Students make Pier36 a music magnet: classical, rock and pop inspire!

Students make Pier36 a music magnet: classical, rock and pop inspire!

Last weekend a remarkable student concert from the Ebert Music School took place at Pier36. Over 100 talented young musicians presented their skills in a colorful program that included classical, rock and pop from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. The former aviation hall was well attended and the atmosphere was happy and relaxed. Music school principal Christian Brandenstein highlighted the importance of a relaxed atmosphere for the students' performances and how this helps to reduce the pressure of performances compared to the often sterile environments in which rehearsals usually take place. He expressed a big thank you to the teachers, helpers, students and parents who helped organize the event.

The event, which included a variety of instruments such as piano, guitar, drums, clarinet, saxophone and vocals, provided a platform not only for beginners but also for experienced players to showcase their skills. The performance by an externally founded student band, led by a committed student mother, was particularly pleasing. The youngest participant was just five years old and had only started making music a few weeks ago. The audience, consisting of around 300 to 350 enthusiastic people - including parents, grandparents and passers-by - were very impressed by the performances.

Music as a development engine

The positive impact of music on the development of children and young people cannot be overestimated. Making music not only promotes concentration and reduces stress in the learning context, but also contributes to the development of emotional skills. As studies show, making music becomes an experience of community and togetherness due to the increased synchronization of brain waves among those involved, which is of great importance in today's world. Therefore, music is not only an art form but also a common language that connects people and promotes peaceful interactions. Professor Madza Adli, who is deeply interested in the importance of music for mental health, has launched the “Singing Shrinks” project, which shows how singing and music can help improve the quality of life.

With regard to access to musical offerings, it is gratifying that from 2026 there will be a legal right to all-day care for primary school children. This opens up new opportunities to integrate music directly into schools and offer low-threshold access. But the path to greater equal opportunities is made more difficult by financial hurdles that limit access to music. This calls for initiatives to further promote community music concepts in order to bring music to people where they live.

The next events at the Ebert Music School are already being planned. Another major performance has been announced for May 30, 2026, which will demonstrate the ongoing collaboration and commitment of teachers and students. The student concert at Pier36 impressively showed how much fun and development potential there is in making music together.