THE IMPACT OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC ON MUSIC EDUCATION IN UKRAINE

This article investigates the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on music education in Ukraine. In March 2020, Ukrainian authorities proclaimed a national lockdown like the ones in most other European countries. Restrictions included prohibition for students to attend lessons at schools or universities that would make any classroom musical activities illegal. Relevant legal acts have been collected in this article. To avoid closure, most of music education institutions provided a distance form of education. However, remote methods did not appear to be a worthy substitute for in-person lessons, especially in such disciplines as ensemble playing or singing. This article reveals the main disadvantages of distance music education, the most important of which is a sig-nal delay during remote communication via the Internet. A survey of teachers in Ukrainian music schools about their experience under lockdown restrictions was conducted. The survey shows that many teachers regard distance education as much harder and less effective. Moreover, most teachers feel that students lose motivation to learn and practice music. This result does not sig-nificantly differ in rural areas from that of large cities and does not depend on teachers' attitudes to COVID-19 prevention methods, and as such, indicates an objective nature of fact. Undesirable consequences of the measures taken during the pandemic arise as a key discussion of whether the restrictions are of benefit or harm.