast trajectory of individual, institutional and global dimensions. She has extensive international profile. Her partnerships and long-term collaborations in Nepal and Mauritius, for instance, cover vast range of of educational development work, as well as scholarly contributions. Her publications cover a wide range of areas related to educational development, traditional music, diversity in music education and intercultural collaborations. They provide a spectrum of the areas of her educational expertise and illustrate the pervasive international and collaborative approach in her scholarly work. Through the publications, she demonstrates a future-oriented and developmental approach to research. These perspectives embrace collaborative and multidisciplinary approaches and critical lenses to address questions related to politics, equity, and accessibility within and through music education. Timonen thus contributes to co-constructing more inclusive and ethically engaged music education, where diversity is embraced through a commitment to social and cultural justice.