London: Where to learn to pop
Croydon, in the south of London. Here begins the "Icelands", named after a discount chain, in which there are only frozen ready to buy food. For people whose eating habits are determined by their income. And of her education. In this unglamorous area sits the London School for Performing Arts & Technology. Amy Winehouse was here, Katie Melua, Luke Pritchard, frontman of The Kooks, Leona Lewis, Alex Turner, singer of the Arctic Monkeys, Adele ... Practically every year, a few stars shine from pop-sky. Actors, dancers, producers and directors have also graduated here. Alternatively, one that matches our middle school age or the British High School diploma. Quite normal, but nothing is normal here, neither the school nor the teachers - and the students anyway.
12 noon in the glazed atrium, the lobby. On the windowsill, two 16-year-olds give an acoustic guitar concert, they sound like The Smiths. Opposite is a chubby girl in a rowdy schoolboy tribe and doing stand-up comedy. From rehearsal room 3 a coldplay cover song roars, a dozen dancers merge to electric music from the ceiling speakers to a living sculpture. It is questionable how the two costumed female drama students can practice their stage dialogue in front of the canteen entrance. And in the midst of it all, Schul-Concièrge Angela Willson runs her reception in peace, supplies visitors with name tags, sells theater tickets and regulates all kinds of administrative matters. The first impression is lasting: an insanely inspiring atmosphere.
Since 1991, the Brit School has been offering around 900 young people between the ages of 14 and 19 a classic state education combined with a special artistic program. It is a A joint project of experimental local politicians, visionary art patrons and the British cultural industry, For this, the venerable brick building of a former girls' school of 1907 was renovated. In addition, a new complex was built, from the outside spaceship, inside high-tech with variable theater, dance halls, various stages, recording studios, rehearsal rooms and the school's own radio station "87.8 Brit FM" (on the Internet via www.britfm.co.uk). "After school, we sometimes have to kick people out, and they do not usually go home by volunteers," says Mrs. Willson. Where would you find such conditions for your hobbies in your free time? A paradise - the costs are shared by the state and sponsors from the music industry.
"We do not produce here on the fast artists, with which money can be earned," the headmistress, Principal Nick Williams, clears the same. "Our sponsors are convinced that concentrating and promoting talent can create a new musical culture in our country that will benefit everyone in the end."
As in Germany, the record industry in England is not doing well either. Principal Williams sees the cause not only in the loss of revenue through the pirated music, but above all in the lack of authenticity of the artists: "The times in which wannabe stars in casting shows like 'Pop Idol' determine the music landscape, have us all very bad. " This is not different with us thanks to "DSDS". After all, the counter-trend was not long in coming. People want real stars again, who can write their own songs and recite without accidents. Live music has a long tradition in England, from the smallest pub to the largest stadium. And now it's time to earn money again - an important contribution to saving the music industry. But of course, former "Brits" like Katie Melua also contribute to that with their seven million albums sold.
Students also benefit from this unusual form of education, whether they become superstars or not: The level of achievement in all subjects - from social studies to English, foreign languages, sciences and mathematics - is higher than at traditional institutes. Because the needs of their talents are addressed, their motivation is obviously greater.
In the media, all the prominent graduates say positively: "Many felt the same way in their previous schools as square posts that should be stuffed into round holes," explains Katie Melua. "As soon as we were here, we realized that we are round posts." Kate Nash, best solo artist of the 2008 Brit Awards, did not really want to be a musician: "I've learned so well in acting classes to watch that I just had to write songs." And what would have become of Amy Winehouse elsewhere? "My parents did not send me here to sing," she once said, "but to prepare myself for a life as a housewife and mother."
One of the newcomers, 14-year-old Ben, sits on a guitar amp before the next band rehearsal and plays a complicated Jimi Hendrix solo. "I also did not want to go to this school because I have to become a rock star, but because studying here is easy for me, I definitely want to graduate - for everything that comes after that, I've been a musician for seven years." Like Ben, most of the students are amazingly mature and mature for their age. Maybe that's because they are not looking for themselves like many peers, but have already found their own position in society. That makes you self-confident. And sovereign. There must be no inferiority complexes here, teasing or bullying are uncool, rivalries and binge warfare are rare. There is no outsider who looks funny at home because he wants to be the only boy musical dancer in his block. It does not matter if you've found your style as a dry Pete Doherty clone or if you danced too much in the tutu on the ballet bar with a few pounds - talent and passion are the key qualifications.
