8 Subject Categories/Areas
At Brandbjerg Højskole you can mix your own schedule. We have more than 65 subjects divided into eight main categories, and you can choose to immerse yourself in
one subject area or to mix to suit your own interests and curiosity.
The subjects
Some subjects are offered throughout the year for 6-8 hours a week, others are shorter courses of 2-3 hours per week for 6 weeks. All the subjects offered in English: Music; Sustainability; Project Leadership; Outdoor; Personal Development; Arts and Crafts; Politics and Society; Sports and Games
Schedule
Most weeks, the folkhighschool runs the same schedule. However, every month we have a themeweek where we only teach one or two subjects. Each term/semester has its own schedule.
4 højskoleperioder
You can stay at the folk high school from between 5 up to 43 weeks. Most people stay an average of 18-24 weeks, but many also stay longer. The subjects are divided into the periods where they fit best.
The schedule
All subjects in english
Music
SONGWRITING
Everyone can write a song.
You do not need to be able to play music in order to enjoy the song writing and composition subject at Brandbjerg Højskole. Songwriting is about creating a safe space for people, ourselves, each other, feelings, relationships and being present in the moment.
You do not need to be able to play music in order to enjoy the song writing and composition subject at Brandbjerg Højskole. Songwriting is about creating a safe space for people, ourselves, each other, feelings, relationships and being present in the moment.
BAND / ENSEMBLE
You’ve played together all morning. It didn’t sound very good at first and you sweated to have to sing a new song. But now something is happening. It’s as if the music begins to live, and the song develops by itself – from the drums, a playful laugh and an extra ‘fill’ before the chorus. It works!
VOICE AND SINGING
Voice and singing is about exploring and cultivating the power and possibilities of the voice. When we teach song; we explore air, breathing, body understanding, grounding, support, sound, expression and dynamics.
SING IT! – vocal group
The Folk high school is filled with song and music. We choose the most captivating pop songs in the world – from Disney to Ed Sheeran over Alphabeat and sing them in a choir. We do not go into technique much, but we explore HOW to sing together. We talk about groove, mood, convergence, phrasing and expression.
BEAT IT! – SONG, DANCE AND MUSIC
Find your inner primitive soul that shouts, plays loud music, dances and sweats. Find your coolest groove, put on your best dancing shoes and hit the drums! Beat it, song, dance and games are the schools party subject, where we really feel our feet and bodies. There is high energy, joy and smiles.
ELECTRONIC MUSIC
Are you interested in computers and apps and do you like electronic music like techno, electronica, dubstep and dance? Then here is your chance! Electronic music – plugged in is a bit of a ‘nerdy’ subject, but you don’t have to be one or be able to play it yourself.
CHOIR
The purpose of teaching choir at Brandbjerg Højskole is to enable musically creative people to become competent at singing, expression and choral music. The nature of singing together is high on the agenda and the overall purpose is to give students the tools and basis for building on their voices, together with others to further their musical lives, regardless of ability.
SOUND DESIGN
On sound design, which is part of the theme week in the fall, we must create sound and music in different ways, which help to play into the theme and the whole set-up for the evening.
DANCE
The joy of life grows out of the powerful and refined expression of dancing. Come and dance with at Brandbjerg High School! The inspiration is Afro, Latin, Modern Dance and the simple pleasure of moving to music.
Sustainability
SUSTAINABLE BUILDING
The world is suffering, and we must take care of it. “We need to meet our current needs without jeopardizing the potential of future generations to meet their needs”. One of the ways is to promote sustainable building. The folk high school’s subject “Sustainable Building” contains a bit of theory and much practice, including visits to the real sustainable world.
URBAN GARDENING
The planet is experiencing major climate challenges that are already being addressed. In Paris, buildings clad in air-purifying plants have transformed rooftops into lush gardens and CO2-neutral new buildings are emerging. Everywhere there is work being done using with rainwater as a resource rather than treating it a threat. Take the subject “Urban Garden” and the course will set you up for the future.
