Dear students, dear colleagues,

on 6 May 2021, the updated Thuringian SARS-CoV-2 Measures Ordinance came into force. According to this, artistic-practical training sections may take place in presence again.

This means that artistic individual and ensemble lessons in presence are possible with the maximum number of persons indicated at the room. This also applies to the larger ensembles. Recitals may take place, but the maximum of persons permitted in the room is also applicable.
The hygiene regulations must be strictly observed.

Although testing for classes is not obligatory according to the recent ordinance, I strongly recommend making use of voluntary testing for ensemble rehearsals (cf. My letter of 29.04.21). According to the Thuringian Measures Ordinance, tests are not obligatory for examinations, as the university guarantees sufficient infection control measures.

Yours sincerely,
Christoph Stölzl
President

Please visit https://thueringen.de/verkuendungen for the complete text of §33a of the "Dritte Verordnung zur Änderung der Thüringer SARS-CoV-2-Infektionsschutz-Maßnahmenverordnung".

Dear students, dear colleagues,

over the past few days, the university management and the crisis team have discussed in detail the effects that the "federal emergency brake" will have on the work at our university. The purpose of the emergency brake is to restrict contacts even further as soon as incidence levels exceeds certain thresholds. Our immediate reaction was to cancel face-to-face lessons this week.

The science ministers (Wissenschaftsminister*innen) of all federal states have already informed the federal government last week that they will make face-to-face education possible under certain circumstances in accordance with the law. Accordingly, several music academies have already continued with limited face-to-face lessons.

On the basis of all these conditions, as well as the current situation, we will continue to make regular evaluations and decide for a period of 2-3 weeks at a time under which conditions university activities can continue.

The following regulations will be initially in effect from Monday, May 3 until May 24:

Classes, rehearsals and practice

Individual artistic lessons and lessons with up to six people (all participants included!) can again take place face-to-face, if teachers and students mutually wish so. The maximum number of people allowed per room must always be adhered to!

Rehearsals and joint practice are also possible in the appropriate rooms with a maximum number of six people. The same applies to internal class auditions/class lessons.

Even larger university ensembles such as orchestra, choir and big band can initially only rehearse divided into a maximum group size of 5 participants plus one teacher.

Examinations may take place.

If more than six people need to be in a room at the same time to prepare for or take an exam that must be taken before the 6/15/21 in order to graduate, the Examinations Office will decide on the feasibility on a case-by-case basis. Please notify the Examinations Office immediately if you are affected by this.

The members of the examination board are determined by the respective examination regulations. The number of members of ensembles must also be adjusted, if necessary, so that the maximum number of persons permitted in the respective room can be observed.

Auditions

All departments have already been asked in which form the auditions (2nd stage) should take place. If an audition person to person is planned, the university management expects the submission of a recent negative Corona test from all those present.

The university administration points out that face-to-face examinations may be cancelled shortly before the scheduled date should the general situation make it necessary.
 

Guests, persons from outside the university

Persons from outside the university are generally not granted access to university buildings unless their presence is absolutely necessary for the feasibility of teaching or they have an urgent task to perform for the university. Compliance with hygiene rules, registration via QRoniton is also mandatory for guests, the university management also expects the submission of a recent negative Corona test.
 

Library

University library hours remain in effect as posted on the website.

Appeal proceedings / interviews

Separate regulations apply to appeal proceedings and interviews, which are clarified individually with the respective managing directors.
 

Events

Until further notice, no public events will take place. For internal university events, the maximum number of participants of six must be observed until 24.5.

In the week of May 17, we will reassess the regulations for the weeks after Pentecost and adjust them if necessary. We urge you to support and comply with the tightened regulations until then. Based on positive indications regarding the vaccination pace, we remain cautiously optimistic that we will be able to handle this semester well, despite all the restrictions.

With kind regards,
Christoph Stölzl
President

Dear teachers, dear staff, dear students,

starting on Monday May 3, 2021, all university members on presentation of their Thoska card, will be able to obtain two rapid antigen tests (self-test) per week. The rapid antigen tests (self-test) will be distributed through a window on the first floor of the administration building at Platz der Demokratie.

Issue times:
Monday to Friday: 12.00 to 2.00 p.m.

additionally:
Monday and Thursday: 4.00 to 6.00 p.m.
 

Please note the following additional information:

• Every university member (teachers, lecturers, staff members, students) may receive TWICE rapid antigen test (self-test) per week. This is to be used exclusively for university related purposes only.

• The rapid antigen test (self-test) is primarily intended for university members who cannot work in a home office have to work in presence and have contact with other persons due to their activity.

• Use the antigen rapid test (self-test) in particular if you participate in internal university courses, meetings, appointments, etc. with more than 5 people in a closed room.

• Separate regulations apply to presentations in the context of contract negotiations. These regulations will be clarified with the respective dean's office managers.

• Note that the validity of the test result has a maximum validity of 4 to 6 hours. It is recommended to take the test no more than one hour before the before the meeting.

• Perform the test at home, if possible, and dispose of the used test utensils properly in the bag enclosed in the package.

• Used tests do not belong in the regular waste bins at the university. Use the collection waste bins in the hallways of the university buildings (compartment: Sonstige Reststoffe (Other Residuals)).

• If the test is positive, it is imperative to follow the instructions in the package (immediate self-isolation; call the Corona hotline: 03643 | 762 555 or the emergency medical service: 116 117).

• The rapid antigen test (self-test) may be distributed free of charge to all university employees twice a week. The funding is provided by the university from its budget. Please carefully consider whether self-testing is necessary for university purposes.

• Please continue to use the rapid testing centers of the city of Weimar (Weimar-Coronavirus tests)

• Performing the rapid antigen test (self-test) is voluntary.

• The performance of a rapid antigen test (self-test) is not required as an access authorization for courses, rehearsals, meetings, etc.

• The test is an additional safety offer. The tests do not enable further relaxation of other safety measures.

• The hygiene and safety regulations from our safety and hygiene plan still apply - in particular: Keep your distance, wear a mask, disinfect your hands, ventilate and use the contact tracing system Qroniton.

With kind regards,
Christine Gurk
Chancellor

Dear students, dear colleagues,

The second summer semester under pandemic conditions is upon us. We want to make it as safe and as effective as possible. Unfortunately, there will continue to be many restrictions. I would like to thank all those in our university community who have contributed to the success of academic studies and teaching. By putting up with the restrictions, you have helped to keep teaching, artistic practice and research running.

The following continues to apply: limiting person to person contact is the top priority. Where personal contact cannot be avoided: Keep your distance! Wear mouth-nose covering! Ventilate the rooms as often and as intensively as possible! And above all: always use our contact recording system QRoniton!

For the summer semester 2021, the university management, in coordination with the crisis team, has decided on the following regulations:

Teaching events as well as events in the context of study and teaching

• Artistic lessons may take place in person individually or in ensembles, as long as all participating teachers and students agree on this. The applicable maximum number of persons per room must be strictly adhered to

• Courses offered by the Center for Music Theory are considered artistic lessons

• Class recitals may be held, but the applicable maximum number of persons per room must be strictly adhered to

• Larger ensembles with more than 15 participants (university orchestra, chamber choir, university choir, Collegium musicum, school music big band, large ensemble, early music ensemble) will not take place for the time being until April 19, 2021; for the time after that, it will be examined whether rehearsal dates can be made possible on the basis of negative quick tests of all participants; timely information will then be provided about the new regulations

• Courses in pedagogical and scientific study programs that do not have an artistic-practical component will not take place person to person
   

Examinations and auditions

• Artistic-practical examinations must be conducted in person; if no suitable form of examination can be found due to the applicable protection regulations (room size), the examination must be postponed

• The following applies to all other forms of examination: it is encouraged to make use of the possibility of modifying examination formats, even beyond the examination formats defined in the module catalogue

• In particular, written examinations with large groups should be avoided and replaced by other suitable forms of examination (e.g. smaller written forms during the semester)

• Auditions are to be carried out according to the specifications of the individual departments; in person examinations are to be kept to a minimum (as a rule, only 2nd level and minor subject examinations in music theory/aural training and piano)
   

Committee meetings, service consultations, etc.

