Expanding Wind Music Diversity: A Music Initiative Reaches Children from Migrant Heritage
Breaking Barriers in Wind Orchestras: A Primary School Project in Titisee-Neustadt
Wind orchestras rarely see musicians with a migration background, but a project at a primary school in Titisee-Neustadt, Breisgau-Hochschwarzwald district, is changing that.
Children from migrant families seldom learn a wind instrument, an experience shared by many music clubs and wind music associations. To address this issue, the youth orchestra Neustadt, Titisee-Neustadt, has launched a music project. From the third grade onwards, children receive free instrumental lessons, enabling them to discover wind music they might not have encountered otherwise.
The project is funded by the "Culture makes strong" program of the Federal Ministry of Education. The children receive free lessons and have the opportunity to join the pre-orchestra of the youth orchestra. Currently, five out of the 16 musicians in the pre-orchestra originate from migrant families, a success the conductor Fabian Müller attributes to the project.
Financial hurdles often prevent children from taking instrumental lessons, particularly for families with a migration history. Other activities, such as football, have a competitive edge, as confirmed by Christoph Karle, director of the BDB Music Academy in Staufen. There is also a lack of personal contact between clubs and migrant families. According to Stefanie di Mauro, responsible for training at the Neustadt youth orchestra, the language barrier and the absence of connection to wind music among many migrant parents make it less likely for them to enroll their children in trial days or concerts. Music clubs, she emphasizes, should be more proactive in approaching families.
To reach children from all families, the Neustadt youth orchestra has developed a concept for all primary school grades in collaboration with other clubs and the Hochschwarzwald music school. In the first and second grades, lessons are given on so-called precursor instruments, such as horns or simple string instruments. From the third grade onwards, free lessons on an instrument of choice are offered. The program is voluntary.
Dario Draganovic, a ten-year-old boy from Croatia, is one of the beneficiaries of this project. He has been playing the saxophone for a year and a half and is now in the pre-orchestra of the Neustadt youth orchestra. His family moved to the Black Forest from Croatia nine years ago. The decision to learn the saxophone surprised his parents who had no connection to this music genre at first. The music project at the Hansjakob school made it easier for Dario to get involved with wind music. While his mother originally perceived wind music as "German," she now wants her children to learn elements of their home culture. When Dario had his first big performance last year, she had tears in her eyes.
The project in Titisee-Neustadt can serve as a model for other communities, fostering cultural integration, accessibility, and confidence among children with a migration background. By engaging in musical activities, these children can feel more connected to their peers and the local culture. Ensuring wind instruments are accessible and offering free or subsidized lessons can encourage participation from migrant families. Learning an instrument can also enhance self-esteem and build bridges between different cultural groups, fostering a welcoming environment.
When implemented with collaboration, multilingual support, an inclusive curriculum, and teacher training, music projects can effectively break down barriers and provide a supportive learning environment for children with a migration background.
This project in Titisee-Neustadt promotes a diverse lifestyle by making wind instrument education accessible and encouraging migrant children to participate, which can boost their self-esteem and foster a sense of connection with their peers. Home-and-garden, education-and-self-development, and learning are essential aspects as the project provides a supportive environment for children to grow and discover new passions, such as wind music.
