Musically gifted young people to be promoted

After a five-year pilot phase, the promotion of talent at the Zug music schools will definitely be introduced.

"Those who are particularly talented in sport or music have to sacrifice a lot of free time for this. In terms of the provision of professional training, these areas are not sufficiently covered by the primary schools. The requirements for vocational studies have also increased." Claudio Mair, the coordinator for talent promotion at the Zug Music School Zug, thereby considers it to be important that there should be a promotion of talented people in the music sector.

And he has cause for joy: the School Presidents' Conference of the Canton of Zug recently decided to approve the support of talented people as a definitive project following the successful pilot phase. The eleven music schools in the canton of Zug launched the pilot project to promote musically-gifted young people in 2016, and 42 music students have been included in the programme since then.

Ensembles and workshops
Claudio Mair explains what the concept looks like. "In addition to the normal instrumental or singing lessons at a music school, the participants also attend additional lessons in theory and aural training, play in larger and smaller ensembles, and, in workshops, learn about topics such as dealing with stage fright, improvisation or bodywork." From high school onwards, they are also trained on a second instrument. The programme also includes class lessons and public concerts, where the young musicians can gain performance experience. Mair says:

"Many of them have already won prizes at music competitions or have made the leap to a conservatory to start a professional education."

Claudio Mair, coordinator for talent promotion at the Zug Music School
Picture: PD

24 music students are currently part of the programme. The demand for places is pleasing, and, so far, no one has had to be turned away due to lack of space, explains the coordinator. The youngest participant is in the 5th grade, while the oldest is 19 years old. "The length of time they are supported varies," says Mair. There are some young people who have been promoted for four years, while others stop after one year, partly because they start further education directly. "Most of them stay with us longer."

Entrance examination with audition before a jury
In principle, anyone can apply. "The music teachers play an important role in this, of course. Registration requires the consent of the music teacher and the music school management." Finally, there is an entrance examination in the form of an audition before a jury. "This then decides whether the applicant will be included in the programme." The seven-member management group consists of music school leaders and music teachers from the canton of Zug.

"Attention is thereby paid to equal representation: the members of the jury come from different municipalities and have different styles and disciplines."

The promotion of gifted artists is supported financially by the eleven music schools, with a budget amounting to around CHF 20,000 per year. The young people or their parents must pay the school fees of the municipal music schools. The theory and the aural training lessons, the chamber music and ensemble playing, as well as the participation in the workshops, are free of charge for the participants.

Other cantons, such as Lucerne, also have their own funding programmes. The aim is also that the talented young people should be able to network with each other. Where necessary, we also work together with other institutions: "If, for example, we put together a group for a chamber music project, it is of course important that the composition of the instruments is not arbitrary."

Encouraging each other
The fact that the young artists in the programme encourage and motivate each other should not be underestimated.

"If someone has a special talent in regular lessons, they are often alone."

The fact that the School Presidents' Conference has approved the continuation of the project as hoped shows that the promotion programme has met expectations. "This will allow us to set the course for a successful training of music-loving young people in the future," says Claudio Mair.