Hochschule

What is the music school like?

While much of the city seems to reflect the history and legends surrounding Freiburg- the roots of which reach back as far as the 12th century- the Hochschule appears to reflect not only a different era, but a different reality.  

Upon first walking into the school, attention is immediately drawn to the maze of stairs that weaves across the open-air foyer.  The school is 

composed of a series of off-set levels that (more 

or less) converge at the foyer, and the stairs form an 

enormous spider web that branches them all together.  

As I began to wander around the passageways, I couldn't help but relate to those faceless figures in M.C. Escher's sketches.  I didn't know quite where I was going to end up~ and as it turns out, there are interesting side-effects to such a design.   The room numbers occur in an almost aleatoric fashion; there is no guarantee that neighboring doors will be labeled successively.  For example, I found room 137 right next to room 129.  (I still haven't located rooms 130-136!)  The off-set levels also seem to pose a problem for a standard elevator, so the school uses a lift with three doors (one on the front, back, and one side) to accommodate those pesky in between levels.  

I don't know where they are hiding the Oompa Loompas, but I'm keeping an eye out!

I haven't been able to hear any concerts in the halls yet, but they look very nice. No pictures yet, but maybe I will sneak one from a concert...  The most unfortunate aspect of the building is that there are only 40 some practice rooms to accommodate all the students.  While there are so few of them, they are great to use.  They are mostly sound-proof, each one having a piano and window and is available for 24/7 practice.

  

However, to ensure that students don't monopolize the practice room they all limited usage, most of them being 2 hour blocks of time.  So when I want to practice I go to school and wait in the queue (yea, another one!) and wait for my turn as people roll out after their time slots have expired.  The longest I have had to wait is 45 minutes.  Now, I'm not quite sure what is more ridiculous: a) that I have to wait 45 minutes for two hours of practice or b) that I am willing to wait 45 minutes for two hours of practice.  Apparently, the law of supply and demand does not function in the basement of the Hoschule.

As practice space is sold at a premium, perhaps the most important phrase spoken at the school is "Wer ist die letzte?" or, "Who is the last (in line)?"