Courses

The professionalisation of musicans requires the development of key skills in addition to specialist skills. In addition to the ability to organise yourself in order to achieve your goals, you also need to be aware of the context of your professional activity and how to move and present yourself professionally within it.

In addition to very practical topics such as self-organisation, time management, communication and self-presentation, this basic seminar is primarily about exchanging ideas about personal development opportunities: e.g. dealing with your own weaknesses and strengths, setting priorities and personal goals. In addition, an initial overview of the cultural scene in Germany also provides space for discussion about current challenges and development trends in the music industry.

The professionalisation of musicans requires the development of key skills in addition to specialist skills. In addition to the ability to organise yourself in order to achieve your goals, you also need to be aware of the context of your professional activity and how to move and present yourself professionally within it.

Building on the self-management seminar, which focussed on very personal issues, this seminar aims to provide concrete ideas for implementation with regard to future career opportunities. Topics such as self-marketing, networking, creativity, concept development and project management are addressed and demonstrated in a practical way using model projects.

The classical concert business is in a tough cut-throat competition with colourful events and hip media. How do you attract, mould and retain an audience? Which tried and tested, which innovative recipes and ideas characterise an attractive programme design? What food for thought is there for your own music-making and traditional performance practice? How has the concert business developed over time? There are even more questions and perhaps also a few answers in this event, which also sees itself - if possible - as a platform for exchanging experiences, self-experiments and performative experiments. The aim is to develop orientation for one's own artistic decisions and attitudes in the current trends of contemporary performance practice.

Writing about music or even yourself: for some it's art, for others it's torture. Yet it is perfectly possible to learn how to write good texts. This writing workshop is about getting to know the tools of the trade and trying out various methods of (creative) writing in order to have fun with it and be equipped when it comes to formulating an appealing biography, an exciting concept or a creative programme booklet text.

Do I really need my own website? Which social media channels suit me best? And how can I use my digital platforms in a way that truly fits who I am? These are exactly the questions we’ll explore in our seminar “Communicate Better – Your Online Presence as a Musician.” Together, we’ll find out how you can take control of your digital presence and create it authentically. Whether it’s Instagram, YouTube, newsletters, or your own website – each platform offers exciting opportunities to showcase yourself and your music, connect with people, and grow your community. In the seminar, we’ll look at different digital formats, discover their strengths, and discuss what fits you and your target audience. Through workshops and exchanges, we’ll develop practical ideas to help you implement your digital activities creatively and purposefully.

For musicians, working with colleagues and cooperation partners in an international context is part of everyday life. Successful intercultural communication is a prerequisite, but can always be a challenge. Intercultural misunderstandings can lead to conflicts in a quartet or orchestra, for example, which can jeopardise successful collaboration. The aim of the seminar is to deepen understanding of one's own and other cultures and to develop solutions for culturally related problems.

The programme is primarily aimed at students who wish to acquire knowledge in the field of team development for professional activities in internationally active orchestras. After completing the course, students will be able to reflect on their own values and behavioural patterns and counteract standardisation and stereotyping. They will be able to independently develop ideas for change.

This seminar is dedicated to bringing your own artistic ideas, dreams, and visions closer to realization. This could involve developing a freelance career, launching a festival, or founding an ensemble – the sky's the limit! Using basic project management principles, the course offers a systematic approach to shaping these concepts.

What matters most is the passion and determination to reach your goals, because, as Hamburg-based musician and cultural manager Herrmann Rauhe once said, "Only those who burn themselves can ignite others." Inspired by this quote, we aim to awaken and strengthen our entrepreneurial and creative spirit.

Strong Despite Stress: How to Understand, Manage, and Use Your Stress

What exactly is stress—and what happens in the body and mind when we experience it? In this training, you’ll learn to identify common stress triggers in music studies (and beyond) and how to respond to them constructively. You’ll receive practical knowledge and tools to help you self-regulate—whether before exams, concerts, or in the daily routine of lessons and rehearsals.

Topics include:

• Understanding physical and mental stress responses
• Acute vs. chronic stress – what’s the difference?
• Regulating the nervous system: quick wins & long-term strategies
• Recognizing early warning signs & taking countermeasures
• Dealing with performance pressure & comparison
• Developing individual strategies for greater stress resilience

Resilient Takeoff: How to Develop Inner Strength and Future Skills for Your Career

This is where you lay the foundation for your artistic journey – beyond technique and repertoire. You'll develop resilience: the ability to deal constructively with uncertainty, change, and setbacks. At the same time, you'll train essential future skills that are more in demand than ever – in a musical landscape that is becoming increasingly complex, uncertain, and full of opportunities.

You’ll learn to lead yourself, manage stress intelligently, and turn challenges into personal growth. In doing so, you’ll build inner stability that not only enhances your well-being but also strengthens your artistic presence, creativity, and freedom to make choices.

Topics include:

• Applying the 7 resilience factors in practice
• Strengthening self-leadership, self-reflection, and emotional intelligence
• Coping with crises, rejection, competition – and your own inner voice
• Flexibility and a growth mindset as superpowers in an uncertain industry
• Resilience as a future skill: Why mental strength is becoming the new success factor

Speaking in front of an audience or a camera – for many musicians, this is a real challenge. However, more and more concert or competition organizers are requiring exactly that. So, what matters here? What does a voice sound like that people enjoy listening to? How do I structure an interview? How should I respond to questions? How can I use AI for preparation? This is a practical course where participants can practice presenting in a safe environment. If needed, we’re happy to develop moderation concepts for specific upcoming concert projects!

Talking about music as part of one’s artistic identity and communication will play a bigger role in the future than it has so far. By now, this has become its own professional field. New concert formats call for moderation to build bridges, and audiences of all ages are increasingly drawn in through engaging introductions to the music. The goal: creating a new sense of closeness and enabling listeners to hear music differently after the moderation.

Moderation can be practiced just like an instrument. Charisma, humor, and linguistic talent are helpful, but above all, this course aims to reduce fears and inhibitions, inspiring participants to explore this exciting (play) field with enthusiasm.

What is the relationship between musician and listener? Does there have to be a counterpart or can it also be in the middle? How do I as an artist shape the perception and perspective of those listening and watching? What happens to us when we sit in a classical setting in the concert hall? Is concentration and attention for the music lost when an audience is allowed to move around the room? What do I want to say as an artist? Which space and which audience arrangement can reinforce my intention as a musician? In this seminar, these and other questions on the subject will be reflected upon and analysed using the latest findings from perceptual physiology and communication science. The seminar will be complemented by practical parts in self-experiments and performance visits to various cultural scenes in Berlin. The aim is to gain experience and orientation for one's own artistic decisions and in the current trends of contemporary performance practice.

In this project, a participative concert programme is developed together with the participants, which is suitable for children aged 2 to 6. The concerts take place in a small, comfortable setting: The Galakutschensaal II at the university will be specially equipped with cushions. The music programme should be captivating, but not too complicated. Imaginative, but not frightening. Entertaining, but not simple. In the seminar, a concept is developed within the group that requires artistic expertise, but also leaves room for experimentation and enables the development of dormant talents! This semester, the focus is on Hanns Eisler - as part of Eisler 75, an anniversary concert will be developed together in the seminar.

Methods and Practices of Communication, Reflexion und Leadership in artistic processes and projects

What is at stake, what is relevant, and how can we set free potentials in our artistic practice and collaboration? Which methods and approaches can support creative processes? Which communication and feedback culture do we wish to live and practice? And how can we develop and establish good leadership? 

The seminar addresses the individual and collective working methods in artistic processes and projects. The aspects of 'communication' and 'leadership' in team and project work are the main topics of this seminar. Feedback is a core element in communication. It is an essential component of creative and work processes as well as in leadership tasks in our everyday artistic and musical lives and work. The diversity of procedures and approaches is interesting. In block modules and project appointments, we develop awareness and concrete feedback methodology and tools for practice are given. This enables us to communicate well, work at a high level of quality and motivation in our specific roles and situations, to enjoy working and creating together. The focus is always on the respective interests and questions of the seminar participants, your specific roles and practical projects. We will develop own feedback formats and working methods. The invitation of professionally interesting artists from the Berlin scene to the seminar can be integrated and jointly organised where possible. 

Block event on the subject of remembering Eisler (with connection to the Eisler anniversary). More details coming soon.