HINTERZARTEN, GERMANY--(Marketwired - Dec 5, 2013) - Two intensive courses aiming to prepare prospective music students for auditions at German music colleges will start in March and September 2014 at Birklehof School in Hinterzarten (Black Forest).

The courses are taught by highly qualified and experienced teacher Gareth Reaks who has enjoyed a long career teaching advanced music students in academic studies. Three further experienced musicians and teachers will assist in the delivery of the course. The course comprises 285 hours of academic classes in, for example, musical analysis and history, harmony, aural perception and musicianship training. Additionally there are 20 hours of individual practical tuition in, for example, performance, conducting or accompanying as required. 15 hours of extended cultural studies complement the course which is taught in English.

Birklehof is a private boarding school and the former home and workplace of Edith Picht-Axenfeld - Pianist, Harpsichordist, co-founder and Professor of the Freiburg Musikhochschule. The school offers an excellent infrastructure and resources. The Musikhaus boasts a fine concert hall, classroom, music technology equipment and practice rooms with good quality pianos and other instruments allowing students the best possible location to prepare for their auditions. Students can opt to be residential and enjoy the benefits of the school's daily life and activities. Birklehof is situated at 900m altitude in the popular Black Forest holiday location. The city of Freiburg and the Freiburg Musikhochschule can be reached within 30 minutes by train.

The course lasts 15 weeks with lessons from Monday to Friday. Course dates link with those for auditions at Musikhochschulen and Padagogischen Hochschulen.

Course 1 (for auditions in June/July 2014): 2/3/2014-13//7/2014

Course 2 (for auditions in Jan/Feb 2015): 7/9/2014-24/1/2015

For more information please visit the school's websitehttp://www.birklehof.de/eip/pages/preparatory-course-in-music.php

For more detailed advice, questions or concerns please contact the Course leader Gareth Reaks, phone number: +49 7652 122-29, email:[email protected]

This is Birklehof

The co-educational boarding school Birklehof in Hinterzarten (Black Forest) has about 150 boarders and 70 day students. It offers an excellent academic education leading to the German "Abitur" (the certificate after 12 school years required for admission to university) linked with a holistic education which is committed to personal development and responsibility. As a global member of Round Square, Birklehof participates in international student exchanges, attends international conferences and participates in local and global services.

For more information on Birklehof please e-mail to[email protected], telephone +49 7652 122-22 or go towww.birklehof.de

Contact Information

Marlies Herweg, Leitung Presse- und Offentlichkeitsarbeit

Schule Birklehof e. V., 79856 Hinterzarten

Tel. Durchwahl: 07652 122-85, Zentrale -0

Fax: 07652122-23

E-Mail:[email protected]

www.birklehof.de