If you want to get a place at the Brit School, you have to present your talent at the admission workshop and convince in an intensive conversation with the head of an artistic department. Every year a good 2,000 applicants apply for approximately 130 free places. The selection process seems to be extremely effective. "During my time at the school, I never thought that I would become a singer by profession," Katie Melua likes to coquet. "In every class there were people who could sing better than me." The headmaster is nevertheless convinced that his students are nothing special, but simply "reflect the representative cross-section of the population within an hour's drive." British understatement.
"Teachers from normal schools would not believe that you can work really well with such a bunch of self-confident individualists," says German and French teacher Laurence Arora. "Our students are livelier, louder and constantly on air, but that's what makes them good discussion partners." The principle of the Brit School is based on self-responsibility and mutual respect. Between teachers and students, but also among the students themselves. This principle is law - but pretty much the only one. "There's no school bell, there are not uniforms in England, and there are no taboos - sometimes we wonder what's going on in the corridors," says Laurence. "Sometimes it's just a joke, often a rehearsal and now and then the rehearsal for pure prankster, but the system works."
Acting lesson with Simon Stevens, a dandy favorite teacher with a white scarf and the presence of Robin Williams in "The Club of Dead Poets", The classroom is black and absolutely empty. Nothing that could distract you. Fifteen students are sitting on the floor, concentrating on an improvisation exercise on family quarrels. You have just watched a few short film scenes and should put yourself in one of the various roles.
The task is to observe what feelings arise in them, and to playfully implement them in small groups. It's fun to see how slowly, identifiable emotions evolve from a clutter of ambiguous gestures. A Schlaks squats in front of his neighbor and begins to insult her quietly and threateningly, his eyes fixed, his eyes slits. The girl straightens, glares back proudly and makes a pretentious smile appear on her face. She does not say a word - which makes him even more angry. He gets loud and roars, her child starts to howl anxiously. A child? Well, it's a classmate and already 17 years old, but now she's just the daughter and is scared and trembling and clings to her father. Simon Stevens grins contentedly, goes from scene to scene, praises, calls. Soon the concentration is exhausted, gestures and words begin to overshoot. At the end, everyone is lying on the floor, laughing and exhausted. But long rest is not. Equals math.
"I find it exciting to see what acting classes do," says theater student Rhiannon. "In the meantime, I can credibly play a cackling chicken and find myself no ridiculous piece, I'm the chicken then and not Rhiannon." But she has a problem to be photographed as Rhiannon, and seems inhibited. That's why she turns briefly into Lady Chatterley and speaks an angry monologue to her lover.
You can be jealous of the many possibilities that exist at this school. Or in retrospect, even ashamed for the comparatively embarrassing school performances of his theater company in the upper grades. But of course, If you had such great teachers, classmates and the means would have certainly been more in it. That's what makes this school so special. "We believe young people are full of talent and opportunities," says Nick Williams, "and that education offers the opportunity to find and nurture these talents, and as a school we're just helping to find the tools to do it - like that it's simple. We do not produce artists, but we give them the tools that give their creativity wings. " Sorry, that sounds a bit cheesy, Principal. On the other hand, when may we sing?
Off to Croydon? Children from all over Europe can apply at the Brit School in Croydon (www.croydon.sch.uk).Requirements: Minimum age 14 years and a certificate of transfer to class 10, very good English skills, an address in the immediate vicinity of the school - and talent. Principal Nick Williams is pleased to offer advice and assistance to the responsible education politicians in Germany in founding a school for performing arts and technology. Contact: admin@brit.croydon.sch.uk
And where can you learn to pop in Germany?
There are private music schools, dance stage schools or drama schools across the country. They sometimes charge hefty fees and rarely produce big names. A school where you can graduate from high school or graduate school and at the same time can professionally learn pop-business, theater or dance does not exist in Germany. You will find at least the matching outside of big cities instrument tuition.
Info e.g. at: www.musikschulen.de, Tel. 0228/95 70 60; www.musicschool.yamaha-europe.com
Beginning musicians, even without graduation, offers the Hamburg University of Theater and Music between the semesters Popkurse with lecturers from music and business. Here studied u.a. We are heroes, Seeed or Rosenstolz musicians.
Information: www.popkurs-hamburg.de, Tel. 040/428 48 25 74.
The Pop Academy Baden-Württemberg offers high school graduates a bachelor's degree in popular music and is supported by parts of the music industry according to the British model - stars are not yet among the graduates.
Information: www.popakademie.de, Tel. 0621/53 39 72 00
