The way we consider great classical music is usually quite superficial. We treat it as entertainment whereas it is really an appeal for introspection, self-knowledge and the search for the meaning of life. Located in the remote village of Sankt Peter, in the High Black Forest near Freiburg, Germany, and founded in 1979, it is the first school of its kind in the world. Before coming to Freiburg, Balan taught for more than 20 years as Professor of Musical Aesthetics at the conservatoire in Bucharest and was famous as a radio-presenter in Romania. This skill seems not to come naturally, otherwise the existence of such a school would be unnecessary.
Music is a language, and as such has an interpretative role.
The message contained in music needs to be understood. Just as with a text of literature one needs firstly to understand the structure of the text and the meaning of the words before a deeper understanding is possible. It therefore requires an intellectual effort, a methodical approach and an examination through logical thinking. The real understanding which we aim to achieve in the students in our seminars is a comprehensive process that although involving the mind goes beyond it, because that is where the most valuable experiences happen. We try to teach a holistic musical understanding, where you think about music and think music, so that you may reach the threshold where you leave the thinking behind.