DO IT YOURSELF
Would you like to do things yourself – but don’t dare? Are you tired of calling your father when your new kitchen lamps need to be installed? Do you want to grab the drill yourself to put shelves up on the wall? Why buy a mass-produced dining table with benches when there are good materials here, there and everywhere?
RECYCLING
Recycling – giving something that others throw away a new life – is the most sustainable act of all. You learn about many kinds of materials and how they can be reused in a new way. Brandbjerg Højskole puts recycling into your backbone – you’ll develop a whole new mindset.
CLIMATE ACTIVISM
Greta Thunberg’s climate strike has set fire to a new youth rebellion. In the subject ‘Climate Activism’ at Brandbjerg Højskole, we throw ourselves into this climate uprising! Young climate activists all over the world are angrily demanding that “adults” enter the fight.
SUSTAINABILITY IN PRACTICE
Do you dream of soil beneath your nails, wood between your hands and a storehouse filled with nature’s gifts, all grown and processed by yourself? In Brandbjerg Højskole’s subjects ‘Sustainability in Practice’, we take the future that we hold in our hands – with our hands!
BEEKEEPING
Bzzzzz! It is buzzing around you as you approach the beehive, standing in a snug corner of the folk high school. The bees have been working diligently to pollinate flowers throughout the summer, and soon we can enjoy the fruit of their labour. Once they done what they have to, we harvest the plates filled with honey.
FOOD WITH COURAGE
Throw away your inhibitions and drop the recipe book. Learn to believe that you are ingenious enough to make your very own food. We explore a marvelous, intense and diverse universe – a food workshop and a sensory laboratory. We gather sensory impressions, use good ingredients from all over the world and experiment with putting them together into new experiences, in a simple, refined and chic way.
SUSTAINABLE LIFESTYLE
In this theme week we live in the eco-society called Friland and experience it with our own bodies. We live in the common house of the ecovillage. We will build and see sustainable buildings and become inspired by how to live in a different way to most in a modern society.
GARDENING (forest, orchard and kitchen)
Do you dream about getting soil under your nails, being out in healthy nature and having lots of good, home-grown vegetables, berries and fruits at the dinner table? The subject ‘Gardening – forest garden, orchard and kitchen garden’ at Brandbjerg Højskole gives you a good basis for getting started, so you might one day become a self-sufficient gardener.
THE MEAL
The scent and taste of a meal can boost emotions and memories. Who do you invite inside – and is there anyone you don’t want to share a meal with? Do you eat in front of the television, or is the meal sacred in your family? Do you eat together, or do you just take a bite when you enter the door?
PERMACULTURE DESIGN CERTIFICATE
In ‘Permaculture Design’ at Brandbjerg Højskole, we work with design methods that help us create the foundation for a sustainable and ‘permanent culture’. It is primarily about learning to think holistically. And about designing our everyday lives, local communities, companies and large systems, to take both human and nature’s needs into account.
HUNTING AND FISHING
Are you curious about nature or are you really interested in hunting? In both cases, there is a lot for you in this subject.
EAT THE NATURE
“Eating Naturally” is about getting to know nature’s storehouse better. In this course, we will get to know about mushrooms, delicious berries and herbs that can improve any good meal. The goal is to learn the foundations to sustainably harvest nature’s profits for your life after the folk high school.
PERMACULTURE DESIGN IN PRACTICE
In the subject ‘Permaculture Design in Practice’ at Brandbjerg Højskole, we work with design methods that can help us create the foundation for a sustainable and ‘permanent culture’.It is primarily about learning to think in wholeness. And about designing our everyday lives, local communities, companies and large systems, so that they take into account both human and nature’s needs.
Project leader
EVENTLAB
Marie, Andreas and Steven often sit in Eventlab’s creative space. Steven is sitting in the canoe on the floor, Andreas and Marie in a hammock. Christina stands by the board and writes up their ideas. “It’s a collaborative project using Red Cards” she remembers. “We brainstorm concepts to engage young people to support the Red Cross with money or volunteer work,” she continues. “Andreas – you had a good idea yesterday – just try to elaborate on it” she concludes.
