Lessons offered

The saying "practice early" also applies to music. The Rastatt Municipal Music School offers music education courses for the youngest children every school year. The courses start directly after the summer vacation and five different courses are offered. All basic courses start directly after the summer vacation. Lessons are also given in kindergartens if required. For pupils who are already taking instrumental lessons, early musical education or basic musical education counts as a supplementary subject.

Music education program in cooperation with the local daycare centers. The program takes place exclusively in the kindergartens.

The music school's children's choir is looking for enthusiastic singers between the ages of five and ten. Rehearsals take place every Friday from 3.45 pm to 4.30 pm in the Brahms Hall of the Municipal Music School. You can register at the Rastatt Municipal Music School, tel. 07222 972-8301, e-mail: musikschule@rastatt.de.

Children can start violin and viola lessons at pre-school age. Cello lessons are possible from the age of six or seven, double bass from seven or eight. All string instruments are distinctive melodic instruments with an extensive solo and chamber music literature. Different playing groups and orchestras offer additional training incentives and promote the joy of playing together.

Children can start guitar lessons from the age of seven. Based on classical guitar technique, pupils learn to play different musical styles according to their own preferences, such as song accompaniment, flamenco, folk, jazz, pop and rock music (electric guitar and electric bass). For harp lessons, it is advantageous, but not a prerequisite, to have previously taken piano lessons.

The recorder is a demanding instrument that is taught at the music school in baroque fingering. Seven-year-olds can also learn the larger instruments such as the flute, oboe, clarinet and bassoon without any problems. Children must be nine to ten years old for saxophone lessons. If you don't want to wait that long, you can start playing the saxophone via the clarinet because of the very similar blowing technique and fingering. All woodwind instruments are equally suitable for solo playing and for playing in an ensemble.

Six to seven-year-olds can also start with small trumpets, flugelhorns, horns, trombones, tenor and baritone horns. For the tuba, however, children must be ten to twelve years old. As the principle of sound production is the same for all brass instruments, it is possible to switch to a "bigger" brass instrument as children get older. Brass instruments are not only interesting solo instruments, but are also ideal for playing together.

Children between the ages of six and seven can start piano lessons. Piano music, with its important position in the history of music, is on the one hand a strong solo instrument, but on the other hand the piano is also an ideal chamber music instrument due to its variety of sounds.

The term percussion covers a large collection of different percussion instruments. First and foremost, these are the combined percussion instruments. Depending on the student's interests, concert xylophone and orchestral timpani are also taught, as well as percussion instruments such as claves, maracas, timbales and much more. The ideal starting age is six to seven years. In addition to having fun with rhythmic structures, pupils should above all have the opportunity to practise regularly at home. A snare drum with a stand and a few drumsticks are sufficient for the beginning.

Voice training focuses on the correct perception of one's own voice, learning special breathing techniques and awakening and training individual vocal functions. The aim is individual voice training through to training for solo singing.

Music is even more fun together! Ensembles and orchestras are therefore an integral part of the music school's main subject lessons. And: even those who do not receive lessons at the municipal music school can take part in the ensembles.
The music school's ensembles not only enrich cultural life in Rastatt with their performances. They also provide the musical backdrop for celebrations and other events. Booking inquiries can be made at the music school office, tel. 07222 972-8301, e-mail: musikschule@rastatt.de.

The following ensembles currently exist at the music school:

Interested parties are welcome to attend a regular lesson at any time, either actively or passively, by prior arrangement. To register for a free "trial lesson" at the music school: Tel. 07222 972-8301, e-mail: musikschule@rastatt.de.

The beginners' course is aimed at parents who also want to learn to play a string instrument alongside their child as well as adult beginners who want to acquire basic knowledge. The main topics of the course are: Positioning the instrument, bowing, rhythm and music theory.

Why not play the bassoon (again)? The focus at the beginning is on breathing technique and a controlled embouchure to produce a beautiful tone. Basic musical knowledge is deepened: No need for sheet music! And the first improvisations within the framework of simple melodies lead on to ensemble and solo playing.

Who hasn't been captivated by the drums? With its diverse rhythm and sound possibilities, the drums are indispensable for all musical styles today. In this course, basic rhythmic exercises are transferred to the entire range of percussion instruments in an easy-to-understand way, even without sheet music. In addition, you will be taken on a journey into the world of diverse percussion instruments such as the cajón, conga, bongos, djembe and numerous small percussion instruments of all kinds.

Bağlama and Turkish folk music lessons have a long tradition at the Rastatt Municipal Music School. Music teacher Murat Bay, himself a virtuoso on the oriental plucked instrument and a pioneer of bağlama lessons in Germany, offers participants the opportunity to learn more about the instrument, the way it is played and its history. Further lesson contents are: Theoretical basics of (folk) music, "Baglama Düzeni" (short neck) and "Uzun Sap" (long neck), Selpe playing technique and regional playing styles, repertoire teaching.

The table harp is the ideal introductory instrument for anyone who has missed out on active music-making in their lives up to now. Especially for older people with no previous musical training, playing the table harp can fulfill the desire to be musically active and creative.

No knowledge of sheet music is required - a simple music template allows you to play "at sight". The extraordinary sound of the table harp enriches home music, can be used perfectly in small ensembles and makes playing fun from the very first lessons.