Practical Orientation
The University of Music FRANZ LISZT Weimar offers job-relevant education which finds its expression in diverse and lively cooperation with Thuringian cultural institutions. Important partners in this regard include: The National Theatre of Germany Weimar, the Jena Philharmonic Orchestra, as well as other theatres and orchestras in Thuringia, particularly for training in the subjects of conducting, orchestral instruments, and voice/musical theatre.
In over 365 public concerts per year, students have a variety of opportunities to perform in all subject areas, be it in the university’s own ensembles such as the university’s orchestra, choir, and chamber choir, the opera school, the ensemble for historical music; or be it the ‘Chamber music and Lied Days’ at the University, concerts with the jazz orchestra or innumerable class performances in all subject-areas.
The university has a close relationship with the Protestant and Catholic state churches and owns the Franz-Liszt memorial organ at the Heart of Jesus church Weimar. We consciously make use of the substantial organ landscape of Thuringia in our training concept for church music ‘at our front door’. Concerts, organ excursions, and internships in parishes of the region are a permanent part of our studies.
In the area of music teaching, contact to public schools is rigorously formed and anchored as a compulsory part of the degree through practical teaching exercises as well as a semester internship. In the curriculum for elementary music teaching, the practical training is primarily focussed on working in kindergarten music.
Furthermore, the university maintains good contacts with the music schools in middle Germany. The close connection to the network of music schools ‘Verband der Musikschulen’, the state music academy ‘Landesmusikakademie’, and the state council of music Thuringia ‘Landesmusikrat Thüringen’ play an important role in this regard. Through internships and paid teaching contracts, students have the possibility to gain practical experience at music schools.
We also maintain close contact with the federal association for music teaching, the ‘Bundesverband Musikunterreicht e.V.’ and not only this, but teachers participate in the association’s work actively, and regularly run professional development events together with other organisations.
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