Musical talent requires early, professional promotion!
For MHL, youth development is a great priority and one of its most important duties. Even in the early days of the university, the "Pre-School" was launched. Today the MHL affiliated "Institute for School Accompanying Music Education" (ISMA) enjoys an excellent reputation in Schleswig-Holstein and far beyond the country's borders. Students of ISMA are regularly awarded at the national competition "Jugend musiziert" ("Youth Makes Music") as well as at international youth competitions. Renowned artist personalities have emerged from the ISMA; they give concerts around the world, working as professors or hold solo positions in major orchestras. To mention just a few: Christian Tetzlaff, David Garrett, Natalia Prischepenko, Daishin Kashimoto, Claudio Bohorquez, Matthias Höfs, Heime Müller and Sebastian Manz.
The work of ISMA
ISMA offers outstanding, talented young instrumentalists and singers who attend a school of general education lessons taught by professors and lecturers of the MHL. Young people should not be older than 18 years. Classes are held during the semester once a week. Lessons in Music Theory and Aural Training are also offered (Saturdays). Lessons are given in several performance groups levels, classified according to an entrance test. If desired, you can choose a minor in another instrument or singing. Great importance is place on playing in an instrumental ensemble. ISMA works closely with the "Nordland-Kammermusikkursus" (North Country Chamber Music Course), which is held every year in early January in Rendsburg. In cooperation with music schools, chamber music weekends are offered. Students can take part in opportunities for public appearances at the institute's concerts as well as in class evenings and music sessions of music academy. In addition, performing opportunities outside MHL are increasingly being offered, usually in the region of Lübeck. International exchanges with integrated concerts are also being planned. The aim of this work is to provide outstanding talents with the skills needed to successfully pass an entrance examination at a music school and to succeed in a career in music.
Annual Examination
At the end of the winter semester, all ISMA Students complete an annual examination. This takes place before a commission and determines the continuance in ISMA. An important part of this examination is the conversation between the Commission and the examinee, which will take place following the audition. The subject of the conversation will be the course and the progress of the past year, incuding the prospects and challenges of the work to come.
Entrance Examination
The entrance examinations for the ISMA are held twice a year as part of the MHL Aptitude Tests. Registration deadline for the Winter Semester is April 1 for the Summer Semester, it is December 1st. For the test, at least two works from different periods and different characters are to be prepared. The Commission reserves the right to integrate an aural, sight-reading or rhythm test in the examination and to have a conversation with the applicants. The entrance examination is not meant for beginners and an extraordinary artistic and instrumental level for one’s age must have been reached. An approximate measure of the performance level could be set that would receive a 1st prize at "Young Musicians" in solo evaluation. However, the Commission always makes individual decisions.
Tuition
The fees for a semester total 383 euros, for the minor classes 191.50 euros. Instruction in Music Theory/Aural Training is free of charge. Applications for financial aid can be submitted.