Austria

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= = AUSTRIA = Nari (Naie) Kim = Introduction =

__Overview of Austria__

Austria is located in Central Europe. It is a landlocked country of roughly 8.47 million people. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Hungary and Slovakia to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the west. The territory of Austria covers 83,855 square kilometres (32,377 sq mi) and has a temperate and alpine climate. Austria's terrain is highly mountainous due to the presence of the Alps; only 32% of the country is below 500 metres (1,640 ft), and its highest point is 3,798 metres (12,461 ft). The majority of the population speak local Austro-Bavarian dialects of German as their native language and German in its standard form is the country's official language.

Austria is a very beautiful and breath-taking country. The culture has been especially surrounded by Music, Art and Architecture. Austria has been the birthplace of many famous composers such as Joseph Haydn, Michael Haydn, Franz Schubert,Johann Strauss, Sr.,Johann Strauss, Jr, and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Vienna has been especially an important center of musical innovation and is the European capital of classical music. Art and architecture also have a huge impact on Austria's culture. Artists such as Ferdinand Georg Waldmüller, Rudolf von Alt, Hans Makart, Friedensreich Hundertwasser and Gustav Klimt make Austria what it is today. Austria is rich in the art and music, which formed a specific culture in Austria. You can image what kind of impact these people have on the culture. Even the education in Austria is influence and driven by these artists who have created culture.

= One of Austria's famous Artist = ==**Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart** ==

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Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart January 27, 1756, December 5, 1791 Mozart was born in Salzburg, Austria. He was and still is one of the most significant and influential of all composers of Western classical music. His works are loved by many and are frequently performed.Mozart had intensive musical training from his father starting at a young. His father Leopold Mozart taught him both the piano and violin. Musically, he developed very rapidly and began to compose his own works at the age of five. Mozart was a prolific composer and wrote for many art pieces. Among his best works are his operas, the piano concertos, his symphonies, string quartets and string quintets. Mozart also wrote voluminously for solo piano, and chamber music. Many important composers since Mozart's time have worshipped or been in awe of Mozart. Many Music Schools is Austria teach the history as well as the techniques of Mozart art. __ Some of Mozart's pieces __ Eine Kleine Nachtmusik, Don Giovanni, Die Zauberflote, Cosi fan tutte, and Zaide media type="youtube" key="GT7_Y1pIBb4" width="425" height="350"



Educult is an organization that connects culture, education and policies into theory and practice. The purpose for this organization is to broaden the form of art in different ways. Educult teaches the different forms of art and culture by having different workshops and projects, where students and adults can participate.Their goal is to create a learning and creating environment through culture. __Specific Program__ “Cultural.Explorers!” this is a program for Level 1 secondary school students from all types of schools.Based on students’ questions and with the help of teachers and experts from media-related professions, music, arts, libraries and other cultural institutions, each school develops its own 2 ½-year “Cultural.Explorers!” project. The idea is to establish long-term collaborative ties with external partners that will continue to exist beyond the duration of the program. Working on their projects, children and young people act as “Cultural.Explorers!” observing everyday phenomena with a fresh outlook and gaining new knowledge about cultural phenomena in their immediate environment. =

= = Education in Austria = Children attend primary school from age six through age ten. Then they are tested and placed into a continuing elementary school, a basic high school, or a college preparatory school. Formal secondary education continues through age fourteen. It is followed by either vocational school, teacher-training college, an apprenticeship in a trade, or more college-preparatory classes. Some form of secondary training is required through age fifteen. Austria has had free and mandatory education for two hundred years. As a result, nearly everyone is literate. During the years of schooling art and culture is engraved into the education. Art and cultures are taught but never given the chance to explore on your own. During the eight years of school one has to take a total of 13-15 classes each year, which often includes chemistry, latin, french, russian, spanish,etc... Through research I found that culture and art is very emphasized in the Austrian education, but yet students do not know how to explore and create on their own as much compared to other education.

Conclusion
Being from Austria yet attending Austrian and American schools made this research very interesting. It was interesting to compare it to different experiences I had in different countries. Moving around and experiencing different education opened my eyes to see the different ways of teaching and the more I did my research it was clear that cultures and histories shape and form education. Something that I found surprising is that it was difficult to find programs that are offered in schools and in the community compared to american school programs. The importance of school programs and community programs are not as popular as it is in the States. But overall I was very impressed by the amount of art and culture that was being taught in schools and around the community. It is fascinating to be in a country where many artist lived and created things that surround Austria today.

Austrian Press and Information Service, Washington, D.C. [Online] Available [|http://www.austria.org/] World Travel Guide. Austria. [Online] Available [] http://www.educult.at/forschung Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart-__ http://www.classicalarchives.com/mozart.html#tvf=tracks&tv=about __ Austria- __ http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0107301.html __