New music school director Christina Hanisch is planning a big anniversary!

New music school director Christina Hanisch is planning a big anniversary!

There is exciting news at the music school in Cologne: Christina Hanisch has taken over the management from Jürgen Slak and is bringing a breath of fresh air to the institution that has existed for 35 years. With her long connection to the music school and her diverse skills, she wants to further advance the institution. Bottrop reports that Hanisch describes the new role as a “girl for everything”. This includes, among other things, the procurement of stage technology and the booking of grant notifications - tasks that she tackles with enthusiasm.

Born in Dortmund, who grew up in Lüneburg and studied at the Folkwang University in Essen, she is a qualified music teacher with a focus on elementary music education and the recorder. In addition to teaching in several adult ensembles, she plays the piano and accordion. Hanisch is passionate about the importance of music for children and young people and believes that music offers meaningful freedom. “Music not only promotes creativity, but also social skills,” she says.

Challenges and opportunities

But the music school faces some challenges. Maintaining the variety of courses, the general pressure to save money and the succession plan for teachers who leave due to age are just a few of the points on the agenda. There are currently more than 700 participants enrolled in the courses, with over 550 children on waiting lists. In order to further develop the music school despite all these challenges, Hanisch is thinking about crowdfunding and hopes for support from the support association and local companies.

The music school was only recently able to acquire two pianos and a grand piano through generous donations. The anniversary celebration of the music school's 35th anniversary on July 5th in the chamber concert hall promises to be a highlight. Here students and teachers have the opportunity to present themselves. Hanisch will also perform with the accordion ensemble “BotAkko”, which will certainly create a good atmosphere.

Musical support and workshops

The music school also places greater emphasis on supporting children and young people. Further training opportunities such as workshops are essential. An interesting workshop “Jazz for Children” took place at the Bergische Musikschule on September 28, 2023. LVDM NRW reports of 20 participants who sang, improvised and discovered playful elements together with the lecturer Janika Löttgen. The enthusiasm for music is encouraged here in a creative way.

The offerings, which go beyond just making music, show that the music school also places value on the development of social skills. The workshops were designed to offer participants new ideas for group settings in daycare centers and schools, which not only benefits the young musicians, but also the educators.

Overall, the music school is a place where children and young people not only learn musical skills, but also valuable life skills. The anticipation of the anniversary program and the further development of the music school under the direction of Christina Hanisch promises an exciting future for music enthusiasts in Cologne.