Music by the Lakeside: The Fretster Education Center Against the Backdrop of Karlsfeld Lake

Karlsfeld is a small district northwest of Munich, where industrial heritage, tranquil nature, and modern life converge. Its most striking natural feature is the Karlsfeld Lake — once a gravel pit, transformed into a lake in the 1940s. A curious fact: in 1967, a real crocodile was spotted there, brought in by an exotic animal enthusiast.

Today, Karlsfeld is evolving into a place of education, ecology, and culture. It’s here, at Gustav-Otto-Bogen 13, that I founded the Fretster Music Academy.

This is no ordinary music school. It’s a cultural space where guitar lessons, piano sessions, and band workshops give rise to a new musical culture. The word “lesson” takes on a whole new meaning here — it becomes an expression of one’s personal journey.

Grounded in neuroscientific insights, our method follows the concept of the 4-Skills Music System, built on four core pillars: rhythm, ear training, motor skills, and theory. This system gradually nurtures thinking, auditory intuition, and precision in movement.

Fretster says: guitar and piano are not the goal here — they’re the tools. Tools for developing personality, social interaction, and cultural growth. I believe music shouldn’t only be heard on stage, but also in the park, by the lake, and in the backyard.

Karlsfeld turned out to be the perfect place to bring all of this together. And every chord played here echoes a new cultural chapter in this special place.