Teaching impulses

For secondary school classes

A special kind of double lesson in music: we offer school classes an interactive introduction to selected concerts as part of their lessons. Pupils engage practically with the content of the respective concert by becoming musically active themselves, experiencing different approaches and engaging in dialogue with musicians. This allows them to experience the concert from a broader perspective.

»Bilder einer Ausstellung« | from 8th grade onwards

A new interpretation of "Pictures at an Exhibition"
From 8th grade onwards

Marimba virtuoso Christoph Sietzen and his colleagues from the Wave Quartet have succeeded in creating an astonishing new interpretation: they present Modest Mussorgsky's piano cycle "Pictures at an Exhibition" in a colourful arrangement for four marimbas, virtuosic and with a new sound. Together, the four musicians make the mallets whirl, but also elicit sounds of the greatest delicacy from the marimba. Mussorgsky's famous "Pictures at an Exhibition" is full of surprises in this way. In the teaching impulse we invite you to take a closer look at the work in connection with the marimba.

Registration until Fri 21.11.2025

Reference concert: "The Wave Quartet", Philharmonie.7 - One hour (R)auszeit, Tue 03.02.2026, 19:00 h

»Rhythm« | from 10th grade onwards

Gershwin | Ravel | Stravinsky
From 10th grade onwards

The "Gershwin | Ravel | Stravinsky" concert programme is all about contrasts that could not have been greater at the time they were composed. Under the direction of Nicholas Collon, the Aurora Orchestra presents Maurice Ravel's Boléro, George Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue and Igor Stravinsky's "Le Sacre du printemps" - all performed entirely from memory. The works, which are among the most famous of the 20th century, bring together a wide variety of styles, united by a passion for rhythm and the sonorous incorporation of different cultures into classical orchestral music. The teaching impulse invites you to engage creatively with the performers and the multifaceted nature of the concert programme.

Registration until Fri 16.01.2026

Reference concert: "Hayato Sumino | Aurora Orchestra | Nicholas Collon", Tue 21.04.2026, 20:00, Kölner Philharmonie

Singing together with tenor Julian Prégardien | for middle and high school choirs

»Die schöne Müllerin« (The Beautiful Miller Girl)

A project for middle and high school choirs

On Tuesday, 9 June 2026, tenor Julian Prégardien will be performing a recital at the Cologne Philharmonic Hall, presenting Schubert's famous song cycle "Die schöne Müllerin" with Kristian Bezuidenhout on the fortepiano. We cordially invite school choirs to be part of a surprise encore for the audience! Together with Julian Prégardien, the students will sing Des Baches Wiegenlied (The Brook's Lullaby) as a second encore after the song cycle has ended, forming a large audience choir. What makes this special is that Julian Prégardien will visit the participating school choirs in advance for a rehearsal at their school. Here, everyone will get to know each other, work on the final touches to Des Baches Wiegenlied and get in the mood for the concert together. On the day of the concert, there will be another joint rehearsal in the evening before the concert begins at the Cologne Philharmonic Hall.

Participation offers the pupils:

a shared concert experience at the Cologne Philharmonic Hall
musical exchange with the internationally acclaimed singer Julian Prégardien
the experience of being an active part of a concert evening
encounter with a new song repertoire, if applicable
teaching materials for joint preparation and follow-up

The following dates are available for Julian Prégardien's visits: 11 May, 8 June (from 1:30 p.m.) and 9 June.

In cooperation with Liedstadt

Registration deadline: 15 March 2026

Registration information

Dates: 1 school visit of 90 minutes as part of lessons (in the 4 weeks before the concert day (see notes for exceptions), followed by a concert visit to the Kölner Philharmonie (see concert dates)

Costs: € 10 per pupil including concert ticket (discounts available for KölnPass holders). A ticket for travelling within the VRS area is included in the concert ticket. Teachers receive one free ticket per 10 pupils to accompany the class and fulfil their duty of supervision.

Booking: Once you have confirmed your registration, you will receive the concert tickets during the teaching impulse in your class. The invoice will be sent to you after the concert.

to registration form

Questions?

Phone: +49 221 204 08 355
musikvermittlung@koelnmusik.de