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***image1***Mackenbach recently opened its doors to a music school, which is located in the Bürgerhaus (community hall). Classes are available for all ages and instruments.
Elvir Held, who is the director of the West Palatinate Musicians’ Museum (located in the Bürgerhaus as well), is also the director of the music school together with renowned concert guitarist Leon Kappa. Their goal is to recognize and promote young talents.
“We offer an individual concept, where each student is treated as central figure,” said Mr. Kappa. “During classes, we prefer to have a parent there as well. The student has to get used to playing in front of an audience.”
Students learn to be able to actively participate in music events.
Mr. Kappa tries to find talents and bring them on stage. But in his opinion, students should have fun in learning an instrument.
“Children should not get forced to play an instrument,” Mr. Kappa said. “I don’t want to collect their fee, if I see it’s a ‘must’ for them.”
Mr. Kappa, who lives in Schwedelbach, is known in the world of music as “Paganini on Guitar.” He performs as an international concert player throughout the world.
Classes consist of three students at the most. They will be put together according to their stage of development.
“The school also offers the chance to rehearse and tape in a recording studio,” said Mr. Held. “With our music school we want to continue our year-long music history and emphasize the fact that Mackenbach is known as musicians’ village.”
Until the 1930s Mackenbach was the main location in the West Palatinate Musicians’ County from where thousands of musicians traveled throughout the world. That’s how they earned money to support their families.
Evidence of the musical tradition can be found in many places. Numerous houses have a lyre, harplike instrument of ancient Greece, in their bay to show this house belongs to a musician’s family. The lyre can also be found in Mackenbach’s coat of arms.
Students who would like to play an instrument, but don’t have one of their own, can get one from the school. Additionally, the Mackenbach Music School offers dancing and painting classes, workshops and weekend seminars for each age group.
For more information, call Mr. Kappa at 06374-992284 or e-mail leonkappa@freenet.de, or call Mr. Held at 06374-6475.
