70 Jahre Musische Wochen

This pilot project, launched during the post-World War II reconstruction years, was founded in 1956. A Berlin success story.

For some 1,200 Berlin children and teenagers, it is once again the highlight of the school year: a performance in the Philharmonie’s Chamber Music Hall, together with the ensemble they have been rehearsing with for many months. Whether it’s a big band, choir, guitar ensemble, dance group, or wind orchestra: on stage, students demonstrate what they have achieved with the support of dedicated music teachers.

This might be an original composition brought to life by a percussion ensemble using barrels, ladders, and household items, or a Renaissance madrigal sung by an a cappella choir. The program includes classic film scores, musical theater hits, and jazz standards. The diverse genres reflect the variety of musical interests and cultural influences. What all ensembles have in common is joy, dedication, and discipline. Anyone who has experienced the concerts knows what music can achieve in school.

The Musische Wochen (Music Weeks) are a product of the postwar era. They were launched in 1956 in what was then West Berlin to advance the city’s cultural reconstruction. In 1975, another model project was added: music-focused elementary schools. Most of these schools were established in lower-income neighborhoods so that socially disadvantaged children could also learn an instrument. Once a week, they receive 45 minutes of free group instrumental instruction, and they also participate in a music club. There are now 17 music-focused elementary schools in Berlin, and the former pilot program is regarded as a model nationwide.

Katharina Günther-Wünsch, Senator for Education, Youth, and Family, emphasizes the importance of music education in schools: “For 70 years, Music Weeks have symbolized the special significance of cultural education in our schools. They demonstrate how making music together fosters creativity, brings a sense of community to life, and encourages students to showcase their skills in front of an audience. The fact that so many young people take the stage year after year underscores the firm place music holds in everyday school life.”

The Senate Department for Education, Youth, and Family and the Landesmusikrat Berlin e.V. work closely together to organize the Music Weeks. On the occasion of the anniversary, Hella Dunger-Löper, President of the Landesmusikrat Berlin, also draws attention to the worsening nationwide shortage of teachers: “Anyone who experiences music as a child, in community with others, carries a treasure within them. Let’s ensure that this early and joyful access to making music is preserved for the future.”

Dates:

April 27 and May 7: Music-focused elementary schools in the Chamber Music Hall of the Philharmonie

Time: 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

May 15 and May 27: Berlin school ensembles in the Philharmonie’s Chamber Music Hall

Time: 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM