Association deplores shortage of specialists at German music schools

The Association of German Music Schools is complaining about a lack of specialists to train the next generation of musicians. Music is an educational mission, personality development and a location factor, and in many regions it is the cultural backbone of society, explained Friedrich-Koh Dolge at the end of the music school congress in Dresden.

Skills shortage is real

"But our music schools are coming under increasing pressure. The skills shortage is real. It is not only paralyzing further development, but is also slowly jeopardizing existing structures - especially in elementary music education," says Dolge. What is needed, for example, is a new pay scale and better career opportunities for those working at music schools.

More than 1,700 participants at the music school congress

According to the association, more than 1,700 participants came to Dresden for the music school congress. Three days of plenary sessions, forums and working groups at the Congress Centrum in the Saxon state capital focused on topics such as the use of artificial intelligence in teaching, music education, inclusion and strategies for recruiting specialist staff.

The German String Philharmonic - the flagship ensemble sponsored by the Association of German Music Schools - kicked off the event with a concert in Dresden's Kulturpalast. For one piece, the ensemble was joined by 40 girls and boys from music schools in Saxony.