In brief

The Hans Thomann Foundation supported the establishment of an integrated music class with a focus on “band” and “choir” at the IGS Gifhorn by providing various band instruments, microphones, amplifiers and other accessories. The donated instruments are used almost daily at our school and enable our children and young people to participate in a diverse musical and cultural education.

Project Objective

Since singing has been the focus of our musical profile classes within the framework of the “choir class” concept from our school’s foundation in 2013, the Music Department has been committed to including a band profile in our school programme for the 2023/24 school year as part of its future-oriented school development. The aim of this extension is to arouse and promote interest in making music in bands, focussing on popular music, in order to enable our children and young people to learn an instrument and to open up ways of acquiring skills in playing and performing popular music.

The concept at a glance

In the musical profile lessons, 20 children of the band profile rehearse in four school bands and are coached by an experienced band teacher, while a further 40 children sing together in a cross-grade choir. In regular music lessons, both groups (choir and band) meet, which enables the development of diverse musical genres as well as their performance at concerts and cultural events. Accompanying the profile lessons and the regular music lessons, weekly instrumental or singing lessons take place in small groups.

Expression of thanks

On behalf of the school community of the IGS Gifhorn, we would like to thank the Hans Thomann Foundation from the bottom of our hearts for their generosity, as well as for the reliable and uncomplicated support.

By providing material support in setting up a band focus as part of our musical profile class, the Hans Thomann Foundation contributes to giving children and young people access to a musical and cultural education, regardless of their social and financial backgrounds. Thanks to the Hans Thomann Foundation, we will be able to integrate our project as an fixed element of our school program for the long term, i.e. beyond the duration of a school year, and to promote the learning of instrumental skills and abilities within the framework of the stylistically diverse appropriation of popular music.

Author:
Niklas Wohlt
12 Oct. 2023