Committee meetings, service consultations, and other meetings should not be held in person, unless the content of the events requires the presence of the participants (e.g. presentations in the context of appointment procedures, interviews for job vacancies).
 

University buildings: Opening hours during the summer semester

Please look for the opening hours on our website (PDF).

Library: Opening hours during the summer semester

• Main library and sub-library (am Horn): Mon-Fri, 10:00 - 16:00 every day

• In the case of closure of schools and kindergartens:
  Main library: Mon-Fri, 10:00 - 12:00 and 13:00 - 15:00
  Sub-library: Mon-Fri, 10:00 - 16:00
   

Testing possibilities at the Bauhaus University / LISZT University

• In the coming week, a testing center (Bauhaus-Uni / LISZT University) will open for rapid testing at Bauhausstr. 7B (first floor).

• The following times for the first two weeks (before and after Easter) have already been fixed with the doctor responsible for the testing:

• During all opening hours, employees and students of the LISZT University and BU Weimar can be tested free of charge without an appointment. (This offer is expressly available for lecturers as well).

• The test result will be given to the person tested in writing. If a positive result is detected, a PCR test can be performed immediately at the test center. If this test is also positive, the "smear team" will take the necessary measures.

→ Further information about the rapid test centre


Sincerely yours,
Christoph Stölzl
President

I am sure you have all been following the passing of the "Fourth Law for the Protection of the Population in the Event of Epidemic Situations of National Significance" (Vierten Gesetzes zum Schutz der Bevölkerung bei epidemischen Lage von nationaler Tragweite) on April 22, 2021 (Federal Emergency Brake (Bundesnotbremse)). This federal law also has serious consequences for us:

If the incidence value exceeds the threshold of 165 cases for three consecutive days, the following applies to schools and universities 2 days later:

Face-to-face classes will be prohibited.

As of the 27.04.2021 this applies in Weimar.
This means that from the 27.4.2021 no face-to-face teaching can take place at the HfM until further notice.

The university buildings will remain open for practice purposes, but only until 9 p.m. due to curfew restrictions. Night practice hours at the hzh will be cancelled.

Forecast:

The science ministers (Wissenschaftsminister*innen) of all 16 federal states are currently negotiating with the federal government on the urgently needed clarification of the regulations of the federal law for universities. We assume that a decision will be reached quickly. As soon as we are aware of this, we will inform you immediately of any amended regulations, including the resulting consequences for our university.

Until that time, I ask that you respect the unavoidable restrictions on our work.

Sincerely
Your Prof. Dr. Christoph Stölzl
President

Dear teachers, dear staff, dear students,

in the letter from the March 26, the university management already informed you about the regulations that apply during the summer semester. As of the 19.04, larger courses as well as ensemble rehearsals for which person to person attendance is essential will be available again under the compliance of measures for the control of the pandemic, which continue to be strictly observed.

Academic/theoretical subjects will continue to take place in digital form. Administrative colleagues are also encouraged to work from home wherever possible.

The university will however introduce an additional security measure. Starting on Friday, April 16, 2021,from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on Mondays to Fridays, all university members on presentation of their Thoska card, will be able to obtain a rapid antigen test (self-test). The rapid antigen tests (self-test) will be distributed through a window on the first floor of the administration building at Platz der Demokratie.
 

Please note the following additional information:

• Every university member (teachers, lecturers, staff members, students) may receive ONE rapid antigen test (self-test) per week. This is to be used exclusively for university related purposes only.

• The rapid antigen test (self-test) is primarily intended for university members who cannot work in a home office have to work in presence and have contact with other persons due to their activity.

• Use the antigen rapid test (self-test) in particular if you participate in internal university courses, meetings, appointments, etc. with more than 5 people in a closed room.

• Separate regulations apply to presentations in the context of contract negotiations. These regulations will be clarified with the respective dean's office managers.

• Note that the validity of the test result has a maximum validity of 4 to 6 hours. It is recommended to take the test no more than one hour before the before the meeting.

• Perform the test at home, if possible, and dispose of the used test utensils properly in the bag enclosed in the package.

• Used tests do not belong in the regular waste bins at the university. Use the collection waste bins in the hallways of the university buildings (compartment: Sonstige Reststoffe (Other Residuals)).

• If the test is positive, it is imperative to follow the instructions in the package (immediate self-isolation; call the Corona hotline: 03643 | 762 555 or the emergency medical service: 116 117).

• The rapid antigen test (self-test) may be distributed free of charge to all university employees once a week. The funding is provided by the university from its budget. Please carefully consider whether self-testing is necessary for university purposes.

• Please continue to use the rapid testing centers of the city of Weimar (Weimar-Coronavirus tests)

• Performing the rapid antigen test (self-test) is voluntary.

• The performance of a rapid antigen test (self-test) is not required as an access authorization for courses, rehearsals, meetings, etc.

• The test is an additional safety offer. The tests do not enable further relaxation of other safety measures.

• The hygiene and safety regulations from our safety and hygiene plan still apply - in particular: Keep your distance, wear a mask, disinfect your hands, ventilate and use the contact tracing system Qroniton.

With kind regards,
Christine Gurk
Chancellor

Dear colleagues, dear fellow students,

artistic and scientific practice is an important part of teaching at the University of Music FRANZ LISZT Weimar. For this reason, in the month of November all already planned auditions, class and concert evenings, department concerts, chamber music events, examination concerts etc. may take place as internal university courses, with all associated rehearsals and lessons. Individual guests are welcome to participate.

Students and staff of the university may attend these events. All listeners are required to wear a mouth and nose protection at the venue. The maximum number of people allowed in the respective halls is still valid.

Non-college students are not admitted in November.

The events are supervised by the Events Office as planned.

Unfortunately, I cannot predict at this time what the regulations will be like in December. I recommend to continue with the preparations for the events planned for December.

Best regards,
Anne Lindig
Vice-president of Performance Practice

Liebe Kolleginnen und Kollegen, liebe Studierende,

das aktuelle Infektionsgeschehen in Weimar zwingt uns, unsere bisherigen Festlegungen für den Unterrichtsbetrieb zu Überdenken. Nach wie vor ist unser Ziel, den Präsenzunterricht so lange wie möglich aufrecht zu erhalten. Da dieser vor allem für die künstlerisch- und pädagogischpraktischen Fächer unverzichtbar ist, hat die Hochschulleitung in Absprache mit dem Krisenstab und den Dekan*inen und Prodekanen folgende Festlegungen getroffen: Ab Montag, dem 9. November 2020, sind alle wissenschaftlich-theoretischen Lehrveranstaltungen mit mehr als 15 angemeldeten Studierenden auf ein alternatives, digitales Format umzustellen.

Mit dem Wegfall der Belegung des Hörsaales durch Vorlesungen wird es möglich, diesen für einen großen Teil der verbleibenden Präsenzveranstaltungen wie Seminare und Übungen zu nutzen. Wissenschaftlich-theoretische Lehrveranstaltungen mit kleineren Gruppengrößen können ebenfalls in digitaler Form angeboten werden. Bitte fragen Sie in diesem Fall bei Ihren Studierenden ab, ob sie über die notwendigen technischen Voraussetzungen verfügen.

Grundsätzlich ist zur Minimierung potentieller Infektionsketten das Tragen einer Mund-Nasen-Bedeckung bei Unterschreitung des vorgeschriebenen Mindestabstandes von 1,50 m absolute Pflicht. Darüber hinaus wird zum Schutz aller Anwesenden das Tragen der Mund-Nasen-Bedeckung während der gesamten Lehrveranstaltung angeraten.

Künstlerischer Einzel- oder Kleingruppenunterricht findet vorerst weiter in Präsenz statt. Künstlerische Ensembleunterrichte wie Chor, Orchester, Bigband u.Ä. sollen - soweit wie möglich - in kleinere Gruppen geteilt werden.

Diese Maßnahmen dienen der Verringerung der Kontakte und damit der Ansteckungsgefahr in den Gebäuden der Hochschule. Sie bleiben voraussichtlich bis zur Weihnachtspause in Kraft.

Unterstützung beim Umstellen des Lehrangebotes auf ein digitales Format können Lehrende (und Studierende) bei Frau Dr. Stamm (moodle(at)hfm-weimar.de) erhalten.

Bei Bedarf an technischer Ausrüstung wenden sich die Lehrenden bitte an die Kanzlerin Frau Gurk (kanzlerin(at)hfm-weimar.de) und den Leiter der IT-Abteilung Herrn Riek (thomas.riek(at)hfmweimar.de).

Mit freundlichen Grüßen
Ihr Prof. Dr. Christoph Stölzl

Dear teachers, dear students, dear colleagues,

You are all familiar with the new regulations, which will apply nationwide from Monday, November 2, 2020. As things stand at present, nothing will change for our practice at the HfM - with one exception: concerts and events can no longer be held in public.
 
With our regulations and the changed concert and event practice, we act in accordance with the new ordinance of the city of Weimar from 29.10.2020.
 
As soon as we receive new information or regulations from the state of Thuringia, we will inform you immediately.
 
I appeal to everyone to strictly adhere to the regulation regarding the obligation to wear masks. If the distance of 1.50 m cannot be kept, masks must be worn.
 
With kind regards
Prof. Dr. Christoph Stölzl

Liebe Kolleginnen und Kollegen, liebe Studierende,

die Leitung der Hochschule ist ständig bemüht, trotz der stark eingeschränkten Möglichkeiten, beste Arbeits- und Studienbedingungen für uns alle zu schaffen. Die Pflicht zur Kontaktnachverfolgung ist gesetzlich vorgeschrieben und von uns allen einzuhalten. In meinen letzten Briefen hatte ich angekündigt, dass es ggf. Änderungen geben kann, wenn unsere Regeln sich nicht oder nur teilweise bewähren.

Es hat sich nun gezeigt, dass es vor allem im Palais und im Hochschulzentrum am Horn zu Staus am Einlassdesk kommt. In diesen Gebäuden finden fast alle Lehrveranstaltungen mit größeren Gruppen statt. Zudem wechseln in diesen beiden Häusern die Studierenden häufiger die Unterrichtsräume, was wiederum zu längeren Wartezeiten am Einlassdesk führt.

Aus diesen Gründen kommt es ab Montag, 26.10.2020 zu folgenden Änderungen mit unterschiedlichen
Regelungen für die einzelnen Häuser:

Fürstenhaus: Listensystem (wie bisher)

• Lehrende und Studierende: Ein- und Austragen am Empfang für Lehre und Üben in die Raumlisten (rot) und für andere Anlässe in die Zutrittsliste für Hochschulangehörige (grün)

• Sitzungen: Sitzungsorganisator*innen hinterlegen am Tag der Sitzung eine Teilnehmerliste am Empfang, um den Anmeldeprozess zu beschleunigen.

• Chor- und Orchesterproben (z. B. HSO, Collegium Musicum, Kammerchor, Hochschulchor): Probenverantwortliche hinterlegen am Tag der Probe eine Teilnehmerliste am Empfang, um den Anmeldeprozess zu beschleunigen.

• Bibliothek: Interne Besucher*innen tragen sich in Zutrittsliste (grün) für Hochschulangehörige ein. Externe Besucher*innen tragen sich in Gästeliste für Externe (blau) ein.

• Gäste und externe Dienstleister: Ein- und Austragen in die Gästeliste für Externe (blau) (wie bisher Erfassung mit Kontaktdaten)
   

hzh und Palais: Kontaktzettel (ACHTUNG NEU!)

• Lehrende und Studierende: nehmen sich ALLE!! am Einlassdesk einen vorgedruckten A6-Zettel (Kontaktzettel), füllen diesen während ihres gesamten Aufenthaltes im Haus aus und werfen ihn beim Verlassen des Hauses in die vorbereitete Box im Eingangsbereich ein. Dies gilt auch für Vorlesungen, Sitzungen, Chor- und Orchesterproben, Bibliothek. Damit wird der Einlassprozess beschleunigt und Kontaktsituationen im Haus können besser dokumentiert werden.
  Zur Absicherung der Kontaktnachverfolgung muss der Kontaktzettel bei jedem Aufenthalt ausgefüllt werden! Ausgenommen sind kurze Frischluftpausen.

• Gäste und externe Dienstleister: Ein- und Austragen in die Gästeliste für Externe (blau) (wie bisher Erfassung mit Kontaktdaten)

• Unterstützung durch Einlassteam
  Der Einlassdesk wird länger besetzt sein, nämlich werktags von 8.00 bis 20.00 Uhr. Ab 20.00 Uhr sind die Häuser nur mit Thoska zu betreten. Bitte halten Sie sich an die Regeln zur Kontaktverfolgung, auch wenn der Einlassdesk nicht besetzt ist!

Haydn,- Bach,- Wagner- und Beethovenhaus: Listensystem

• Es wird keinen „betreuten“ Einlassdesk in den Häusern Belvederes geben.
• Die Zugangstüren zu den einzelnen Häusern sind verschlossen und nur durch freigeschaltete Thoska zu öffnen (beim Beethovenhaus ist ausschließlich der hintere Eingang zu benutzen).
• Lehrende und Studierende: In jedem dieser Häuser gibt es am Eingang ein Buch mit fortlaufenden Listen („Belvedere-Hausliste“ (orange)), in die sich ALLE!! ein- und auszutragen haben. Beim Austragen sind alle Räume zu ergänzen, welche aufgesucht wurden.
• Gäste und externe Dienstleister: Ein- und Austragen in die Gästeliste für Externe (blau) (wie bisher Erfassung mit Kontaktdaten). Zudem werden an die Eingänge der Häuser zur Kontaktaufnahme Telefonlisten der Mitarbeiter*innen gehängt.
   

Mitarbeiter*innen der Verwaltung und Hochschulleitung sorgen bitte eigenständig für die Dokumentation ihrer Aufenthalte in den anderen Hochschulgebäuden, beispielsweise durch das Notieren von Besprechungen, Terminen in Outlook oder anderen Kalendern. So können im Ernstfall potentielle Kontakte mit einer infizierten Person nachvollzogen werden. Das Ein- und Austragen in Listen ist dann nicht notwendig.

Die Listen und Kontaktzettel werden entsprechend den gesetzlichen Vorgaben aufbewahrt und
anschließend vernichtet.

Hinweis: Die Systeme zur Kontaktnachverfolgung sind kein Raumreservierungsprogramm. Es lässt sich derzeit leider nicht vermeiden – wie vor Corona auch –, dass sich Studierende einen freien Raum durch Herumgehen suchen müssen. Die Hochschulleitung arbeitet an einem zeitgemäßen Raumbuchungssystem, das unkompliziertes Reservieren von Räumen zukünftig ermöglicht. Um dieses zu installieren, bedarf es aber noch längerer, grundsätzlicher infrastruktureller Vorarbeit.

Nochmals mein Appell! Dokumentieren Sie gewissenhaft, wo und wann Sie sich in den Gebäuden der Hochschule aufgehalten haben. Nur so können im Ernstfall alle betroffenen Personen benachrichtigt und eine komplette Schließung des jeweiligen Hauses vermieden werden. Die Regeln dienen zu Ihrem und unser aller Schutz! Bei Nichtbeachtung muss mit deutlicher Verkürzung der Öffnungszeiten gerechnet werden.

Ich bedanke mich bei allen, die unsere Regeln einhalten, die aktiv mithelfen, dass es zu keiner Schließung oder starken Einschränkungen kommt.

Herzliche Grüße
Anne Lindig
Vizepräsidentin für künstlerische Praxis

Dear colleagues and students,

The winter semester is almost upon us. At the moment, we are very happy that it looks like concerts, auditions, and events will be able to happen in a small capacity. The events office has created a concept (PDF) for this which was approved by the city today. The maximum number of people has been calculated for every room at the university. This must be respected, both when practising and teaching as well as for public events! Each room has a corresponding sign on the door.

Class performances and concerts can take place in the “Fürstenhaus” festival hall and the concert all “Am Palais” again. In addition, we’ve hired the hall at the “Notenbank” (Steubenstraße 15) for classes in the mornings and it will be available for auditions some evenings.

Room reservations can be made via the appropriate form at the events office as usual. This semester, it is vital that these forms are filled out with great care. This is especially important in regard to the number of people involved as this is necessary for planning!

For free concerts, there will be a set number of blank tickets which will be available at reception/with the stage manager 30 minutes prior to the start of the event. Concert tickets for sale will only be available at the tourist information centre.

Our concert halls will not be generally available for external hire this winter semester. The Studiotheater Belvedere is available only for the Department of Vocal Studies and Theatre’s events and classes. Reservations can be made with Mr. Hoffmann/ Ms. Horn.

The security and hygiene concept which has been created in cooperation with the city of Weimar must always be followed in our buildings. We are all happy that we can loosen the tight corset of the past semester. This is why I wish to appeal to your sense of responsibility to others all the more: Keep the rules and follow the hygiene concept so that we can avoid having to go back to stricter rules or even close the university. Many thanks!

Warmest greetings,
Anne Lindig

Dear colleagues and students,

We have all had to learn that our university of music in Weimar is part of a world-wide drama – the fight for authentic music, live music, and the survival of our institution during these times of the pandemic. We follow the news from concert halls, theatres, and other universities of music anxiously. What are the others doing? Where might there be legitimate and practical scientific data on making music and giving concerts without endangering musicians or audiences? What do we dare do ourselves? I have to admit that, being a professional optimist, back in the spring I wanted to believe that we would be over the worst by the start of the semester. Now we know: it’s too early to give the all-clear. But we also know: we can’t go on without the elixir of life that is concerts! That’s why we will be trying out brand new formats for this in the coming autumn and winter. More on that later!

The university will be running in-person again for the start of the semester. We are extremely happy that ensemble classes and lectures can happen face-to-face again. But we still have to follow many rules with great discipline. These include the general distancing and hygiene rules, but also documentation on who is in what university building when. All members of the university are responsible for making sure this happens!

Entry and opening times

The registration system we introduced in September will continue in modified form: in general, every person must register when they enter a university building and put their names on the list for the relevant room.

In the “Fürstenhaus”, registration is at the reception. The “hzh”, “Palais” and the “Beethovenhaus” will have a registration counter during peak hours. Outside peak hours, everyone who enters the building must add their name to the available room-lists themselves and write down the time when they leave. This will be the case all day in “Haydnhaus” and “Bachhaus”.

Opening times and the availability of check-in staff can be found in this table (PDF).

Participant lists for lectures, seminars, and ensemble classes, as well as choir and orchestra rehearsals have to be handed-in at the registration counter 20 minutes before the start of class at the latest. This will make it quicker for everyone to get into the building. If there is no list, each student will have to register for the room individually, which can lead to significant delays and late classes.

If you have booked a rehearsal or ensemble class at the “Notenbank” you will get the key and a participant list at the “Fürstenhaus” registration counter. Please fill-in the list and hand it in when you return the key.

All lists will be stored at the events office for the period required under law and then destroyed.

You will receive a letter from the Vice President of Performance Studies in the coming week. This will detail the rules for concerts and public events starting in October. Information on using the library and building opening times can be found in this table (PDF).

Returning from a high-risk area

Many of you will be travelling to Weimar from all over the world. Because of the current state regulations in Thuringia relating to the Corona pandemic, please note the following:

• If you have been to a high-risk area, you are required to put yourself in home quarantine as soon as you arrive in Weimar/your place of residence. This quarantining is compulsory.  It does not matter whether the place you were in was only declared a high-risk area after you arrived or not.

• Those returning from high-risk areas are required to register their return immediately with responsible health department/ via the Corona hotline (762 555). This is the case, even if you were already tested upon arrival (at the airport for example). Not registering can result in a fine.

• A Corona test is free and compulsory for those returning from high-risk areas.

• The areas counted as being high-risk can be found on the Robert Koch Institute’s website.

I am looking forward to seeing you all again and wish you a successful and healthy semester!

Warmest greetings,
Yours, Christoph Stölzl

Dear colleagues and students,

You have all managed an exceptional semester with great dedication. The university administration and, above all, the students are very grateful. Sadly, conditions in the upcoming winter semester 2020/2021 will still be far from ‘normal’. You must be wondering what form face-to-face classes can happen in when planning and preparing your classes now.

The university is aiming for face-to-face classes in order to re-establish (and maintain) the all-important in-person contact and academic discourse between students and teaching staff. In the current situation this should be essentially possible.

Please note that every classroom at the university will be allotted a set maximum number of people in order to maintain distancing rules. To offer as full a curriculum as possible despite this, we will need agood measure of flexibility when it comes to structuring classes, communication, and solidarity with each other when booking rooms.

When planning your classes, specially seminars, practicals etc., please see if it makes sense to limit the number of participants and if it is possible. The corresponding NB should be made in the course catalogue. Where a larger number of students are enrolled, blended face-to-face and digital teaching, every other week for instance, would be a suitable option (by the way, many universities are planning classes in this way for the coming winter semester).

The university requests that large rooms be used as optimally as possible. Please organise room allocation and management amongst yourselves well in advance so that we can create the best possible conditions for a successful winter semester for our students.

For you to be able to plan classes for this winter semester, we would like to draw your attention to the room conditions and security and hygiene rules.

• The specified maximum number of people per room must be followed! This is the only way to assure that distancing can be maintained – especially for wind instruments and singers.

• 1.5 metres distance must be maintained between all musicians. There must be at least 4 metres in front of wind instruments and singers.

• Rehearsal sessions for large ensembles are to be no longer that 75 minutes. Another 75 minutes are allowed after an airing break of at least 30 minutes.

• Lectures, seminars, and all other classes can run for their usual time

• There must be one music stand per musician

• The final decision on performances with an audience will be made in September as these performances will require their own concept.
   

Use of festival hall this winter semester

• Rehearsals for the university orchestra, university choir, Collegium Musicum, and the chamber choir in the winter semester 2020/2021 will be in the festival hall.
  • University choir: Tuesdays 6:30-10pm
  • Collegium Musicum: Wednesdays 7:30-10pm
  • University orchestra: Thursdays 10am-1pm
  • Chamber choir: Thursdays 6-9pm

• The festival hall stage will not be raised but will remain flat. There will be no alterations made to the stage so that chairs can be set quickly and flexibly. There are 35 chairs in the hall as this is the maximum number of people allowed there.

• The festival hall will be used primarily for classes with a large number of students and meetings of the senate

• Sadly, the standard department opening times for the hall are still suspended.
  
   

Other rooms

• The rules for the Saal Am Palais are the same as for the festival hall. There will also only be individual chairs there

• Free spaces in the lecture halls at the hzh will be marked. Additional seating possibilities will be created on the left- and right-hand sides of the rooms

• All other large rooms can be used flexibly within the designated maximum number of people for ensemble rehearsal, lectures, and meetings.

• In addition, we have been able to hire the hall in the ‘Notenbank’, Steuben Str. 15, for a limited number of hours per day. This room is well suited to chamber music and ensemble classes, playing in front of the class, ensemble rehearsals with up to max 22 persons/18 persons for singers and wind instruments.
   

For all questions relating to maximum room usage and the use of further facilities outside of the university, please contact vizepraxis(at)hfm-weimar.de or staff at the events offices.

We wish you a lovely summer.
With warmest greetings,
 

Dear colleagues and students,

With a revised Corona room plan, we want to further ease working conditions in our buildings step-by-step. August and September will be a trial for the rules this coming winter semester. We will gather information from this experience and use it to develop our concept starting in October. Success depends on you following our rules responsibly.

Please find building opening hours for August and September in this table.

To be safe, university buildings will remain closed to the public. Teaching staff and students who wish to speak with the administration have to make an appointment.
 

Updates on practising and teaching

• Starting in August, you no longer have to register when practising or attending a class. However, it is still absolutely vital that all teaching staff and students sign in/out when entering/exiting a building. This can be done at the reception in the ‘Fürstenhaus’ and at the entry counter in the other buildings via entry lists run for each room. There is an example attached for viewing.

• Ms. Nickol will take on the room management for seminar rooms 1 and 2 and the lecture hall in the ‘hzh’ again. Room 304 in the ‘hzh’ will be managed by faculty 2 Dean’s office.

• Starting in September, all rooms will be available. Every member of the teaching staff will be able to, once again, use their normal room.

• If practising students have to leave a room because a class will be taught in there, they must register at the appropriate entry counter because room changes also have to be documented.

• Every room will get a door sign showing the maximum number of people allowed in there. There has to be at least 7 square metres (9 square metres for singers and wind instruments) per person per room. 5 square metres have been estimated for seated gatherings where no music is played.

• Starting in August, the security team will no longer air and disinfect rooms. Users are now responsible for doing this themselves, Disinfectant will be made available in all buildings. This is still not allowed to be used on keyboard instruments, as it causes a lot of damage.
  
   

Information on exams in August/September

• Exams with three people on stage will be allowed in September

• Exam concerts will also take place in September without an audience

• Bookings for exam times will be taken until the 28th of July: via the events office for room 108 in the ‘Fürstenhaus’ and room 301 in ‘hzh’, the faculty 2 Dean’s office for room 304 in ‘hzh’, with Ms. Gläßl for the ‘Beethovenhaus’, and with Ms. Schenke for the Palais.
  Bookings made after the 28th of July will be disregarded
  
   

Outlook for winter semester 2020/21

We are working on the assumption that social distancing will be with us for some time.

From our current perspective, classes with ensemble work e.g. choir and orchestra as well as lectures will only be possible with a greatly reduced number of people.

Nevertheless, our aim is to run as many classes as possible again – and that includes public performance practice – under conditions that assure the highest possible security for all the members of the university and our guests. We are working on a separate concept for events with an orchestra.

Starting in October, the Festsaal Fürstenhaus will be available for all teaching staff again. This room is still desperately needed for other things in September.
 

Information for administrative and technical personnel

• Offices in all buildings will be available as usual in August and September

• As is now customary, staff using time logging will show their identity card when entering their own building. When entering another building they will register at the entry counter or reception as per usual.
   

Will have all been able to ‘practice’ hygiene rules since May and must now be very good at them. That is why my most important appeal goes out to your own sense of responsibility:

All those who are already following the rules for thorough handwashing, distance, and wearing a mask are helping to stop the whole university from closing again. Our loosened Security and Hygiene Concept is based on Government requirements and expert recommendations.

Many of you have thanked us, the crisis team, and the university administration over the past weeks. This has helped and encouraged us to keep working on the things we have never had to tackle until now. Thank you!

I wish you all restful summer days which you are hopefully able to use for some badly needed time to breathe.

Warmest regards,
Yours,
Anne Lindig
Vice-president of Performance Practice

Dear colleagues and students,

We have given a lot of thought to how we can make teaching and practising easier for you without lifting our rules which we still have to respect.

We ask that everyone understand: our present sign-in system forms the basis of our hygiene and security concept. It may be a little inflexible, but please do not view it as ‘busy work’ or a waste of time. We are convinced that it allows us to maintain the hygiene and security rules as well as current state and city conditions. These are the requirements for us to be allowed to teach in-person.

1. Practising: Information on the supplementary allocation of spaces not currently in use.

Requests for practice rooms are increasing. In order to keep up with this growing demand, we have come up with the following possibilities so that we can allocate what free space we have left:

• For now, the current rules regulating responsibility for rooms and their use for teaching and practice will stay in place until the 31st of July. This is necessary to assure that there are enough rooms for teaching and that students are guaranteed the time slots which have been planned in advance.

• In addition, there is the following update: from building-opening Mondays to Fridays, students can book free spaces available with the team for their building (where they have their individual lessons). Due to organisational and fairness concerns, room bookings can only be made for that day and for a maximum duration of 2 hours. We believe that we will be able to distribute the few hours which remain better this way.
   

2. Teaching: three people in one room are allowed again

Starting on the 29th of June 2020, three people are allowed to work together in our rooms. This could be a teacher plus two students, three students, or two teachers and one student. This makes classes in accompaniment, small chamber music ensembles, and exam preparation possible. This provision is already possible in our planning system, as our room plans already have three columns.

Importantly, we want to appeal to your own good judgement and sense of responsibility: neither teachers nor students are required to work together with three people in one room if they do not feel comfortable with the situation.

Please still keep the require distance of at least 1.5 metres. Large rooms are still primarily for singers and wind instruments. More than ever, please remember airing breaks and follow the chain of hygiene.

With warmest greetings,
Anne Lindig
Vice-president of Performance Practice

Dear teachers, dear students,

the safety concept of the university and the still valid infection protection measures as well as the associated spatial and organisational conditions do not allow for regular examination procedures in this semester. All examination dates already planned and registered before the start of the Corona pandemic have been cancelled. It has become apparent that the overall concept for the examination procedures can only be planned taking into account all the exams planned. This requires good communication, willingness to cooperate and flexibility on the part of all parties involved.

Rooms and examination periods are allocated centrally during this semester.

