The chamber music project EU-Music (European Music Workshop in Eupen and Aachen) aimed to promote joint music-making and make music accessible to a wide audience. It served as a platform for further education, communication, networking and exchange. The main focus of this project was on cross-border music-making that overcomes the national borders between Germany and Belgium as well as the boundaries between pupils and students, amateur and professional musicians and different age groups. The Erasmus+ project EU-Music is intended to serve as a role model and inspire musicians and institutions outside its circle of participants, especially music schools and conservatoires. It shows in an innovative way how music can be taught in a sustainable way by creating a broader, stronger and lasting network that enriches music practice and also provides more motivation for daily practice on the instrument through interpersonal experiences. The involvement of pupils, students and teachers from various musical educational institutions is of central importance.
EU-Music promotes cross-border cultural exchange and strengthens the European community. The workshop brought Germany and Belgium, in particular the regions of Aachen and East Belgium, closer together and created a long-lasting connection between the participants beyond the duration of the project. People of different ages found friendships across borders through music. They worked on instrumental skills and discussed the importance of music for life and society. The project facilitated a cultural-political exchange between artists from both sides of the border and strengthened awareness of common roots. This was achieved through chamber music workshops and the cooperation of a German-Belgian organizational team. The Erasmus+ funding enabled effective public relations work and individual support through small group workshops, including for impaired and financially disadvantaged participants.