German President sponsors national Dvorak Experiment

The president of the federal republic, Joachim Gauck, has announced himself as patron of a scheme that will stream Dvorak’s New World Symphony into classrooms across the country on September 19.

Schools will be sent teaching materials well in advance with a view to involving children of all ages in the preparation and interpretation of a musical masterwork. The initiative comes from the main TV channel, ARD, and the NDR orchestra, conductor Thomas Hengelbrock.

Statement from the president’s office: ‘Dem Bundespräsidenten ist die musikalische Bildung als Teil der kulturellen Bildung von Kindern und Jugendlichen sehr wichtig. Aus diesem Grund begrüßt er Projekte, deren Ziel es ist, jedem Kind – gleich welcher sozialen oder ethnischen Herkunft – den Zugang zur Welt der Musik zu ermöglichen. (The President thinks it’s very important for music to be part of the cultural education of children and adolescents. He welcomes projects that will give every child – regardless of social or ethnic origin – access to the world of music.’

Why can’t more countries be a bit like Germany? And more broadcasters like ARD?