German music schools sound the alarm
A study by German music education associations paints a dramatic picture of a future shortage of music teachers. Half a million children in Germany and Austria could no longer have access to lessons.
According to the study, around 14,700 music school staff will retire by 2035 (projection based on current figures from the Association of German Music Schools and the German Music Information Center). In contrast, there are only around 4,000 students of instrumental and vocal pedagogy and elementary music pedagogy. This means that in ten years' time, around three quarters of vacancies could not be filled by suitably qualified music school teachers. In view of constantly rising demand, this means that at least 500,000 children will no longer be able to receive music school lessons.
The study was a joint initiative of the Arbeitsgemeinschaft der Leitenden pädagogischer Studiengänge (ALMS) and the Committee for Artistic-Pedagogical Study Programs of the Rectors' Conference of Universities of Music (RKM). With the participation of numerous universities of music and study institutions as well as the Association of German Music Schools (VdM), causes, challenges and approaches to action were examined in a broad-based crowd research project with over 50 research groups.
