Old Town Music House

Deputy Director of CER, Schools of Fine Arts (Music School, Art House, Drama School) Karin Veissmann
Head of Folklore programme: Jaak Johanson; jaak@colleduc.ee tel. 6996161
Project Manager, academic secretary: Sirje Voitka sirjev@vhk.ee 6996161

The idea behind establishing Old Town Music House in 1986 was to preserve, develop and promote the creative potential of arts and cultural phenomena based on national heritage and medieval Christian traditions.

Uus street is the first street outside the city walls of our medieval Old Town founded in the 17th century in the free space between the old city walls and the defence bastions. Music House was constructed in 1809-1810. The classicistic ensemble was designed by the famous Finnish architect C. L. J. Engel, who held the position of Tallinn City Architect for a period (1809-1814). 1825 as the chemist’s shop of the city, the chemist’s garden was in the courtyard, next to this house there were the living quarters of the chemist, a laboratory, a storeroom and a stable. In 1863 the state donated the building for the retirement centre of the ladies of nobility of St Canute’s Guild.

When creating the programmes of Music House the objective has been to combine professional arts with learning process as well as amateur and club activities, integrating different generations.

MUSIC PROGRAMME OF CER unites four sub- programmes (early music, folklore, school music and music school) and the music teachers, conductors and principals of the structural units of CER (Elementary School, High School, Music House, Music School, Kindergarten), who assemble once a month to plan and prepare the joint events, music life, concerts, school assemblies and the curricula of CER.

• EARLY MUSIC PROGRAMME
  Mostly implemented by permanent learning and creative activities following the principles of old guilds as well as musical preparation of the celebrations of Church holidays.
  
• FOLKLORE PROGRAMME
  Activities preserving different generations and national traditions: folklore and music groups, “Music at Fireplace” concert series, Folk Dance Club and the Society of Archaic Male Singing. Celebration of the holidays of folk calendar.
  Leader of the programme: Jaak Johanson
• SCHOOL MUSIC PROGRAMME
  Includes the faculty members and the issues related to teaching music at school at all levels according to state curriculum.
  Leader of programme: Imbi Laas
• MUSIC SCHOOL OF CER
  Head of Music School: Karin Veissmann
  

DRAMA PROGRAM OF CER AND DRAMA SCHOOL

• Works in close cooperation with the theatre studio and company Theatrum. Different forms of theatre activities penetrate the whole CER – Elementary School, High School and Schools of Fine Arts. Drama programme is coordinating the activities of Drama School and its cooperation with other units.
  Leader of programme: Maria Peterson

The Studios, Groups and Clubs of OLD TOWN MUSIC HOUSE:

INSTRUMENT AND VOCAL STUDIO

• Individual instruction and coaching (singing, early music, guitar, piano, recorder, zither; pop- jazz singing for high school students);
• Optional group tutoring: collective music making (mixed children’s choir, folklore, chamber choir)

FOLKLORE GROUPS

• For pupils of Lower School of CER
• Folk Tale Hour for lower school pupils

FOLKLORE GROUP VEERIK

• Traditional songs, games and dances for mothers with small children

CREATIVE ACTIVITIES’ GROUPS (choral singing, folk dance and folk tales, arts, handicraft)

CREATIVE ACTIVITIES FOR 6- YEAR- OLDS

• Singing and folklore
• Arts
• Handicrafts - clay modelling

CHOIRS

CHAMBER CHOIR OF CER

MIXED CHILDREN CHOIR OF OLD TOWN MUSIC HOUSE

FOLK DANCE

Clubs:

• CLUB OF TRADITIONAL DANCES
• MIXED CHOIR OF FACULTY AND PARENTS OF CER
• „Music at Fireplace“ Nights – regular concerts funded by Cultural Endowment