Christian Studler – Committed to musical talents for 40 years

40 years BFH - wow! At the age of 24, you became a lecturer at the Bern University of the Arts. Why are you still putting your heart and soul into it after all these years?

What could be nicer than being able to accompany young people into their future in an important, formative phase of their life filled with doubts and profound questions!

What inspires you in your job?

Working with young people to help them find and discover their uniqueness. This brings out the personality of the musician and through the course of this cooperation more and more colours of their personality become visible and audible. From this perspective, a new approach to music is accessible and brings many a surprise to light. And this keeps inspiring me anew.

You can look back on a long career at BFH. What was your highlight during this time? Can you even reduce it to ‘one’ highlight?

These are repetitive highlights. For example, when a student finds his personality after going through many crises, when he incorporates his strengths and weaknesses into his music and the musical dreams touch the reality of life. As a teacher you are able to create space for this vital process.

How have the studies of music and the students changed during the past 40 years of your teaching career?

The instrumental skills have developed enormously. The school has become international. Forty years ago, students from other countries were an almost exotic exception. Today, the university management creates a lot of space so that new vessels and contents can be tried. 30 years ago, it would have been unthinkable that a student could do a master's degree in flute/beatbox!  Compared to today, studying music in the 80s was rather one-dimensional and limited. The question ‘what has not changed’ would certainly be shorter to answer!

What advice do you give your students?

The fear of making mistakes has the potential to destroy creativity in us. Focus on your strengths and rejoice in them, so that the weaknesses will have less impact on your playing and your life in general. I try to introduce my students to important life questions: Who am I, what do I want, what dreams and goals do I want to work towards? Answers to such fundamental questions are often externally driven. Honest personal answers lead to a new sustainable quality of life and greater joy in playing.

You work part-time. What do you do when you're not on the road for BFH?

Due to Corona, I travel less and contemplate on dreams and different development projects in China, Israel and other places. I enjoy the musician-appropriate late rising with a timeless breakfast together with my wife. After 41 years in orchestra, a breakfast without continuously having to look at the clock is a new discovery!