Reduction of music lessons in Austria
The general conditions for music lessons in Austrian schools have deteriorated massively over the last decade, explains the Austrian Music Council (ÖMR). The situation in elementary school is particularly precarious. Music education is being massively cut back at teacher training colleges.
Musically overstretched teachers no longer sing or make music with the children or there are no music lessons at all, the Council explains further. The current education policy debate focuses far too much on the Pisa subjects (reading, mathematics, science). However, the artistic and creative subjects also impart indispensable skills such as creativity, social interaction and creative ability.
The ÖMR calls for a qualitative and quantitative safeguarding of music lessons, the realization of a flexible subject teacher principle for musical-artistic subjects at elementary school, the expansion of music lessons in elementary school to two hours per week, the expansion of cooperation between schools and music schools and the establishment of a music education coordination office in the Ministry of Education.
