First step towards realising the medium-term concept of the Chemnitz Municipal Music School for the years 2013 to 2018

The user statutes of the Chemnitz Municipal Music School (B-070/2014), the fee statutes of the City of Chemnitz for the Chemnitz Municipal Music School (B-067/2014) and the fee schedule of the Chemnitz Municipal Music School (B-001/2014) as well as the 2nd amendment to the fee schedule for the Chemnitz Municipal Music School were adopted. Amendment to the Schedule of Fees for the Provision of Instruments of the Chemnitz Municipal Music School (B-069/2014).

The City Council's vote provides the Chemnitz Municipal Music School with the necessary basis for action to fulfil its important cultural and educational role and its independent educational and cultural mission alongside day-care centres and general education schools, while at the same time continuing to develop in line with demand and requirements. The city is providing a subsidy of 1.3 million euros in the 2014 budget for this purpose. The main focus of the music school's education programme is on broad-based promotion, individual and/or group lessons, talent development and ensemble and orchestral work.

About the resolutions:

User statutes of the Chemnitz Municipal Music School: The changes include formalities that prove necessary in the day-to-day work of the music school as well as the adjustment to the introduction of the new combined lessons offered at the start of the new school year from August 2014.

Chemnitz Municipal Music School's fee regulations: This includes an average fee increase of five per cent, which is necessary due to the constant rise in ancillary costs. A significant change is the introduction of combined lessons - here partner lessons, group lessons (vocal and instrumental) and individual lessons of 30 minutes are merged and a combination of weekly individual lessons of 30 minutes or pair lessons of 45 minutes or group lessons of 60 minutes is offered. The teachers will organise the respective types of lessons and groups of a maximum of three pupils. In future, individual lessons will be offered for 45 minutes to support particularly gifted pupils.

Another new feature is the introduction of an annual basic amount of 100 euros before the social discount is granted. This is to be paid in principle and is based on the composition of the standard needs levels, which include a monthly lump sum of 32 to 42 euros for education, leisure, entertainment and culture, depending on the age of the pupils, and should also be used for the provision of lessons at the municipal music school. The social discount of 50 per cent is granted on application, on presentation of a Chemnitzpass issued to the pupil or, in the case of underage pupils, to the legal representative. Discounts for siblings (family discount) apply to the second, third and subsequent children. According to the statutes, further fee reductions also apply, for example, to the promotion of education for the disabled and the promotion of ensemble work.

Fee regulations of the Chemnitz Municipal Music School: The fee rates for early musical education will be increased and newly included for the combined lessons to be introduced; also new is the introduction of a basic fee for newly engaged teachers during the first four school years. The lump sums for the supervision and participation of pupils in the "Jugend musiziert" competitions will be increased, thus recognising the high-quality teaching of the teachers. Also new is the payment of supplements to teachers in order to incentivise the establishment of a stable orchestra for the representative work of the music school as well as a permanent children's choir.

2nd amendment to the scale of fees for the hire of instruments from the Chemnitz Municipal Music School: The adopted amendment represents a necessary increase in private-law fees by an average of five per cent due to constantly rising procurement and maintenance costs for instruments. The additional income for the music school is to be used for the purchase of new instruments or the repair of existing ones.