New compositional techniques

The contact studies in new compositional techniques (Kontaktstudium Neue Kompositionstechnicken) is a one-year certificate program aimed at students interested in contemporary experimental music, with strong emphasis on analogue and live electronics, electronic music, computer-based composition (Max and Ableton Live) and microtonality. The students are encouraged to create their own pieces and publicly present them at least once per semester, in the scope of the accompanying festivals of new music in Lüneburg and Hamburg.

We accept students with musical background, either in theory, composition or in instrumental music, as well as students with technical background and strong interest in experimental electronic music. The contact studies lie to the side of the Bologna system, and people who are currently studying or have already finished their bachelor or master's degrees are welcome to join. To be accepted for the studies it is necessary to present 3 of your pieces and pass an interview.

The official language of the course is English, and the course takes place at the Hamburg University of Music and Theater and at the Advanced Education Center for New Music (Fortbildungszentrum für Neue Musik) in Lüneburg.

This certificate program includes 220 learning units, some of which are offered in the form of weekend seminars.

In our weekend seminars, we take a comprehensive approach to electronic music and live electronics. As a specialized branch of composition, live electronics is primarily viewed as a practical discipline. The practical component is complemented by studying and discussing the historical and theoretical background of electronic music, as well as by listening to selected works from international electronic music studios. These activities not only serve to inform our students about the many possibilities of electronic sound design but are also intended to stimulate the imagination and creativity of the participants. In the practical portion, we experiment with sounds using the voice, acoustic instruments, or any of our analog and digital synthesizers, modulation devices, and effects units. After this exploratory phase, we listen to our sounds together, discuss the results, and develop individual or group projects. Once the projects have developed sufficiently, it’s time to consider different approaches to notation, possibilities for alternative instrumentation, and technical setups—all in preparation for the public performance.

Being part of our course allows you not only to participate in most of our Master’s in Multimedia Composition courses—making it ideal preparation for prospective Master’s candidates—but also to take any of the group classes offered by our university, enabling you to explore fields that are not so closely related, such as music therapy, free improvisation, theater, and others. Our main curriculum, however, includes the fundamentals of electronic music, the theory and practice of live electronics, computer-based composition, microtonality, and the fundamentals—both theoretical and practical—of studio and recording technology.

After successfully completing the course and presenting their pieces in our concerts, participants are awarded a certificate of completion.

We have two entrance exams per year, i.e. once per semester.

The application deadline for the summer semester is January 10. and for the winter semester April 01.

Participation fees are 500€ per semester.

The course is led by Prof. , an internationally renowned composer, pedagogue, flutist and a fervent promoter of new music. With over 50 years of experience, Prof. Erdmann has been at the head of course since its inception in 1996. More than 100 people from all over the world have successfully taken our course. To our great pleasure we've had people from Argentina, Canada, Chile, China, Columbia, Estonia, France, Germany, Israel, Norway, Russia, Serbia, Syria, Sweden, Vietnam etc., resulting in a vibrant community and a melting pot of cultures and ideas.

For the weekend seminars held in Lüneburg please contact:

Training Center for New Music

Claus-Dieter Meier-Kybranz

Katzenstraße 1a

21335 Lüneburg

Mobile: 0175 - 56 55 112