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Welcome to wiener-zither.at! |
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| Cornelia Mayer mail: office@zitherinthecity.com |
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About the Zither in Vienna The zither is a string instrument that was "born" at the beginning of the nineteenth century. The mountain-people of the Alps developed tiny wooden instruments with which they accompanied themselves when singing folksongs. Carl Ignaz Umlauf invented the Viennese family of zither instruments in 1856. He was also the first zither-player to give full-scale concerts at the Musikverein in Vienna. As a result, this multi-purpose instrument earned a place of its own in the repertoire performed in classical concert halls. Many aristocrats were stimulated to learn to play the zither, which led to commissions for zither compositions and to concerts being put on. Nowadays, the zither is mainly used for folk music, but in the nineteenth century it was a modern instrument, well known throughout Europe. And when Anton Karas played the "Harry Lime" theme for the film The Third Man, the zither became famous throughout the world, as it is today. Today, many young people learn the zither because they are attracted to the instrument's characteristic tone, which is light and gentle, but at the same time sonorous and heart-warming. As well as traditional Viennese music they also learn to play not only modern jazz and pop music, but also "serious" music, including works by a variety of contemporary composers. Furthermore, the zither is not only suitable for a wide range of musical styles: it can also be played in combination with a variety of instruments such as the recorder, guitar, violin, flute and many others. There are other - purely practical - advantages to the zither. Because of its soft sound, you can practise at home without fear of disturbing those around you, and its size means that it can be stored away easily. A zither can be purchased at a relatively modest price, and all accessories and sheet music can be ordered directly from a shop specializing in the Viennese zither. |
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| About Mayer Music Founded in 2005, Mayer Music is run by two highly committed professional musicians: the zither-player Cornelia Mayer (see below), and the double bass-player Alexander Mayer, founder of the music publishing house Alexander Mayer Musikverlag. They have both conducted extensive research on the history and development of the zither, and have assembled a large collection of source material on the subject. The Musikverlag Alexander Mayer publishes both classical music and works by contemporary composers. The courses run by Mayer Music have the following priorities:
In order to ensure that the above priorities are pursued in practice, all courses are held by Cornelia Mayer herself. |
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About Cornelia Mayer Born in Mürzzuschlag (Styria), Cornelia Mayer had her first zither lessons at the age of ten. She studied bassoon in Graz and at Vienna's University of Music and Performing Arts (at that time "Hochschule für Musik und darstellende Kunst"), graduating with diplomas in instrumental teaching and performance (distinction). She also completed the zither-teachers' course at the Vienna Conservatory. From 1990 to 2000 she taught zither at the Josef Matthias Hauer Conservatory in Wiener Neustadt; in Vienna, she has taught zither at Ottakring Music School since 2000, and at Margareten Music School since 2001. Since September 2007 these zither lessons have been hold at Landstraße Music School. In 2001 she completed her training as a personal coach under the guidance of Dr Gundl Kutschera at the WIFI business school in Vienna. |
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| Publications by Cornelia Mayer
Some of the following publications by Cornelia Mayer are published by and available from Musikverlag Alexander Mayer:
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We offer a number of different packages in order to satisfy a variety of needs:
Location: All the zither courses take place at the premises of Mayer Music and Musikverlag Mayer. The rooms are comfortable and offer a relaxing atmosphere, providing the best conditions for learning. Students can also use the rooms for practising in if they reserve in time (so that the needs of different participants can be coordinated). The locations can be reached easily by public transport. Conditions: Students must be at least 18 years of age and are required to have a basic knowledge of English, which is the standard course language. Students furthermore need to have some experience of learning a musical instrument and of reading music in the treble and bass clefs, and have to be familiar with simple rhythmic patterns. Courses are limited to a maximum of 2 students. Prices: Prices depend on the course and the number of participants. All prices include: zither lessons (50 minutes each), sheet music (3 volumes: school for beginners, exercises, and folk songs), use of room for practising. The following extra charges are to be paid at the beginning of the course:
Payment Conditions: Course fees are to be paid in advance, and registration is only valid once the fee has appeared on our account. Cancellations may be made without charge up to 3 weeks before the course starts. For cancellations made within 3 weeks of the course, 50% of the fee is retained; for cancellations at the beginning of the course, 100% is retained. A student's place may be taken by a substitute who fulfils the criteria mentioned above.
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