The wind class seminar is led by Anne Eichner and Michael Hummel.

Since 2018, saxophonist and educator Stefan Weilmünster has complemented the teaching staff. As a saxophonist, he performs regularly, teaches as an honorary professor in Mainz and at the HfMDK Frankfurt, and is the deputy head of the Seligenstadt Music School. Also on the team are Bruno Schmidt and colleagues from the company Arnold Stölzl GmbH in Wiesbaden, when it comes to topics such as instrument care and maintenance. The company Arnold Stölzl GmbH gratefully supports the event with regular instrument maintenance and accessories.

Students of the Wind Class Seminar 2018/2019 with the lecturers (from right to left) Stefan Weilmünster, Bruno Schmid (Arnold Stölzl GmbH) and David Schmauch.

In both the bachelor’s and master’s degree programs, students have the opportunity over two semesters to learn various woodwind and brass instruments fundamentally within the framework of the wind class seminar. The group of students itself forms a wind class. In this context, you acquire knowledge and skills in instrumental didactics and ensemble conducting, repertoire, intonation, and sound, in addition to playing techniques. Suitable literature and the management of a wind class are also discussed. In the seminar events, you guide each other and traditionally present the musical results in a joint final concert with the string class at the end of the summer semester. Parallel to the seminar events, teaching observations take place at the Frauenlob-Gymnasium in Mainz.
The wind class concept has developed into an established and widespread form of class music-making. In a wind class, students learn a wind instrument over 2 to 3 years as part of regular music lessons. Leading a wind class requires competencies that go beyond the regular content of the teacher education program. The Mainz School of Music, as one of only a few music higher education institutions in Germany, has been integrating training for wind class leadership (alternatively, string class or choir class) into its Bachelor and Master of Education degree programs for many years.

The Mainz School of Music has been offering teacher education students training in the “Class Music-Making” concept for many years. The “String Class” seminar is led by Beate Kragl and Benjamin Fazlagić.

In both the bachelor’s and master’s degree programs, students have the opportunity over two semesters to fundamentally learn a string instrument they have not yet played within the framework of the “String Class” seminar. General knowledge about other string instruments is acquired during the two semesters. The group of students itself forms a string class. Therefore, there is a close connection between theory and practice, which can be found in the focus areas of the seminar:

Students learn to play a string instrument and how to teach it in a group. In addition, the methodology and didactics of a string class play a crucial role. Teaching and playing literature for the string class are presented. The traditions of string class instruction, based among others on Sheila Nelson and Paul Rolland, are learned and experienced through practical application. The independent development of arrangements and exercises, as well as the composition of smaller works or string arrangements that consider the specifics of the string class, are also part of the training. The connection with content from the curriculum of secondary level I and its implementation on string instruments emphasizes the practical relevance in the string class.

Teaching trials in groups are also part of the seminar, so that all students can gain experience in different roles within the string class. Observations in string classes are also mandatory and are arranged individually. The seminar concludes with a final concert, traditionally organized together with the wind class.

Since the summer semester 2024, you can choose “digital music practice” as your artistic main or minor subject in the master’s degree program! No further aptitude test is required for this.

Additionally, in various teaching projects, you have the opportunity to engage artistically and didactically with forms of digital or hybrid music practice in production and performance (e.g., with DJing, live acting, VJing). This offer applies to all teacher education students, regardless of their artistic main and minor subjects.

The Mainz School of Music is also a member of the Competence Center for Art, Music and Sports of the Competence Network lernen:digital, funded by the BMBF and the EU.

Among other things, this involves researching digital music practice in the context of music education, for which the School of Music cooperates with several partner schools in Mainz and the surrounding area.

Contact persons and teaching staff:

Dr. Josef Schaubruch
Dominik Jahn, M.Ed.
schulmusik@uni-mainz.de (for general inquiries)