MHL Career Centre

The MHL defines itself after the university policy as a »music institute of the 21st century - with heightened sense of societal and cultural developments and the needs and wants of our time«. In order to prepare future musicians, music teachers and education staff in a practice-oriented and modern approach for everyday working life, trends of change that are already beginning to show in the various fields of music and prognoses of such developments are taken into account. Since the MHL offers the ideal basis for testing new paths and visionary ideas, the establishment of the MHL Career Centre reflects sustainable measures and approaches that incorporate the promotion of individual, diverse, but also unconventional artistic developments, and their potential impact in the transition from study to professional life. In this respect, the Career Centre is ultimately a place that invites reflection on the music profession in synthesis with all areas of training at the MHL, thus supporting the exploration of one's self-image as an artist. After all, at the MHL, we certainly do not want to simply send out functional workers. Rather, our future graduates will and should proactively enliven and help shape the music world through experimental spirit and imaginative approach as well as joy of discovery!

Individual Counselling

Individual and group counselling is a significant part of the work of the MHL Career Centre. In the sessions, it is common to analyse options for the future, compare wishes and reality, and discuss the realisation of project ideas. You might also wish to simply optimise your application file. For some counselling, a prior attendance of one or another music business course may be sensible or even a requirement. Counselling can take place in person or online by individual arrangement with the centre and is completely confidential.

 

Music business

Teaching courses in the elective module "music business" take place regularly. There is a variety of topics to guarantee a broad overview. Music business can either be attended as a "package" (a reasonable choice during a master's programme to prepare for the project work) or can be stretched over the entirety of the study programme in accordance with one's individual interests and skills (which is recommended during a bachelor's programme). Other alternatives might be the cross-institutional workshops (also online) listed in the course catalogue.

Project Workshop 

In preparation for work life, project work is considered an essential tool at the MHL. Here, the transition is trained in practice and skills are obtained or put to use in real life. The majority of our alumni as well as future musicians in general will inevitably - intentionally or simply because their circumstances force them to - be confronted with taking responsibility in music projects. Responsibility exceeding playing or teaching an instrument by far. This is what the school for entrepreneurship draws on.

The MHL Career Centre assumes a coaching role within the context of the entire process of a project workshop: including the finding of ideas, the development of a concept as well as its planning and realisation. Topics such as financing and project management are, naturally, addressed during that process. Optimally, a student group forms by itself and hands in a project idea. However, it is also possible to realise solo works. In the sheltered context of the MHL, the meaning of a workshop is significant: projects are allowed to fail! What matters is the process and handling and the things that can be learnt by it.

The MHL Career Centre aids with acquiring external partners or offers project ideas. It also helps with the preparation of requests for external funding (e.g. by foundations). All support fields of the workshops require a minimum of music business credits so that there is a foundation of basic skills and knowledge to build upon. Existing formats such as the interdisciplinary project, the profiles Improvisation, Composition, New Media in Bachelor of Music Church Music B as well as profile projects as part of the Master of Education can and should profit from the support and backing of the MHL Career Centre.

Start-up workshop & founding support

Students' plans with potential to develop and subsist beyond the years of study are supported to an extent comparable to start-up companies. In such cases, the cooperation between substantial (in which teachers are involved) and economic developments is put into focus. For this, economical methods adjusted to the music industry must be applied to develop a business plan and enable the lasting subsistence on the market. In concrete terms, this includes finding an adequate legal structure (club, non-profit etc.), which is especially important for fundraising and questions of liability. In the further course, licensing must be addressed to ensure a swift transfer of rights (e.g. Creative Commons Licenses) for founded start-ups. MHL-start-up workshops may also develop from project workshops or project works. Furthermore, students get the opportunity to attend the workshops of the THL and UzL GründerCube THL & UzL.

Current calls for bids and job portals

At MHLnet, external offers regarding job adverts, competitions, performance- and scholarship opportunities are published internally. Other job portals relevant to musicians and music education staff locally, nationwide and in Europe can be found at the download-section of the MHL Career Centre.

Network and cooperations

The membership for the Art and Music University Department of the Career Service Network Germany e. V. (csnd) allows for a well-tended exchange across universities. Open and cooperative events and are published here. 

The GründerCube, a facility of the Technische Hochschule Lübeck and University of Lübeck, admits MHL students to their courses (see "founding support").

Student jobs for students of the MHL 

"Minijobs", side jobs, trainee posts, internships: stellenwerk.de offers attractive job offers from companies, the MHL or private citizens. For further information, click the link below.