Renningen's music school is booming: fees are rising, demand remains!

Renningen's music school is booming: fees are rising, demand remains!

The Renningen music school is experiencing an extraordinary boom that continues despite economic challenges. Headmaster Christoph-Rin Dolge can look forward to a significant increase in the number of students. These rose from 743 in 2002 to an impressive 1,750 in 2023. While other schools are stagnating, the demand for musical education in Renningen remains unbroken Stuttgart News reported.

Since 2011, the offering has been expanded with programs such as “Singing-Moving-Playing” as well as the introduction of brass instruments and a dance department. Headmaster Dolge emphasizes that despite the increase in the number of students, the number of teaching positions remained largely constant and lessons for up to 30 students at the same time are made possible through cooperation offers.

Fee increase as a necessity

In order to overcome the financial challenges and reduce a deficit of 382,000 euros, the music school is planning a moderate increase in fees by 1.50 euros each. This could reduce the deficit to around 364,000 euros, which the local council says is necessary to increase the cost coverage ratio from the current 54% to 60%. SZBZ explains that the state's personnel cost subsidy is 12.5% ​​and the city covers up to 30% of the expenses.

Dolge expresses concern about the tense personnel situation. The need for another half-time position is urgently needed to meet the increased number of students. It is also unfortunate that the existing social fund is hardly used, although the increase in fees should be taken into account in order to enable children from lower-income families to have access to music school.

Sustainable success and important events

The popularity of the Renninger Music School is also reflected in the statistics: in 2024, 54% of children and young people attended the facility, and it is expected that this proportion will be over 60% in 2025. These positive developments are in line with the general trends in school education, where the number of students in general schools in the region remained stable. The importance of the music school is also recognized by the local council, who see it as an important educational opportunity.

A special highlight of the music school will be the upcoming concert of the gifted class, which will take place on May 27th at 7 p.m. in the auditorium of the Renningen school center. Such events help to increase public interest in the music school and promote community.

Overall, the situation at the Renninger Music School shows that educational policy in the music sector must be geared to the needs of society. The continued demand for musical education suggests that music is being recognized as an important part of education, in parallel with developments at national level a current study about music schools in Germany prove.