In 21 articles covering a broad range of topics, the German Music Information Centre (MIC or MIZ) bundles selected facts about musical life in Germany and describes developments in its central areas.
by Ortwin Nimczik
Music instruction at school furthers the imagination, social skills and creativity. It is firmly anchored in the curricula of primary schools and all grades of secondary levels I and II. Ortwin Nimczik writes about recent developments and perspectives in educational policy.
by Michael Dartsch
Music education outside the state school system ensures that people of every age can develop their musical abilities. Michael Dartsch describes the activities on offer in Germany as well as their sponsors and participants.
by Hans Bäßler and Ortwin Nimczik
Those seeking to take up music as a profession will find a great many options in Germany. Tertiary-level schools of music, universities and special institutes are available for talented young artists and teachers. Hans Bäßler and Ortwin Nimczik discuss paths and trends in education.
by Astrid Reimers
Amateur music-making plays an enormously important role in Germany’s cultural and social life. With millions of people who make music in their free time, it is one of Germany's largest areas of civic engagement. Astrid Reimers reports on the impact of choruses, orchestras and associations.
by Gerald Mertens
Germany's publicly financed orchestra landscape currently consists of 129 professional ensembles, recently achieving almost 9,000 concerts in a single season. Gerald Mertens discusses past developments, describes the ensembles’ present situation and outlines new activities.
by Arnold Jacobshagen
More than seven million people attend music theatre performances each season. Half of the over 11,500 events presented are opera performances, followed by dance, musicals and operettas. Arnold Jacobshagen writes about underlying conditions, staff members and developments in the repertoire.
by Tobias Schick and Richard Lorber
Independent ensembles are a major engine of innovation and creativity in musical life, but they often work under trying conditions. Richard Lorber and Tobias Eduard Schick examine their programmes and finances and shed light on the early music and avant-garde scenes.
by Karl-Heinz Reuband
Roughly half of the people living in Germany are receptive to classical music, though the figures are declining. Karl Heinz Reuband asks what we know about the population’s musical predilections and what trends they reveal.
by Wolfgang Seufert
An upward trend and considerable spillover effects on other industries: the music economy is a major part of Germany’s cultural and creative economy as a whole. Wolfgang Seufert explains its subsectors and their peculiarities.
In the past two decades, the German MIC has published over 100 statistics on diverse aspects of musical life. This compilation comprises more than 40 selected, permanently updated statistics in English.
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The maps present selected parts of the German MIC's database from a topographical point of view. They provide information on the locations and other characteristics of specific musical organisations and give a compact visual overview.
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The German Music Information Centre is contact point and centre of expertise for anyone seeking information and data on musical life in Germany. Under the aegis of the German Music Council (Deutscher Musikrat) it documents structures and developments in key areas including musical education and training, amateur and professional music-making, the media and the music industry.
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