Music school congress expects over 1,000 teachers in Dresden

The nationwide music school congress will also address the financial situation of schools this Friday in Dresden. According to the Association of German Music Schools (VdM), the so-called Herrenberg ruling by the Federal Social Court poses major financial challenges for music schools, as teachers are generally subject to social security contributions.

The court ruling from 2022 penalized a music school teacher in Herrenberg (Baden-Württemberg) who worked on a fee basis. The courts saw a case of bogus self-employment. The ruling obliges all school providers to employ teachers subject to social insurance contributions. This makes the costs for music schools more expensive, and many of them are worried about their existence.

More than 1,000 teachers and other experts are expected to attend the congress until Sunday. The focus is on the challenges and opportunities that music education will have to face in the future. This also includes topics such as artificial intelligence and a changing world of work. The German Philharmonic String Orchestra will kick off the event with a concert. More than 900 institutions are organized in the Association of German Music Schools.