After the conclusion of this most inauspicious education he earned the means to continue private lessons in violin, piano, and music theory as a bar and coffee house fiddler in Leipzig. Later, in 1979, he used his experiences from this time in his opera Die Stadtpfeifer ("The Town Pipers").
After completing his most unfortunate educational experience, he was able to afford private instruction in violin, piano, and music theory as a busker playing the fiddle at bars and coffeehouses in Leipzig. Subsequently, in 1979, he drew upon those experiences when composing his opera Die Stadtpfeifer ("The Town Pipers").