The development of community music in Munich

In German music education, the focus has historically been on formal music education in schools. Participatory music making in the community, or community music, has so far received little attention in theory or practice. This thesis constitutes the first in-depth analysis of the development of community music in Germany, conducted using empirical data and literature analysis.

The development of the Munich Community Music Action Research Group is highlighted as an example of the potential of community music in the German context. The research shows that the context-specific development of a framework for community music in Germany, within the community music spirit of participation reflected in the action research methodology, gives voice to and connects community musicians, and has contributed considerably to the development of community music theory and practice, not only in Munich, but across Germany.

The appendix is free to download.

Pressestimmen

Detailed and meticulous, and written in a style that is clear and easy to engage with, this publication will enrich the field for both emerging and seasoned scholars, and within the intersecting fields of music education and community music. This also comes with an acknowledgement that community music as an academic field is widely underrepresented in German scholarly literature. De Bánffy-Hall invokes a response from others with the field of community music in Germany, to continue to develop the scholarship in collaboration with the practice, in order to invite growth in an area identified by the author as ‘still in its infancy’ (p. 23), thereby deepening the international dialogue.
Catherine Birch: Homepage of the International Society for Music Education.