…at the House of Music in Vienna

One of the best trips for me this school year was our Year 7 visit to Vienna. I had the wonderful opportunity to accompany our students on this unforgettable experience. Together with Mr. Jesus, we explored the fascinating Haus der Musik — a place where music comes alive, sounds become play, and learning turns into discovery.

Right at the entrance, we were greeted by the singing stairs, which produced different tones with every step. The students literally “played” their own melodies by walking up and down — many happily repeated the experience several times.

Haus der Musik is perfect for Year 7 students because they are full of energy, love to move, explore, and try new things. This museum is designed exactly for that kind of learning. Instead of theory and memorization, students can experience, feel, and try music and sound with their own hands and ears. This way, they remember what they learn naturally and see it as part of the real world, not just something from a textbook.

One of the most fun parts was the Sonotopia Lab — a modern sound laboratory full of interactive games, effects, and experiments. Students created their own sounds, controlled music elements through movement, and even communicated through vibrations.

The biggest hit was definitely the Donnerschlag — a huge drum whose name means “thunder strike.” One strong hit made the whole room shake! The students were so enthusiastic, it sometimes felt like a stadium cheering for their team in the final match.

Another big success was the virtual conductor, which allowed each student to stand in front of an “orchestra” and try leading professional musicians. Reactions ranged from laughter to surprise to serious attempts.

We also explored rooms dedicated to famous composers — Mozart, Beethoven, Haydn, Strauss, Schubert… Each had their own space where students could listen to their music, learn their stories, and discover their personalities in a fun and engaging way.

At the end, many created their own short “compositions” using Namadeus — a fun tool that generates a musical motif from your name, based on rules invented by Mozart himself.

This trip was a wonderful example of how learning can be lively, fun, and meaningful at the same time. We returned home full of impressions, new knowledge, and most importantly — smiles. I believe our Year 7 students will remember this musical day in Vienna with joy for a long time.