Figure 1.--Here we see a German boy in 1930 practing music at home. He seems to be wearing a play pinafore. The snapshot was taken in 1930 and the little boy is learning Schubert. I'm not sure just what the instrument is that he is playing.

Germany is perhaps more famed for music than any other country. Many of the most beloved classical compsers were German. We are unsure just why this was, but surely the education system is at least partially responsible. Hopefully our German readers will provide some insight here. We are unsure just how Germany approached music instruction. We suspect is was essentially a matter of home training by musically inclined parents and private instruction. This would suggest that it was largely a middle-class phenomenon. We are not sure at this time how common instrumental music was among working-class Germans. Churches may have also played a role. Many important figures in German music came out of church choirs. Both Catholic and Protestant churches had choirs. Germany of course until the 1870s was split into many different countries and other jurisdictions. So there may have been substantial differences among the different German states. At this time we only have some limited information on marching bands. We note portraits of boys with instruments. We are unsure at this time just how popular different instruments were among German boys.

German Musical Tradition

Germany is perhaps more famed for music than any other country. Many of the most beloved classical compsers were German. The list is huge including Beethoven, Bach, Brahms, Handel, Mendelson, Mozart, Strauss, and many other famed composers. Germany is a country of music. Not only has every sizable city an opera (Berlin has three opera houses) and a symphony orchestra, nearly every town has a brass band. It is wonderful to notice that many players in these bands are quite young. Then there are numerous choirs everywhere (no instruments required. except the human voice). There are now rock, pop, and metal bands or the more civilized dance orchestras. We are unsure just why the German musical tradition is unparalleled. Surely the education system is at least partially responsible. Hopefully our German readers will provide some insight here.

Schools

We have not noted much attention to music in German schools until after World War II which is especially interesting given the importance of music in German life. Until the 20 century, no country had played a greater role in Western music than Germany. We do not know if music was a part of the curicula or if so just how deeply they got into music theory. We know there was singing in primary schools, but we do not know much more than that. Hopefully our German readers can cast some light on this. We note that modern German schools incude both music and visual arts in the curriculm, but we do not know much about what the music classes consisted of or what was included in the curriculum before World War II. (Major changes occurred in German education after World War II.) Learning musical instruments seems more a home activity and private tuition than a school activity. Presunably some schools had music rooms and organized performace groups, but we have little information. We have noted some after-school choral groups, but we do not know if there were school choral programs during the day. We believe that an important part of music edivation to the extent it existed. Club activity was elective. What we might call extra-curricular activities today. We suspect that much of the actual music learning, at least instrumental learning took place in clubs. And this would have dependened on the interests and abilities of the teachers willing to devote their attention and time to working with the students. And club work would have been unpaid. The group here seemd to be a gyumamium orchestra organized as a club activity

Instrumental Instruction

We are unsure just how Germany approached music instruction. We suspect is was essentially a matter of home training by musically inclined parents and private instruction. Many adult Germans remember their childhood music teachers with considerable fondness. We think that primarily men were involved, but this gender disparity has probanly declined in recent years. We do no believe that children were taught to play instruments at school before World War II, but our information is limited. This tradition of music instruction was brought to America by German immigrants. Home instruction and private tutoring would suggest that learning a musical instrument was largely a middle-class phenomenon. We are not sure at this time how common instrumental music was among working-class Germans. Churches may have also played a role. Konservatoriums (conservatories) were founded in the 19th century: Leipzig (1843), Munich (1846), Berlin (1850), Cologne (1850), Dresden (1856), Stuttgart (1857), Frankfurt (1878)). These were facilities for particularly talented individuals to perfect their skills, not to introduce the average child to a mnusical instrument. Modern Germany have Musikhochschule as well as the Musikschule, secondary schools for children with a strong interest in music. Germany today has about 25 Musikhochschulen which offer professional music training for takented children hoping for a career in music. These schools have university status and are financed by individual bundeslander (states). The courses offered cover a wide range of music disciplines and elements (composition, music theory, conducting, performance, and musicology. Several of these Musikhochschulen include Hochbegabtenzentrum (pre-college departments) offering instrumental lessons and music theory classes over the weekend. Students attend regular schools during the week.

Germany Choirs

Many countries of Western and Central Europe have a long tradition of church boys' choirs dating back to the medevil era. Germany has like, neigboring countries, has an important choral tradition. Some of the most beautiful choral music has been written by German composers, for choirs--including many pieces for boy choirs. A great deal of music scholarsip exists on this music. Much less information exists on the choirs and boys who sang this music. Many important figures in German music came out of church choirs. Both Catholic and Protestant churches had choirs.

Regional Trends

Germany of course until the 1870s was split into many different countries and other jurisdictions. So there may have been substantial differences among the different German states.

Group Music

At this time we only have some limited information on marching bands.

Instrumental Music

We do not yet have much information about instrumental music in Germany. We do not know much about the relative popularity of the various instruments that children have played. We note portraits of boys with instruments. They do not seem to be as common as similar American portraits. But they may because our German archive is still relatively small. We hope that the photographic record will shed some light on the relative popularity of different instruments. Of course this has varied over time.

Created: 10:25 PM 7/26/2005
Last updated: 1:18 AM 12/24/2010