I started MusikRoel in 2017 because I believe classical music is not only for performers, experts and concert halls. It is a practical tool for focus, creativity and reflection. MusikRoel is a brand of Fortekigi Media, based in Tallinn.
Why classical music and philosophy?
Plato called philosophy the highest form of music, and that explains why I love both. We hear music all the time and rarely listen. Streaming rarely tells the stories behind the music, and few resources link it with history, philosophy and everyday life. That is the gap I try to fill with stories, essays, playlists and lesson materials.
What you will find here
- Essays that connect composers to big ideas, from Vivaldi and AC/DC to Bach and the Beatles.
- Stories and books: Jorgy’s Shorts (16 stories, each paired with a classical piece and a philosopher) and Four short classical music stories.
- Lessons for primary schools: Vier muzieklessen voor het basisonderwijs (Dutch, PDF, with listening stories).
- Talentbox: a physical box with a manual and a curated playlist via QR code, to declutter the mind and unleash creativity, with Dutch, German and Estonian instructions.
- Playlists, a SoundCloud page and a YouTube channel.
Who is behind it
I’m Roel Arnold. I was drawn to the piano and saxophone as soon as I could hold them, and as a student I played Mozart’s sonatas and the saxophone in a brass band. The conservatory never happened, so I studied business, and ironically it was classical music that helped me graduate.
Vienna was a paradise to me, because I could attend performances in many opera houses. When I lived in Vienna I was a member of ÖSV, Austria’s writers association. My first steps there were writing music stories, producing an audiobook and taking teaching assignments.
I’ve taught at Fontys University of Applied Sciences in Eindhoven and Algebra University College in Zagreb, and I hold a Master’s degree from Maastricht University. Today I work as an educator, instructional designer and media developer in Tallinn.
Mozart is my hippie-hero!
I always dreamed of going to the music conservatory, this didn’t happen and ever I since got skilled in making contacts and creating dialogues, explaining theories and concepts. My musical interests are, classical and seventies pop music. In literature, I prefer reading classics and philosophical stories. (Roel Arnold)
You want to know more about MusikRoel?
Send MusikRoel an e-mail!