There are two possible examination periods until the end of the summer semester:

• 13.07. until 31.07.2020

• 07.09. until 30.09.2020
   

Specific examination dates for both periods are already being planned. The procedures described in this letter will initially be applied for the examination period until 31.07.2020. Depending on the conditions then prevailing, the processes will be adjusted again for September if necessary.

In addition, the first six weeks of the winter semester 2020/21 can and should be used for taking examinations.
 

Examinations in scientific/theoretical courses of study or scientific/theoretical modules  

In contrast to the artistic/practical examinations, all examinations in scientific/theoretical subjects as well as in scientific/theoretical modules that belong to artistic or pedagogical courses of study are to be made possible by the end of the summer semester (30.09.2020), even if they are not related to the degree in the summer semester 2020. Student registrations for these examinations are currently underway.  

The teaching staff at the Department of Musicology and Arts Management and at the Centre for Music Theory are currently working on concrete forms of examination for each course and are designing the basic concept for the necessary logistical processes.

In consultation with the Department of Musicology, the Centre of Music Theory and the Examinations Office, the Events Office examines the premises at the Hochschulzentrum am Horn for suitability depending on the type of examination and the specific examination procedures (with or without preparation, examinations, oral examinations, etc.) and draws up the room concept after the exact number of candidates has been determined.

If necessary, the seminar building of the Weimarhalle can be used for examinations.

Attention should be paid to this: Examinations without the presence of the student or pure online examinations will not be possible this semester due to the unclear legal situation.  

 

Exams in modules with artistic instruction in artistic and pedagogical study courses  

Only examinations with a maximum of two examination actors can take place. The size of the examination board shall be limited to the minimum number of examiners required for the subject according to the examination regulations.  

In the university buildings currently open for teaching, the following sufficiently large rooms are available for the examinations:  

• Main building: Room 1.08
• hzh: Room 3.01
• Palais: Room 3.12, Saal am Palais
• Belvedere: Studio theatre, assembly hall  

The Examination Office has checked the feedback from the institutes for examination eligibility and has drawn up a list of possible examinations for July, September or the winter semester 2020/21. This overview will be sent to the institutes by the Examination Office on 12.06.2020 - already with distribution to the corresponding university buildings and rooms. For further planning of the examinations, the respective chairmen of the examination commissions should contact the person responsible for the rooms in "their house" and agree on the specific examination days and times.

A 15-minute break for airing after each test specimen is mandatory and must be taken into account. The (limited number of) lessons in the respective examination room that serve to prepare for the examination must also be coordinated with the room managers. Students must organise the recording or preparation on the day of the examination independently and in good time (using the usual room plans).  

The room managers in the buildings are:  

• Main building: Mr Vezure
• hzh: Prof. Forst
• Belvedere: Mrs Horn
• Palais: Mrs Schenke
   

The complete examination plans must be submitted to the event office (veranstaltung(at)hfm-weimar.de) in collected form for each building by 26.06.2020 with the following information:  

• Type of test
• building and room
• Name of the examination candidates and any accompanying persons
• Members of the Commission
• Date of the test
• Start/end of each unit verification

 
If you have any questions regarding study and examination law, please contact the ASA department (Dr. Jens Ewen, +49 3643 555 156, jens.ewen(at)hfm-weimar.de). For organisational questions please contact the staff* of the event office (veranstaltung(at)hfm-weimar.de)

Prof. Dagmar Brauns
Vice-president of Studies and Teaching

Dear Students and Colleagues,

to characterize what you and all of us, indeed the entire University has experienced during the past few weeks as a “challenge”, would be a very mild description. It was also an “imposition” put upon us by destiny. It has forced us to mobilize all of our courage.

Answers must be found to questions that we wouldn’t have dreamed of asking three months ago – how long ago that seems now!

The situation changes almost daily and will continue to change. I heartily thank the entire “Franz-Liszt-Community”, the administration, the teachers and the students, including all of their families, for their ingenuity, their patience, their perseverance and their unshakeable optimism.

We have now arrived at a turning point. We want to begin the summer semester not only using media learning tools, but also by tapping the core of our pedagogical mission, namely personal teaching.

Once again music will sound throughout the buildings of the HfM – we have all been longing for that more with every passing day! And in order to ensure the success of this decisive step, we must all commit ourselves to the strictist discipline.

Please take time to carefully read the guidelines and regulations that have been meticulously worked out by the crisis committee, the administration and the faculty administrators.

The basic rule behind it all is: Health first! Our summer semester can only be successful if each of us adopt this principle as our personal goal and work on it with each other on a daily basis.

We will be informing you by email every week about the newest developments and decisions.

In order to plan the summer semester under the current circumstances, the crisis committee met with the deans and vice deans last Monday (20.04.2020). Their results are becoming more and more concrete.

1. First Steps

We are aware of the huge demand for practice rooms. Beginning on Monday, 27 April 2020, practicing space will be made available for keyboard and percussion instruments at the Fürstenhaus and the Hochschulzentrum am Horn on a limited basis under strict observation of the hygiene requirements.

Students and teachers will receive individual instructions with details. We are currently working on opening practice rooms to additional groups of students.

 

2. Semester Structure

The teaching and examination period for the summer semester has been defined as the period from 4 May 2020 until 31 July 2020. Forfeited lessons and pending examinations from the winter semester can be made up until the end of the summer semester on 30 September 2020.

Students who are not able to travel to Weimar by 4 May 2020, should contact their teachers and reach out to the ASA.

In accordance with the national and state decisions taken towards loosening restrictions, it is now possible for us to resume artistic private lessons as long as the regulations in regard to security and hygiene are observed.

The entire university derives its existence from the combination of personal teaching and self-study. We all agree that artistic lessons in particular cannot be replaced by digital formats.

To that end, artistic private lessons will be resumed step-by-step beginning on 4 May 2020, under observation of the strict regulations on the basis of our securiy and hygiene policy.

Apart from artistic private lessons (1:1), no other personal lessons are permitted at this time. As soon as lessons can take place in small groups (seminars, lectures, etc.), we will let you know as soon as possible.

Even though private lessons may resume, that does not mean that the university buildings will be officially opened in general.

Lessons must be registered in advance including the names of the teacher and the students, and will take place under observation of the required security distances and hygiene measures according to the specific characteristics of the subject being taught.

Initially, these rooms will be assigned centrally. We will let you know more details about how the teaching will be organized for the individual buildings and study areas by the beginning of next week at the latest.

There are special protection measures for teachers and students who belong to a risk-group, or who live in a household with especially vulnerable persons.

In these cases, there is to be no personal private teaching. These individuals should give or receive digital lessons as appropriate. The same principle applies here: The teaching offering is to be guaranteed, in the case of exceptions in digital form.

Many other courses are being offered in various digital formats. Please inform yourself about them beginning on 29 April 2020 using the new study program here.

 

3. Accommodating arrangements

Unfortunately, the teaching program for summer semester 2020 cannot be offered on the normal scale. We endeavor to keep the students’ disadvantages to a minimum. For that reason, the following regulations apply to summer semester 2020:

After the conclusion of the summer semester 2020, students can choose between two options:

1. If they are satisfied with their completion of the study program, they may count it is a regular semester.
    
2. If they are NOT satisfied with their completion of the study program, then they may apply to have the semester NOT included in their regular study period (Regelstudienzeit).
    

In addition, applications to take the semester off may be submitted until 11 May 2020, even though students may have already registered to return for this semester.

This means that if credits were earned during the semester, they remain valid. At the same time, students are entitled to attend lessons and courses for an additional semester.

