© Christian Kern

Musical Education

From the very beginning, for a lifetime

Music education opens doors to the world of music—in daycare centers and schools, in amateur music groups, at music schools, through independent initiatives, and at colleges and universities. Music is not merely an art form in its own right. It also opens up spaces for people of all ages to experience environments where cognitive, emotional, social, and creative processes can interact. As a result, music education has been shown to strengthen linguistic, social, and health-related skills, as well as numerous other areas of development.

Raising awareness of the importance of music education and ensuring that this is reflected in policy decisions are therefore at the heart of the German Music Council’s work in the field of music policy. At the same time, many of the German Music Council’s projects contribute to personal development, social participation, and civic education, and support the next generation of top musical talent.

Content

1. Positions and Goals

2. Statements

3. Publications

4. Campaign

Latest News

We are committed to:

the preservation of music as an independent school subject and its consistent integration into all types of schools

Ensuring the long-term sustainability of music education and integrating amateur music into full-day care starting in August 2026 through additional staff, suitable spaces, and appropriate equipment

effective measures to address the shortage of music teachers, in particular by expanding and standardizing initial, continuing, and advanced training programs and by establishing clear pathways for career changers

an increase in funding for education and participation to provide children in vulnerable circumstances with better access to music education

a reform of the status determination process to ensure the legally compliant employment of freelance teachers, adjunct instructors, and lecturers at small and medium-sized music schools

increased funding for public music schools to enable the permanent hiring of teachers following the Herrenberg ruling

Statements

Fair and transparent fees are not only a social issue but also a key prerequisite for ensuring the quality, the next generation, and the long-term viability of music education.
These recommendations are intended to apply to projects and institutions funded by public funds. Given the differences in framework conditions and financial situations that vary by state and region—for example, at music schools or conservatories—these recommendations certainly cannot be implemented immediately at this time, but should be pursued gradually with the support of the respective funding agencies. 

Position Paper

Im Musikbereich sind sowohl abhängige Beschäftigung als auch Selbstständigkeit möglich und üblich, sei es im Konzertwesen oder in der Musikalischen Bildung und in der Lehre. Hierbei treten häufig Mischformen innerhalb einer Berufsbiografie auf. Diese hybriden Tätigkeiten gilt es bei der geplanten Reform des Statusfeststellungsverfahrens zu beachten. 

Zur Stellungnahme

On the occasion of the federal election on February 23, 2025, the German Music Council, together with its music education associations, called on the new federal government and the relevant policymakers at the state level to address the dire situation in the field of music education. This is because music education holds particular potential for social cohesion, democratization, language development, diversity, and transculturalism.

Press Release

The Federal Expert Committee on Education drafted the position paper #SchuleNeuDenken: mehr Musik!, which was adopted by the Executive Board of the German Music Council in March 2023. The paper outlines and calls for comprehensive measures to improve the situation in five key areas of music education.

Statement

Publications

Edited by Prof. Dr. Michael Dartsch and Prof. Dr. Jürgen Oberschmidt for the Föderation musikpädagogischer Verbände Deutschlands (FMV)

The new publication, herausgegeben von der Föderation der musikpädagogischen Verbände Deutschlands, explores the question of what music and music education can achieve. It compiles the current state of research on the relevance and impact of music education and presents it in a way specifically tailored to educational policy decision-making processes.

Download

The „MiKADO-Musik“ study uses qualitative and quantitative surveys to examine the reasons behind the dramatic shortage of new teachers at music schools. The results show that unless immediate steps are taken to improve working conditions for music school teachers, there is a risk of widespread erosion of music education throughout Germany.

The „MULEM-EX“ study provides answers to the question of why applications to music education programs have declined significantly across Germany in recent years.

In March 2020, the German Music Council, the Conference of State Music Councils, and the Bertelsmann Foundation published a jointly commissioned study titled „Musikunterricht in der Grundschule – Aktuelle Situation und Perspektive“. For the first time, this study makes it possible not only to vaguely identify shortcomings in music education but also to describe them precisely based on valid research.

Study

„Kulturelle und künstlerische Bildung umfasst das Lehren und Lernen über, mit und durch Kunst und Kultur sowie alle Formen kultureller und künstlerischer Ausdrucksformen. ‚Kulturelle und künstlerische Bildung‘ positioniert Kultur, einschließlich der Künste, als ein Bildungsinstrument, einen Bildungsansatz und einen Bereich von Studium, Forschung und Praxis.“ 

(UNESCO Framework for Culture and Arts Education, 2024)

Zukunft braucht Musik, Zukunft braucht Dich!

Music education is the foundation of Germany’s vibrant music scene. However, the shortage of qualified professionals in music education—in both schools and music schools—is causing this foundation to crumble more and more. The German Music Council has therefore launched the social media campaign „Zukunft braucht Musik, Zukunft braucht Dich!“ on Instagram and TikTok.

Campaign Website