PROJEKTLEDELSE
In the class you will encounter a unique creative environment where you work with yourself and your team and make projects that make a difference for you, but also extend beyond the school and make a difference to the world. In the subject you will learn about all facets of project management and communication in both theory and practice. You will work with recognized methods and get tools that you can use in many contexts.
ENTREPRENEURSHIP
Are you a budding entrepreneur? Do you have gut feel to see needs and solutions? Do you dare to take a risk? Do you have difficulty giving up? Then entrepreneurship at Brandbjerg Højskole is just for you. Maybe you always wanted to start your own business? Maybe you are often full of ideas? Perhaps you already have a business, or maybe you can smell life as an entrepreneur?
PERSONAL LEADERSHIP
You get greater self-esteem and become more effective with personal leadership, development and community. You will be better equipped to cooperate and to find your role in the community. You will learn to muster the courage to reach your goals, and you will benefit from your projects. This folk high school subject creates a foundation for both the individual and the team to flourish.
JELLING MUSIC FESTIVAL
Do you want to work behind the scenes at Denmark’s fourth largest festival? We are a folk high school project management team, and we stand together doing many different tasks: from planning tiny details, advanced logistics, planning, interaction, allowing our imaginations to fly, PR, craft and communication. All of it is achieved with robust collaboration.
CLIMATE ACTIVISM
Greta Thunberg’s climate strike has set a new youth rebellion on fire. In ‘Climate Activism’ at Brandbjerg Højskole we throw ourselves into the climate uprising! Young climate activists all over the world angrily demand that “the adults” enter the fight – in international climate negotiations, in government offices and in companies. What is the answer when young people ask why we are not acting on the threatening climate crisis?
Outdoor
OUTDOOR
In the field of outdoor recreation, we cultivate the joy of being outside, the trips away from everyday life and the search for new perspectives. We are keen to investigate what nature does to us and what we do about nature. We are sensing, playing, challenging and collaborating, while we pursue outdoor disciplines in kayaking, mountain biking, trekking, climbing, skiing – and not least in the community in front of a crackling fire at dusk.
ADVENTURESPORT
Mountain biking, sea kayaking, and orienteering are the main activities. There is mud in your face, saltwater in your hair and pure happiness, when you finally find the small incline west of the heavily permeable coniferous plantation. ‘Adventuresport’ is for those who dare and will challenge themselves in the elements of nature and for those are ‘technique nerds’.
FOOD OVER FIRE
Fire has always been man’s best friend and greatest enemy. Untamed and wild fires destroy everything in its path, but if you get to know it, you can control and exploit its enormous potential. Folk high school food and fire are outdoor life at its best. Gathering around a fire is the archetypal symbol of civilization – and a strong symbol of closeness – to nature, to authentic life and to each other.
VISION OF NATURE
You stand and look over the landscape in the morning sun with your folk high school friends. In front of you, the cornfield in the breeze waves and the light green forest edge extends as far as the eye can see. It is beautiful. But what do you really see? Do you see a lush land, a monocultural wheat desert or perhaps a habitat for a lot of animals and plants?
HUNTING AND FISHING
Are you curious about nature or are you really interested in hunting? In both cases there is a lot for you to download in this subject.
SEA KAYAKING
Have you turned to sea kayaking, and do you want even more? You will develop an even better technique. We paddle in larger waves, in stronger currents, tides and wind and take on longer day trips. The subject is outdoor life in the best sense of the word – you sense yourself, the sea kayak and strengthen your connection to nature.
So come aboard, and find your own rhythm.
So come aboard, and find your own rhythm.
HUNTING LICENCE
On this intensive hunting course, you will be ready to pass the hunting test. We go through everything you need to be able to pass the exam, including an obligatory weapon course. You learn, among other things, about Danish animals and birds, you learn weapon handling, come to a shooting range, and more.
