20 minutes of big band music lessons for a child in Berlin-Neukölln

Beats for Kids

Lack of education, racism and violence in the socially disadvantaged Rollbergviertel in Berlin-Neukölln

In the Rollberg district of Berlin-Neukölln, over 30 nationalities live next door to each other, yet the residents rarely meet each other. Indifference at best, prejudice, racism and even violence between the different population groups characterize everyday life. Special approaches are needed here to promote communication between children and young people of different origins. With the founding of the "Big Band Rollberg" under the direction of music teacher Sandra Weckert, MORUS 14 has invented a new platform for intercultural dialogue - through music. The rules in the orchestra are different from those on the street. The usual competitive mentality gives way to everyone working together. Here, origin and nationality no longer play a role, the children experience solidarity and share their success.

need

Strengthen personal responsibility and self-confidence, promote communication and reduce prejudices.

activity

Founding of a big band for children and young people with no previous musical knowledge, weekly rehearsals and regular performances.

Measurable performance

Number of children and young people who were able to participate in the orchestra

Result

Number of children who play an orchestral instrument

Systemically relevant impact

New encounters and friendships are formed, prejudices are broken down and a better coexistence in the neighbourhood is achieved.

background

In the Rollbergkiez, a new housing development in Berlin-Neukölln, there live around 5,600 residents from 30 different nations. The proportion of immigrants is around 70%. For years, the neighborhood has been one of the last places in the social structure atlas of Berlin. In the Rollbergviertel, around 70% of the population lives on transfer payments. The main problem there is not poverty, but primarily the lack of education in all population groups. The children lack role models who lead a life structured by work. The families are often unable to support their children - regardless of whether they are families with or without a migration background. The school dropout rate is high and most young people have acquired a very low level of basic education and little social skills at the end of their school career. Many families also have problems such as alcohol abuse or domestic violence. In most families, children grow up extremely focused on their neighborhood and their perception of the world rarely extends beyond the extended family.

Rollbergkiez Berlin-Neukölln, Deutschland

The good deed

In the "Big Band Rollberg" the children and young people experience a mixture of cultures, origins, genders and age groups. They experience that mutual respect and consideration as well as attentive listening are essential for good interaction. They see the musical experience as a successful collaboration between the groups, in which everyone contributes to the overall result. Any child can become a member of the big band. No special musical knowledge is necessary. But with well-known rock songs (e.g. pieces by AC/DC, Eagles) Sandra Weckert manages to create a complete musical work in a very short time. A completely new experience for most children, who in this way go from being passive media consumers to active contributors.

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