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Mannheim (dpa / lsw) - Live performances are prohibited, rehearsals are only digital and some clubs are doomed - despite all the corona-related obstacles, more young people are interested in a career as a musician.
At the Mannheim Pop Academy, one is surprised by the run on the study places.
"We expected significantly fewer registrations," says the artistic director of the Mannheim University of Music, Udo Dahmen.
Contrary to expectations, there were already 12 percent more applications in the 2020/21 winter semester.
There were 700 applications for every 100 places.
"We thought that the uncertainties are now reflected in the current figures - but we are registering even more interest than last year."
Managing Director Dahmen has already received more registrations than at the same time in 2020.
The academy is the only university with bachelor's and master's degrees in popular music and creative industries in German-speaking countries.
She produced such successful musicians as the singers Alice Merton (“No Roots”) and Mine (“Der Elefant”), the songwriter Joris (“Herz über Kopf”) and the songwriter Konstantin Gropper.
"Pop is still the most popular music in Germany," emphasizes the trained drummer Dahmen.
The trend continues towards German songs, especially in the hip-hop area.
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In addition to the crisis in live music, according to Dahmen, the pandemic is also opening up new opportunities for musicians. Booming media companies like Netflix need songs and music for films and series. Typically, musicians would have multiple sources of income, including gigs, music lessons, and their own production companies. Since income is falling there, the academy and the friends of pop association have initiated a lifebuoy for the students. There are also around 20 scholarships.
The course is largely taught digitally.
The exchange between the students runs smoothly via digital platforms, whereby the pieces of music are created through joint editing on the screen, explains Dahmen.
As an example of digital collaboration, he cites the annual Future Music Camp, in which musicians from all over the world can take part online - without having to travel expenses or polluting the environment through flights.
"There are people there who otherwise would not be able to come."
And how does Dahmen see the future of pop music?
"Every pandemic has an end and afterwards there will be a great renaissance of live culture and music," says the expert.
He predicts an upswing for the creative sector like the one in the 1920s after the Spanish flu.
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© dpa-infocom, dpa: 210424-99-334245 / 2
Pop Academy
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