The university band "Funkystition" and the school band at Graf-Anton-Günther-Schule will soon be performing together. The collaboration is a lot of fun - and should inspire talented pupils to study music.
Having fun with music together, giving future teachers practical experience in leading ensembles and introducing young musical talents to the University of Oldenburg - these are the goals that Stephan Schomaker and Clemens Schneider from the Institute of Music associate with the co-operation between the university formation "Funkystition" and the "GAG-Combo", the school band of the Graf-Anton-Günther-Schule (GAG). The collaboration between the two bands is something special, as music students rarely play together with pupils, some of whom are only half their age.
Schomaker has led the fourteen-piece band "Funkystition" since last year and is responsible at the Institute of Music for cooperation with general education schools and music schools, among other things. He speaks enthusiastically about the co-operation with the school band: "Both our students and the pupils are highly motivated. It's simply fun to work with so many music-loving young people." The initiative for the collaboration came from Clemens Schneider. He is a music teacher at GAG and head of the "GAG Combo", which is made up of pupils from years 7 to 13. He is also a lecturer at the university. In 2017, he also received the "Teaching Award" for his various seminars in the subject of music.
Most of the members of "Funkystition" are student teachers. For them, making music together with the GAG school band is a valuable practical educational experience: in addition to cognitive and creative skills in creating their own musical arrangements of well-known funk and soul classics, communicative and didactic skills are also required in order to implement musical notation, optimise interaction with the pupils and master the nervous tension of the upcoming concert situation.
All participants spend a total of three weekends rehearsing together and will perform together on 15 February. "It really makes an impression when everyone is on stage together," reports Schomaker. "Fourteen students playing together with a similar number of pupils." There will be three blocks at the concert (see box): The first block will be performed by the "GAG-Combo", the second by "Funkystition" and in the third block both groups will play together. "The pupils really don't have to hide from the students. We have a lot of talent in both bands. The audience will hardly be able to keep their dancing feet still to the songs of Stevie Wonder, Bruno Mars, Paul Simon and others," adds Schomaker with a smile.
The artistic staff member at the Institute of Music also sees the co-operation as an exemplary opportunity to inspire pupils to study music at the University of Oldenburg, which focuses on diversity and practical relevance. It is no secret how much music teachers are needed in schools. The best way to break down inhibitions is to make music together: Pupils come into contact with students, can ask questions and experience how much fun it is to play music professionally.
