Community Music: A New Era of Musical Expression

Community music is a concept that has been gaining popularity in recent years, and Juri de Marco is one of its pioneers. When De Marco lifts his hand and plays a note, people start singing and making music – in concert halls and on the street. No grades are required; after his hand gestures, people enable people to find their way to a common sound that is very own.

The Concept of Community Music

For De Marco, community music means "making music on the same basis", where social interaction between people in different age groups and cultures plays an as important role as music itself plays. In high-class music culture, everything revolves around perfection, interpretation, and loyalty to the score. However, community music is about making music together, without the need for formal training or perfection.

The Rise of Community Music in Germany

De Marco has raised the zeitgeist, and according to a study by the German Music Information Center, more and more people in Germany are taking music and singing on an amateur level – even without formal lessons. In the past four years, the number has grown by 2 million and reached 16.3 million people. Especially at the age of up to 15, almost half of all children make music. Children who are presented early in music will be the concert visitors of tomorrow.

Innovative Concert Formats

Classic music moderators are particularly focusing on reaching a young audience. Special programs and new concert formats are being developed to arouse curiosity in groups that could otherwise never enter a concert hall. For example, the Aurora Orchestra in London carries out entire symphonies from memory. De Marco’s pocket trumpet awakens people’s curiosity. The duo Synaptic combines Franz Schubert’s melancholic "Winterreise" song cycle with spoken texts and new music by Bernhard Lang and creates a staged Sunday event.

Combining Classical Music with Other Cultures

Many musicians strive to work out niches on the concert market with unique programs. The pianist Danae Dörken and the vibraphonist Pascal Schumacher recently released a new album with piano and vibraphone with the driving rhythmic patterns of the composer Philip Glass. The essential tones of the vibraphone are particularly fascinating for the audience. Combining classical music with sounds from other cultures has enormous potential, especially in concerts with innovative formats.

Social Media and Real Encounters

Today, it is almost impossible to attract attention without a presence on social platforms. The young British organist and influencer Anna Lapwood is a main example, with over 2 million followers in her social media channels. However, De Marco says that there are no followers or clicks that are most important. His videos should always lead to encounters in real life. Especially when they make music in cultures, a feeling of understanding for another culture develops very quickly. In today’s world, this can be an important contribution to mutual acceptance.