This allows the greatest possible flexibility: adding credits is possible, but not mandatory. The application to do so can be submitted at the end of summer semester 2020 at the earliest, and before the end of the regular study period (Regelstudienzeit) at the latest. The development of the application form is in progress.

 

4. Hygiene and Infection Protection

We have developed an extensive securiy and hygiene policy for the university and the teaching and practicing activities in particular. Details for each subject area will be sent separately at the beginning of next week.
 

5. Alternative (Digital) Teaching Formats

The university supports the establishment and use of digital learning formats by furnishing the learning platform moodle as well as the video conference service Cisco WebEx and DFNconf.

The Vice President for Study and Teaching informed the teaching staff in detail about this in her letter of 21 April 2020, and has furnished instructions for installation and use, and named contacts for support. The university administration is aware that all of these platforms are only able to provide limited satisfaction of the demands of excellent education.

However, we hope you understand that we are not able to support more tools because of the technical equipment available, personnel capacities, and also due to data protection safeguards. Nevertheless, we will constantly be looking for further opportunities to augment these resources in this rapidly developing sector.

Because of diverse security issues and the lack of a contractual basis, you should not use external programs (Skype, Zoom, etc.) - which by no means are able to replace personal lessons, but can only supplement them, at most - for your online communication with students.

In particular, you should be aware that the problems and risks associated with the collaboration with these providers cannot be assumed by the university.

Should you elect to use these tools for your teaching activity as an exception, then only if it is documented with the express written approval of your students – for your own protection.

 

6. Committee Meetings

Committee meetings are not prohibited by the currently effective Thuringian SARS-CoV-2-Eindämmungsmaßnahmenverordnung (Containment Measures Act) of 20 April 2020.

If necessary, meetings are to be held in accordance with distance regulations and under observation of the required room size. More detailed information will be separately distributed.

However, it is recommended to hold such meetings without physical contact between participants (by video- or telephone-conference). In order to ensure the continued operation of the university, Senate meetings are to take place as planned. To satisfy the necessary distancing regulations, the meetings will take place in the Festsaal Fürstenhaus.

 

7. Entrance Exams

The deans and vice deans have discussed the question of whether it will be possible to hold entrance exams for the winter semester 2020/21. It was not yet decided whether to do so or, if so, in what form and when they would take place.

 

8. Concerts and Events

All events with large ensembles (orchestra, choir, music theater, early music, big band, etc.) are cancelled for the entire summer semester. Also, concerts in small instrumentations (solo or chamber music concerts) have been cancelled until further notice.
 

With warm regards,
Yours sincerely,

Christoph Stölzl

→ Information in German on the official video platforms supported by the HfM (PDF)

Dear students,
 
even though there still are a lot of restrictions in public life, we can soon start with some parts of our study program for the summer term. In this email you will find further information.

The classes and tuition will begin on Monday, May 4th, and will end on Friday, July 31st. There are important regulations to be observed.
 

1. Only individual classes for performance studies (2 persons in 1 room maximum) will start as live classes. There will be rules about infection prevention, which will be communicated in due time. Besides the individual tuition, there will be no live classes until further notice. As soon as group tuition will be permitted you will be informed on time.
    
   • IMPORTANT: If you are not able to travel to Weimar, please contact your teacher. The missing classes will be postponed and done later. Please note: The German government hass et out strict immigration regulation. In particular it is necessary to be in quarantine at home for two weeks when you come from abroad.
      
   • Even though individual classes will take place the school buidings will not be opened generally! Classes must be registered and will take place according to a allocation plan. You will get further information about the organisation of the classes by the beginning of next week.
      
   • Occasions for practicing will be organized for selected instruments beginning with Monday, April 27th. You will get further information by the end of this week.
     
      
2. Many classes for which a digital conversion is thought to be useful and practical, will be offered online.
    
   • From Wednesday April 29th, the courses catalog ("Vorlesungsverzeichnis") will include information on planning, timing and inscription.
      
   • For the digital classes, the university has bought the platform Cisco Webex. If a class takes places digitally, you will receive an attendance link of the teacher after application. Only with Cisco Webex the observance of data protection rules can be guaranteed.
     Please note: the using of moodle is possible only with your HfM-emailing account.
      

As we are not able to provide the full program of the summer term 2020, you will not be able to attend all planned classes. We will try everything to minimize the negative effects on your study planning. In order that the summer term 2020 would not be a lost semester for you, the university has taken the following decisions:
 

1. After the summer term, you can decide:
    
   • If you could follow all desired classes in a way that is satisfying for you, the semester will count as usual
      
   • If you could NOT fulfill your study program in a way that was satisfying for you, you can apply for the procedure which doesn't count this semester as a regular semester (Regelstudienzeit). This means: all gathered Credits will be counted, entitlement to classes will be prolonged for one semester. You can apply for this special regulation after the summer term and this has to be done before the end of standard period of study. We are currently developing a special application form.
     
      
2. Even if you already re-registered yourself for the summer term ("Rückmeldung"), you can apply for a vacancy semester ("Urlaubsemester") until Monday, May 11th 2020. For this purpose, please use the customary form.

With this solution, we believe to provide you with the greatest possible flexibility: You can count this semester as usual, but it is not obligatory.

In case of questions, please contact your teacher or studium(at)hfm-weimar.de.

We are looking forward to seeing you, have a safe trip to Weimar, maybe only virtually, and stay healthy!
 
Best regards,
Dr. Jens Ewen
Head of Academic and Student Affairs

Dear fellow students,

in these days – amongst many other things – you may be asking yourself under which circumstances your studies will continue in the summer semester. Today we would like to inform you about our present considerations regarding the summer term 2020.

In the current situation we assume that we will not have a usual summer semester this year. However you can expect that your teachers will support you in the best way possible. We are all called to be as flexible as possible in organizing the semester and the rest the year.

Today’s status is as follows: As teaching in the summer semester will start on May, 4th 2020, it is highly probable that it will not end on July, 10th 2020 as originally planned. It is possible that the teaching will start even later and it may go on untill September 2020. We can assure you that on the basis of our regulations you will not have any disadvantages from this situation concerning the credits of your academic results.

Digital learning will play a stronger role in our teaching in the future. We are working hard to provide the technical support needed – and our teachers will support your self-studies as good as they possibly can. Especially in the field of higher music education it won’t be possible to replace face to face teaching in a digital way. Nevertheless we take the current situation as a chance to experiment with digital formats of teaching and learning.

Please rest assured: We will try our best to support you in this challenging time, all your questions will be answered as good and as fast as we can.

Stay safe and optimistic!

Prof. Dr. Christoph Stölzl
President

Liebe Kolleginnen and Kollegen,

die Auswirkungen der Corona-Pandemie werden uns noch lange beschäftigen. Hochschulleitung und Krisenstab arbeiten kontinuierlich daran, Lösungen für alle Bereiche unserer Hochschule zu finden. Auch erreichen uns von Ihnen verständlicherweise Fragen, wie wir unsere Studierenden in den nächsten Wochen bestmöglich betreuen und begleiten können. Dies bewegt die Hochschulleitung ebenso wie Sie. Durch unsere regelmäßigen Nachrichten möchten wir so eng wie möglich mit Ihnen in Kontakt bleiben and hiermit nochmals einige wichtige Punkte aufgreifen.

