Binz: Music schools must react to changes
According to Rhineland-Palatinate's Culture Minister Katharina Binz, music schools must react to social changes. "The state association of music schools is currently drawing up a concept for the future - also in consultation with us," said the Green politician in an interview with the German Press Agency in Mainz. "The framework conditions of a music school have changed fundamentally in recent years."
"It used to be the classic institution that either the educated middle classes went to or those who had a special affinity," said Binz. "Society has become more diverse, and music schools have to respond to this."
"The all-day requirement for elementary school from 2026 is also a very important date for music schools," emphasized Binz. "Because then you can no longer assume that the children will come at lunchtime, but you have to think about how we can get into the elementary school and there we will be dealing with a lot of children with very different approaches and backgrounds."
"Music schools have been receiving more and more money from the state for several years," said Binz. In the 2000s, it was still 1.5 million Deutschmarks, "now we are at 3.5 million euros". The state's share of funding for music schools is in line with the average for the federal states.
"The state government is also funding a program for music school teachers," reported Binz. "Because it's a completely different job: My five pupils used to come to me and now I go to school with the transverse flute." Many were already doing this and were successful, for example by going into daycare centers.
The Government of Rhineland-Palatinate is working with music schools to adapt their concepts to societal changes, recognizing the need for music schools to cater to a more diverse population. With the implementation of the all-day requirement for elementary school starting in 2026, music schools will need to adapt their approaches to cater to a wider range of children with varying backgrounds.
Source: www.dpa.com
