Räuberband & Juniorband

The programme is based on band lessons, and the room is equipped accordingly: drum set, electric guitar and bass with short scales and matching amps, synthesizer, electric piano, piano, small percussion, MIDI computer and hi-fi for play-alongs.

In groups of four to eight children, the weekly sessions focus on:

• experiencing elements of jazz and popular music with voice, body and instruments – improvisation, rhythm, groove, swing, timing, backbeat, offbeat …
• ear training and basic musical knowledge such as notation and instruments, including simple listening tasks (“Which instruments are playing here?”)
• including skills from any instrumental lessons
• simple pieces that are played together, recorded and discussed

The level and pace in the Juniorband are a little higher than in the Räuberband – but you can still start in the Juniorband without previous knowledge. From the start, children work with electric guitar, bass, percussion, synthesizers and microphones and can try out a lot themselves. This provides orientation for later instrumental lessons and encourages a critical approach to the music heard everywhere today.

What improvising achieves

• no fear of “wrong” notes
• children's imagination for movement is used for music
• hearing becomes more differentiated and sensitive
• a feeling for phrases, tension and periodicity develops
• confidence in their own means of expression grows
• their own contribution relates meaningfully to the group
• a feeling for the sound of voice, instrument and group develops

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