Verschobene Vorlesungszeit
Noch gehen wir von einem Start der Vorlesungszeit des Sommersemesters 2020 am 4. Mai 2020 aus. Zuverlässige Aussagen über das Ende der Vorlesungszeit können wir heute noch nicht treffen. Wir wissen, dass uns ein verschobener Semesterstart vor große Herausforderungen stellen wird. Aber wir Sind uns sicher, wir werden Lösungen finden, um den Lehrbetrieb organisatorisch and inhaltlich dann in geeigneter Weise abzusichern. Hierbei denken wir auch und insbesondere an unsere Lehrbeauftragten, die diese Situation auch finanziell hart trifft. Die Hochschule prüft
derzeit alle Möglichkeiten der Unterstützung. Bitte haben Sie aber Verständnis dafür, dass zum jetzigen Zeitpunkt noch keine belastbaren Aussagen möglich sind.

Gremienarbeit
Zu unser aller Schutz haben Hochschulleitung und Krisenstab entschieden, alle Gremiensitzungen, laufende oder geplante Berufungsverfahren bis auf Weiteres auszusetzen.

Begleitung and Unterstützung der Studierenden
Besonders wichtig erscheint uns derzeit, dass wir alle engen Kontakt zu unseren Studierenden halten, sie unterstützen und ein Ohr für ihre Fragen and Sorgen in Bezug auf ihr weiteres Studium haben. Für fachliche Belange sind Sie die ersten and besten Ansprechpartner*innen, denn Sie können am besten abschätzen, wie man „am Ball" bleiben kann, auch wenn keine Lehre stattfindet und die Hochschuleinrichtungen geschlossen sind. Durch Übehinweise, Literaturempfehlungen und fachlichen Austausch sollten Sie Ihre Schüler*innen und Studierenden durch diese schwere Zeit begleiten. Deshalb nochmals ausdrücklich der Aufruf: Nehmen Sie Kontakt auf, geben Sie „Hausaufgaben" auf, tauschen Sie sich aus, experimentieren Sie mit Online-Formaten und begleiten Sie Ihre Studierenden damit so gut es geht aus der Ferne. Nur auf diese solidarische Weise schaffen wir es, die Studierenden jenseits des zur Zeit nicht möglichen, regulären Semesterbetriebs zu unterstützen!

Alternative Lehrformate
Viele von Ihnen machen sich jetzt verstärkt Gedanken über die Nutzung innovativer Lehrformate aus dem Bereich der digitalen Lehre. Die Hochschulleitung begrüßt das ganz ausdrücklich. Es kann ein guter, in die Zukunft weisender Nebeneffekt sein, wenn wir aufgrund der aktuellen Krisensituation die Chance nutzen, auf diesem Gebiet zu experimentieren und unsere Angebote weiterzuentwickeln.

Zur Frage einer Umstellung auf digitalen Lehrbetrieb lässt sich jedoch Folgendes sagen: Unsere Hochschule lebt in allen ihren Bereichen von der Präsenzlehre in Kombination mit dem Selbststudium. Derzeit sind wir noch nicht so ausgestattet, um selbst geeignete Lehrveranstaltungsformen digital anbieten zu können, und sei es auch nur für kurze Zeit. Die Hochschule arbeitet aktuell intensiv an Lösungen und an der Bereitstellung von Informationen speziell zur Lernplattform Moodle. Bitte melden Sie sich, wenn Sie die Möglichkeiten von Moodle nutzen möchten oder anderweitig technische Unterstützung wünschen. Wir werden Sie nach Kräften unterstützen.

Unsere Hochschule soll nicht verstummen!
Die Hochschulleitung möchte noch einen Wunsch an Sie, verehrte Kolleginnen and Kollegen, herantragen. Für unseren Facebook-Kanal wünschen wir uns kurze Musikvideos, die in diesen Tagen spontan zu Hause entstehen könnten oder vielleicht schon entstanden sind. Sicher haben einige von Ihnen unseren Aufruf auf Facebook schon gesehen. Wir würden uns freuen, wenn Sie uns Ihre Videos zur Verfügung stellen würden - so kann die Musik auch weiterhin Menschen verbinden. Bitte beachten Sie dabei die Rechtefrage: Wir können unkompliziert und spontan nur Werke von Komponist*innen, die länger als 70 Jahre tot sind, rechtefrei ins Netz stellen, sowie gerne auch eigene Kompositionen, für die Sie uns die Rechte überlassen würden. Die Videoaufnahmen senden Sie bitte an: online(at)hfm-weimar.de.

Seien Sie versichert, dass Präsidium und Krisenstab mit allen Bereichen der Hochschule in enger Abstimmung sind und beständig an weiterer Unterstützung und guten Regelungen arbeiten. Bitte informieren Sie sich regelmäßig über neue Nachrichten auf unserer Homepage bzw. die Ihnen per Mail zugehen.

Seien Sie herzlich gegrüßt, schützen Sie sich and andere and bleiben Sie gesund!

Prof. Dr. Christoph Stolzl
Präsident

Sehr geehrte Lehrbeauftragte,

Sie haben sicherlich von der Verschiebung unseres Semesterbeginnes gehört, die der Ausbreitung der Corona-Pandemie geschuldet ist. Alle Thüringer Hochschulen sollen voraussichtlich am 4. Mai 2020
wieder geöffnet werden.

Uns ist bewusst, dass dieser rigorose Einschnitt in den Hochschulkalender besonders in Ihr Leben tief eingreift. Bitte seien Sie gewiss, dass wir bei all unseren Überlegungen auch das Schicksal der Lehrbeauftragten im Blick haben. Sie sollen so schnell wie möglich sichere Planungsgrundlagen erhalten.

Unser Ziel ist, dafür zu sorgen, dass bis zum Beginn des Wintersemesters die für das SoSe 2020 vorgesehenen SWS in vollem Umfang realisiert werden können.

Die ganz besondere historische Situation erfordert von uns allen (von Lehrenden und Studierenden) größte Flexibilität. Wenn wir solidarisch handeln, sollten alle diese Probleme lösbar sein.

Mit freundlichen Grüßen

Ihr
Prof. Dr. Christoph Stölzl
Präsident

Liebe Kolleginnen und Kollegen,
liebe Studierende,

die Thüringer Hochschulen haben gemeinsam den schwerwiegenden Entschluss gefasst, die Hochschulen des Freistaats bis zum 4. Mai 2020 zu schließen.

Der Grund dafür ist:
Deutschland steht vor der Riesenaufgabe, durch eine radikale Veränderung unseres Alltags die täglich schneller werdende Ausbreitung der Coronavirus-Pandemie zu stoppen. Sie ist eine tödliche Bedrohung für uns alle, vor allem aber für die Risikogruppe der Alten, Kranken und Schwachen.

„Sie müssen wir schützen“, hat Bundespräsident Steinmeier in klaren Worten gesagt: „Ihnen müssen wir unsere Solidarität zeigen. Das ist die Aufgabe der Stunde. Das ist die Probe für unseren gesellschaftlichen Zusammenhalt. Jeder Einzelne muss sich jetzt fragen: Was kann ich tun, um die Ausbreitung zu verlangsamen? Unsere Selbstbeschränkung heute wird morgen Leben retten.“

Die Schließung unserer Hochschule greift bis zum 4. Mai 2020 tief in unser Hochschulleben ein. Sie verändert unser aller Berufs- und Studienleben.

Sie fordert von jedem und jeder von uns Verzicht auf selbstverständliche Gewohnheiten. Jetzt ist der Moment, wo unsere Hingabe an die gemeinsame Aufgabe, wo Flexibilität und tagtägliches Engagement gefragt sind.

Ich bin sicher, dass wir gemeinsam diese Herausforderung meistern werden.

Mit freundlichen Grüßen

Christoph Stölzl
Präsident