The Hans Thomann Fundation donated 40 cajons for use in research and school development projects to the Chair for Empirical Education Research at Friedrich Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg currently held by Professor Stephan Kröner. This enabled the Chair to undertake preparatory work resulting in a successful funding application to the Federal Ministry for Education for the project “MeMu-IN”. This project involves researchers from the Friedrich Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg and from Würzburg Music Academy investigating the question how music education concepts should be designed to best appeal to year-5 to year-10 high school students and to awaken their enthusiasm for playing instruments and singing, including the use of cajons. This research into musical activities is not restricted to classroom practice but specifically addresses leisure-time music activities, too.

In music workshops, music educators taught students the basics of cajon and guitar playing. In addition, students had the opportunity to perform their favourite songs in band sessions, becoming the stars of their own hits. The instruments continue to be used by students at various schools in the ongoing project: at the moment, they are in a secondary school in Hesse. Students can even take the instruments home.

Author:
Lisa Birnbaum, M.A.
Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg
Chair for Empirical Education Research
https://www.lebi.phil.fau.de/lehrstuhl-fuer-empirische-unterrichtsforschung/forschung/kulturelle-partizipation/