EAT THE NATURE
“Eating Naturally” is about getting to know nature’s storehouse better. In this course, we will get to know about edible mushrooms, delicious berries and herbs that can improve any good meal. The goal is to learn the foundations to sustainably harvest nature’s profits for your life after the folk high school.
COME AND PLAY
Come and play! Do you lack a little play in your everyday life? Occupy your hours with play. We will mostly use the best playground in the world – Nature.
GREAT NATURE EXPERIENCES
In the first rays of morning sun, he lifts his the huge crown, holds his antlers back and roars with the full power of his lungs. He is a symbol of the power of nature. He weighs more than 200 kg, and the steam evaporating from his body. You sit close by with your folk high school friends and hold your breath. So close that you can feel the deer’s heat.
CLIMBING
Climbing is a fun and enjoyable activity where we support and help each other while becoming stronger and climbing more smoothly. At Brandbjerg we have plenty of opportunities to climb. Inside we have a great climbing wall – a 4.5 metre-high climbing wall with light and heavy routes, overhangs etc. We climb without safety ropes at relatively low heights with a thick mattress underneath.
MOUNTAINBIKE
You whiz on the small forest trail behind Brandbjerg Højskole. It goes downhill. The suspension on your mountain bike is hard work. Around you there is light green of anemones in the forest floor. A tree, a sharp brake and a turn at the bottom of the river valley. It succeeds. The joy pales in every pore of your body. It’s early spring and you sweat.
ALPINE SKIING
The week is both for those who are experienced and those who have never been skiing. There is no requirement for a particular skill level. We travel to Italy to a great place called Cheisa in Valmalenco. A small local ski resort that we can almost have for ourselves. The trip has an extra cost.
Personal development
COMPASS
In ‘compass’ you train to have contact with your body, intuition, heart and life energy. You learn to balance the different parts of your personality. You discover hidden resources inside you and you develop a more nuanced picture of others and yourself. This creates a precise and fruitful meeting ground between you and the outside world.
This class is in danish.
This class is in danish.
MINDFULNESS AND YOGA
Mindfulness and yoga trim the body and mind and connect the two. A relaxed awake body and mind provide enhanced well-being and presence in your very being.
TRAINING AND HEALTH
Som titlen siger, vil vi beskæftige os med træning og sundhed på bredt plan. Hvad er sundhed? Hvordan træner vi kroppen på forskellige måder? Er træning altid sundt? Det er et par af de spørgsmål, vi vil kaste os over.
PERSONAL LEADERSHIP
You get greater self-esteem and become more effective with personal leadership, development and community on the folk high school schedule. You will be better equipped to cooperate and to find your role in the community. You will learn to muster the courage to reach your goals, and you will benefit from your projects. This folk high school subject creates a foundation for both the individual and the team to flourish.
NATURAL STRENGTH
The subject “Naturkraft” at Brandbjerg Højskole is a course in personal development. Here you get the opportunity to become more connected with nature, and you get a good experience of having a conscious contact with between nature, its forces and yourself. In a safe environment. Do you want to work with personal development? If you have an open and curious approach to nature, then this folk high school subject is for you.
EXISTENTIAL GUIDANCE
At finde vej i livet er sjældent en motorvej, der fører direkte fra A til B. For de fleste af os snor vejen sig frem gennem et vildt og udfordrende landskab - og den forgrener sig hele tiden, så man konstant må vælge, hvilken retning man vil gå videre af. At træffe valg i livet er en kunst, som vi alle må lære.
GENDER, BODY AND SEXUALITY
Gender, body and sexuality are important driving forces in most people’s lives. But also areas that are taboo to talk about, cultivate and discuss. According to experts, high self-esteem, quality of life and well-being in all phases of life are closely related to gender, body and sexuality. So how about joining a room where nothing is taboo? Where we talk openly about sex, about our body and not least our sexuality.
