Two students from our MusicXchain partner school,  Neue Jazzschool mMchen e.v,  stayed with us for two weeks in March 2017 and answered some questions: 

Who are you and where are you from?
Josef Meixner from Germany

What are you studying?
I study Music. Main instrument is guitar.

What have you been doing in Jyväskylä?
I visited the Music Conservatory. Went to jamsessions in Poppari jazzclub. I was in a sauna and jumped into the lake.

How long have you stayed in Jyväskylä?
2 weeks. I arrived on March 12th and fly back to Germany on March 27th.

Do you think the time has been too short (why?), too long (why?)
I think 2 weeks are perfect because I have my final exams in June so it’s not good when I miss so many lessons.

What have you learned during your stay?
I learned a few songs in the jazzband workshop. In world music i learned many samba rhythm patterns. In music theory i transcripte songs. In my 2 guitar lessons i learned different ways in improvising.

What have been the best moments during your stay?
There were many good moments here in Jyväskylä. But one of my favorites was the jamsession were i played with Marian Petrescu.

Give three tops and tips (based on your own experience) to someone who is planning  to come to Jyväskylä. How should they prepare? What should they do/ see/ visit/ experience?
Buy good shoes because in winter you need shoes which don’t get wet inside. Go to a sauna and jump in a lake. You feel newborn after that. Eat typical Finish food. It’s very good.

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Who are you and where are you from?
My name is Quirin Schuhbeck and I'm from Munich (Germany)

What are you studying?
I study music, my main instrument is drums

What have you been doing in Jyväskylä?
I took part in an exchange programm for european music students.

How long have you stayed in Jyväskylä?
For two weeks

Do you think the time has been too short (why?), too long (why?)
I think two weeks are quite a good time to get to know a different school system. When it comes to forming a band and setting up a concert it surely takes a little more time to get to know the other players as well as possible.

What have you learned during your stay?
Some nice new songs with the Jazz -band-workshop, a lot about playing together especially in brasilian Samba music (world music workshop) and I have also had great lessons with Raimo the drum teacher.

What have been the best moments during your stay?
When we went to a jamsession and both got to know and play with Marian Petrescu. We visited a few fantastic concerts and the people around here are some really nice and cool guys, so spending time with them was kind of a highlight, too.

Give three tops and tips (based on your own experience) to someone who is planning to come to Jyväskylä. How should they prepare? What should they do/ see/ visit/ experience?
Go to sauna, to poppari club and climb up the the tower of Keski-suomen Luontomuseo (You have a breathtaking view over the city and surroundings of Jyväskylä)
One should also reckon with the sometimes capricious weather situation 😉 And it can get very slippery, too.

More information Markku Rinta-Pollari