Programme contents

The first year lays the foundations for an education in music and for learning a musical instrument later on. The tuition focuses on the introduction of sixteen different musical instruments, from which the students can select their favourite instrument.They learn about basic musical elements such as beat, rhythm and notation through singing, dancing and painting. 

Among the instruments are string instruments, wind instruments as well as accordions, guitars, djembes, cajons and baglamas. The children try out the instruments and even construct some of them to help them understand the laws of sound production. Hopefully, by the end of the first grade, the children will be interested in learning to play one of the instruments. Each child will choose his/her favourite instrument. Music teachers come to the schools and join primary school teacher in giving the children basic music instruction. With two teachers co-instructing the children, an intensive level of pedagogical support is guaranteed.

The following musical instruments are available:

String: Violin, viola, cello, double bass
Woodwind: Transverse flute, clarinet, recorder
Brass: Trumpet, trombone, horn
Other: Guitar, mandolin, accordion, percussion instruments
Others are available, for example, baglamas, balalaikas, bouzoukis etc.

As of the second year until the fourth year, the primary school children learn all about their selected instrument in great detail. The musical instruments are available for the children to borrow for free to use in school and at home.

The boys and girls make music once a week as part of the programme "An Instrument for Every Child". The first songs and instrumental pieces are performed as part of an annual end-of-term performance in front of family and friends.

Tuition in the third and fourth year is based on two pillars - instrument tuition in small groups and making music together in the "Kunterbunt Ensemble".

Together in the school orchestra

During the third and fourth year, the students play together in the Kunterbunt Ensemble. All instruments large and small are included, making it quite literally "kunterbunt" - the German word for jumbled up. Baglamas, accordions, violins, double bass, recorders, guitars and much more offer a basis for the children to develop new listening habits in the ensemble. The most important aspect is to play together on the music instrument, thus learning musical and social skills: they have to listen to the others, begin and end together and work together to develop the pieces of music. The special aural experience of the early ensemble performances with its diversity motivates the children to take part in group instrument teaching.

Participation

All first-year students in the participating primary schools automatically take part in "An Instrument for Every Child" and then decide at the end of the first year whether they would like to continue participating. The small fees to be paid as of the second school year for the participation may, in certain cases, be paid for by a scholarship or exemption may even be granted. The most important goal is to provide all children with the same opportunities.