WOOD CUTTING AND CHATTING/strong>
Vi sidder rundt om bålet. Røgen stiger blødt mod den skyfri himmel. Markus begynder på historien om sin oldefar, der var missionær i Indien. Bagefter skal Kira fortælle om en fisketur, der gik helt i fisk. De andre lytter. Luften sitrer af nærvær - og lyden af knivblade, der snitter i friskt træ, er den skrattende underlægningsmusik.
SUSTAINABLE LIFESTYLE
In this theme week we live in the eco-society called Friland and experience it with our own bodies. We live in the common house of the ecovillage. We will build and see sustainable buildings and become inspired by how to live in a different way to most in a modern society.
Arts and crafts
CERAMICS
In ceramics you will get a thorough introduction to various ceramic techniques, eg. plate, clamp, modeling and turning techniques, thereby learning about the possibilities and limitations of clay. We also work with casting various items such as bowls, vases etc. in porcelain moulds.
RECYCLING
Recycling – giving something that others throw away a new life – is the most sustainable act of all. You learn about many kinds of materials and how they can be reused in a new way. Brandbjerg Højskole puts recycling into your backbone – you get a whole new mindset.
DRAWING
“Drawing” goes in-depth into body and portrait. Whether your level is stick figures or better, drawing is for you. You will find that what you see – comes out again through the arm and pencil and down on paper. Should you draw after the college as an architect or designer, or do you just want to draw and become better at it? If you need to immerse yourself in drawing and calm your mind for some hours regardless of the result – then drawing is just for you.
PAINTING
Have you always dreamed of painting? Maybe you don’t dare, or maybe you just haven’t had a go at it? It may also be you have tried, but need help to move on? Then you should let loose and throw yourself into the subject “Painting” at Brandbjerg Højskole. We take a look at a canvas and colors with a playful and free approach, where the process and not the outcome is most important.
FILM
Most of us love to go to the cinema. Although large flat screens and projectors have become commonplace, Danes are still flocking to the cinemas and paying several hundred kroner to watch a movie while eating popcorn and drinking cola in far too large quantities. But why is it that film fascinates us? What is it that a sublime movie can do?
THEATRE
Help create a show from scratch in one intense week, where you both work within your personal comfort zones and dedicate yourself to acting skills. We combine the performance with several small performances, so you really have the opportunity to try out your talents in many different ways. When the week is over, not only have you taken huge steps, you have also experienced being part of a unique community where anything can happen.
DO IT YOURSELF
Would you like to do things yourself – but don’t dare? Are you tired of calling your father when your new kitchen lamps need to be installed? Do you want to grab the drill yourself to put shelves up on the wall? Why buy a mass-produced dining table with benches when there are good materials here, there and everywhere?
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SCENOGRAPHY
Scenography is part of the great theater project in the autumn period. In the scenography group, we have the overall responsibility for the visual expression in the performance in everything from space, costumes, props and lights. We work with intentional arrangement of spatial elements, and nothing is left to chance!
PERFORMANCE
Are you curious to put yourself at risk, play someone other than yourself and play as an actor in the theme week of autumn? Perhaps you have a role as host and guide the participants throughout the day, maybe you are an entertainer, storyteller, a secret actor or maybe you put a topic on the agenda in a homebrewed monologue.
FILMPRODUCTION
Get hands-on experience with all the technical aspects of practical filmmaking: Idea development, script writing, format, camera, audio theory, storyboarding, recording and editing.
Politics and society
GENDER, BODY AND SEXUALITY
Gender, body and sexuality are important driving forces in most people’s lives. But also areas that are taboo to talk about, cultivate and discuss. According to experts, high self-esteem, quality of life and well-being in all phases of life are closely related to gender, body and sexuality. So how about joining a room where nothing is taboo? Where we talk openly about sex, about our body and not least our sexuality.
COSTA RICA
In this subject we are building up to the autumn journey to Costa Rica. So, if you are going to Costa Rica – you also need the Costa Rica subject. We do not travel on holiday – we want something more. Therefore, we prepare thoroughly from home.
