As mentioned in the History of the Burghausen Jazz scene, the Jazz school, which is actually called “The Center for the Study of Contemporary Music,” was established and began setting up its first courses back in 1972. Since then almost 500 courses have been held under the directorship of Professor Joe Viera.

The courses all take place in the Mautnerschloss, a beautiful castle like manor house located in the beginning of der Gruben (the Street of Fame) in Burghausen’s old town.

Image courtesy of Michael Braxenthaler.

The main courses are the winter course, which usually takes place in the first week of January and lasts for 4 days, and two back to back 6-day summer courses, which normally take place in August. There are also many other special courses and master classes held throughout the year, details of which you may find on the official IG Jazz websize. The main courses offer participants the possibility of working on jazz theory, improving technical and practical knowledge of their instruments and gaining experience in playing with others, both faculty and fellow students, under stringent professional conditions.

As someone who has already participated in four main course so far (and I certainly intend to continue) I can say that although the courses are a lot of fun and one gets to meet, socialize and play with a lot of great people, one should be prepared to apply oneself and work hard. Professor Viera runs a “tight ship,” like by metronome (the time is the time), and the courses are extremely well organized and implemented. Each day from the first bell to the end of the last class one is under systematic pressure to learn and perform by highly experienced professional musicians. Of course there are also coffee breaks and free time in which students can socialize and get into jam sessions and the location of the school and its’ surroundings permit for a relaxing and enjoyable visit to Burghausen. There is a coffee shop open during the day while the courses are running and a fully equipped bar in the jazz Keller (a jazz club within the school) where student and faculty can play in jam sessions every evening until late. On the last day of the course all musicians and faculty present a concert in the jazz Keller that runs from 6 PM till 12 PM. Each of the instructors has two groups, which means that the closing concert has at least fourteen different groups, large and small, playing several tunes each.