Music schools in Germany

Music schools in Germany cater for students from an early age to postgraduate degrees. They exist within and outwith the formal education system. Fulltime music education with Musikgymnasiums can begin as early as 10 years of age.

Musikschulen

Public Music Schools are charities of the musical education of children, adolescents and adults. They are usually in public ownership as an Association or comply with a public mission. They supplement, rather than replacing music instruction in school. Public Music Schools can be found in most cities and towns. There were 914 public music schools , as of 1 January 2009^[1]. Private Music Schools also exist such as "Musik Froehlich"^[2] Or "Yamaha Schools of Music "

Musikgymnasium

Music Gymnasiums are secondary schools with a musical Focus which are designed to prepare children (from as young as 10/11) specifically for a musical education. Music gymnasiums can be Day schools or Boarding. Music Gymnasiums include special musical subjects such as Rhythm, Music Theory, Ear Training, Composition Student’s normally study two musical instruments including the Piano.

In three cases; Sächsisches Landesgymnasium für Musik "Carl Maria von Weber" in Dresden, Musikgymnasium Belvedere Weimar and; Musikgymnasium Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach in Berlin, the Music Gymnasia work closely with a Hochschule, from where they receive their main instrumental/vocal lessons.

Musikhochschulen

Prior to the introduction of Musikhochschulen, Germany had a long tradition of Konservatoriums. The famous ones were founded in the 19th century: Leipzig (1843), Munich (1846), Berlin (1850), Cologne (1850), Dresden (1856), Stuttgart (1857), Frankfurt (1878)). Some of these, such as the Hoch Conservatory still exist today as Konservatoriums with degree programms in Music, running parallel to the newer Musikhochschule as well as the Musikschule.

Germany has 24 Musikhochschulen^[3] which carry out professional music training. These institutions have university status and are financed by the bundeslander (states) The range of courses covers all musical disciplines including composition, music theory, conducting, performance (singing & instruments) and musicology.

A number of Musikhochschulen include Hochbegabtenzentrum (pre-college departments) whereby students receive instrumental lessons and music theory at weekend classes. Students attend normal schools during the week. Pre-college departments are available at the Hochschule für Musik Köln, Hochschule für Musik, Theater und Medien Hannover, Hochschule für Musik und Darstellende Kunst Mannheim and the Hochschule für Musik Detmold^[4]. The Hoch Conservatory in Frankfurt also has a pre-college department: Pre-College Frankfurt.

See also

• Education in Germany
• Music school
• List of pre-college music schools
• List of university and college schools of music

References

1. ^ Association of German Music Schools. List of Music Schools by State. (In German). Retrieved 2010-01-08
2. ^ Franchisekey. Listing of Musikschule Froehlich Retrieved 2010-01-10
3. ^ Association Europeennne des Conservetoires, Academies de Musique et Musikhochschulen. Overview of Professional Music Training in Germany Retrieved 2010-01-10
4. ^ Hochschule fur Musik Detmold . The Detmold Hochbegabtenzentrum (DHZ). Retrieved 2010-01-10