CLIMATE ACTIVISM
Greta Thunberg’s climate strike has set a new youth rebellion on fire. In ‘Climate Activism’ at Brandbjerg Højskole we throw ourselves into the climate uprising! Young climate activists all over the world angrily demand that “the adults” enter the fight – in international climate negotiations, in government offices and in companies. What is the answer when young people ask why we are not acting on the threatening climate crisis?
SHITSTORM
There are three types of ‘shitstorms’ on the social media we deal with in this folk high school subject: the well-deserved, the criticized / innocent and the unreasonable shitstorm. Shitstorms can arise out of nowhere – most often on social media. They hit like a hammer and it can be extremely difficult to ride the storm.
BINK
Can you make life out of oil and soap? Can artificial intelligence replace human thought? What should we do when the robots do all the work?
In the subject BINK at Brandbjerg Højskole (bio-, information-, nano- and communication technology), we delve into the interaction between humans, technology and society. We show you how accelerating technological development sets the agenda for future society.
In the subject BINK at Brandbjerg Højskole (bio-, information-, nano- and communication technology), we delve into the interaction between humans, technology and society. We show you how accelerating technological development sets the agenda for future society.
DEMOCRACY PILOT
This folk high school subject takes you completely into the DNA of democracy. You gain insight into the history, development, as well as the different versions of democracy. What does it mean for democracy that Russian trolls spread Fake News around the clock? Is it democratic that companies and parties pay for social media advertising.
VISION OF NATURE
You stand and look over the landscape in the morning sun with your folk high school friends. In front of you, the cornfield in the breeze waves and the light green forest edge extends as far as the eye can see. It is beautiful. But what do you really see? Do you see a lush land, a monocultural wheat desert or perhaps a habitat for a lot of animals and plants?
Sports and games
TRAINING AND HEALTH
Som titlen siger, vil vi beskæftige os med træning og sundhed på bredt plan. Hvad er sundhed? Hvordan træner vi kroppen på forskellige måder? Er træning altid sundt? Det er et par af de spørgsmål, vi vil kaste os over.
ADVENTURESPORT
Mountain biking, sea kayaking, and orienteering are the main activities. There is mud in your face, saltwater in your hair and pure happiness, when you finally find the small incline west of the heavily permeable coniferous plantation. ‘Adventuresport’ is for those who dare and will challenge themselves in the elements of nature and for those are ‘technique freaks’.
DANCE
The joy of life grows out of the dance’s powerful and refined expression. Come and dance with at Brandbjerg High School! The inspiration is afro, latin, modern dance and the pleasure of moving to music.
SPORT 360
Do you want to practice sports, but also want to dive in behind the facade? We will do a lot of sports but combine it with theory and discussion. What meaning does sport have in terms of body experience, identity, community and society?
COME AND PLAY
Come and play! Do you lack a little play in your everyday life? Occupy your hours with play. We will mostly use the best playground in the world – Nature.
ALTERNATIVE BALL GAMES
See ball games from new angles – learning about ball games and learning through ball games. You do not become a technical wonder for ball games, but will try a lots of new things – and common to all our activities is that there is at least one ball included.
CLIMBING
Climbing is a fun and enjoyable activity where we support and help each other while becoming stronger and climbing more smoothly. At Brandbjerg we have plenty of opportunities to climb. Inside we have a great climbing wall – a 4.5 meter high climbing wall with light and heavy routes, overhangs etc. We climb without safety ropes at relatively low heights with a thick mattress underneath.
MOUNTAINBIKE
You whiz on the small forest trail behind Brandbjerg Højskole. It goes downhill. The suspension on your mountain bike is hard work. Around you there is light green of anemones in the forest floor. A tree, a sharp brake and a turn at the bottom of the river valley. It succeeds. The joy pales in every pore of your body. It’s early spring and you sweat.
ALPINE SKIING
The week is both for those who are experienced and those who have never been skiing. There is no requirement for a particular skill level. We travel to Italy to a great place called Cheisa in Valmalenco. A small local ski resort that we can almost have for ourselves. There is an extra price on this trip.
BRANDBJERG HØJSKOLE
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