In addition to the normal classroom music curriculum, the European School Munich offers many extra opportunities that encourage pupils' musical creativity and development. In the Secondary School, musical ensembles are extra-curricular and meet during the lunch break or after school. All groups perform in concerts regularly throughout the year.
The choir is open to pupils from S1 to S3 who pass a basic entrance audition. The group meets once a week on Fridays after school in the Bewegungsraum. The choir provides young singers with the opportunity for enjoyable vocal training whilst developing basic choral skills. Singers explore an intermediate repertoire including 2 to 3-part songs in various musical styles and different languages. The group performs for various school concerts and functions throughout the year.
The choir is open to pupils from s4 to s7 who pass a basic entrance audition or have previous choral experience. The group meets once a week after school on Thursdays from 16:00-16:50 in the Bewegungsraum. The choir builds upon fundamental choral skills such as vocal production, ear training and sight-reading and performs more challenging 3 to 4-part choral repertoire in different styles and languages. The choir performs regularly throughout the year for various school functions and tours occasionally to other European Schools.
This small ensemble is made up of older, more experienced singers selected from the Concert Choir. The repertoire is more advanced and requires basic knowledge of proper vocal production and sight-reading skills. The Chamber Choir meets once a week after the Concert Choir rehearsal on Thursdays from 16:50-17:30 in the Bewegungsraum.
Secondary School pupils who play string instruments and enjoy making music are invited to join and reinforce this ensemble. The repertoire consists of songs from the classical music genre, as well as entertaining and folk music pieces. As part of this orchestra, pupils are given the opportunity to deploy and practice their musical talents whilst developing their ensemble skills. Rehearsals are held once a week at lunchtime (12:45 to 13:30) in the music rehearsal room A26.
There are several student-formed bands at the ESM. The members practice in their spare time, sometimes on school premises. An annual band concert takes place in which the various groups display their own distinctive style, ranging from indi-rock, garage rock, jazz, tresenrock, funk and grunge to metal.
Pupils from the Secondary School who play the trumpet, trombone, saxophone, clarinet, electric guitar, bass guitar, piano or drums are welcome to join this very popular Big Band. The group plays swing, rock and pop music, and pupils are encouraged to develop skills in reading music and improvisation. Rehearsals take place on Mondays from 16:00 until 17:30 in the music rehearsal room A26.
All students of the Secondary School who have a sense of rhythm are invited to make music together and develop their interest in percussion instruments. The percussion band consists not only of a variety of percussion instruments, but also melodic instruments such as vibraphone, xylophone and bells. The students play polyrhythmic pieces and rhythms from different cultures. Rehearsals take place once a week on Wednesday afternoons from 16:00 to 17:15.