Multimedia Composition

The Master’s programme in Multimedia Composition at the University of Music and Drama in Hamburg offers a high-level artistic education in one of Germany’s most vibrant media and cultural environments. Located in Hamburg, the programme benefits from close connections to contemporary music, media art, and technological innovation.

Designed as an interdisciplinary and modular course of study, the two-year programme leads to a Master of Arts (M.A.) degree. It’s fostering a holistic approach to composition that integrates sound, technology, performance and visual media. Students are encouraged to work across disciplines and to develop individual artistic languages that combine musical thinking with interactive, performative, and multimedia practices. The programme encourages project-based team work and enables collaborations with different university departments (set and costume design, theatre and dramaturgy). 

The curriculum spans a wide range of interconnected fields, including algorithmic composition, live electronics, game engine development, video and light programming and work in the digital recording studio. Strong emphasis is placed on interactivity and performance, such as live interaction between music and video, network-based composition, sensor-driven systems, and interactive installations. These practical components are complemented by studies in the aesthetics of new media, microtonal composition and conceptual art.

Since 2010, graduates of the programme have also had the opportunity to continue their artistic research within an artistic doctoral programme (Dr. scientiae musicae).

Fields of study

• Interactive Performances
• Multimedia Spaces
• Algorithmic Composition
• Digital Signal Processing and Live-Electronics
• Live Interaction with Music and Video
• Audio-Visual Installations
• Sensors and Interfaces
• Aesthetics of New Media
• Microtonal Composition
• Computer-Game-Based Art
• Conceptual Art
• Network and Internet Composition

Software and programming languages taught

• Max/MSP/Jitter
• Ableton Live / Max for Live
• IRCAM software
• Unreal Engine
• Mad Mapper / Touch Designer
• Light Programming (Lightkey)

In order to attend this master's program you have to:

1. apply under following link: https://www.hfmt-hamburg.de/application/
   • Submission of at least three representative works which demonstrate the ability to artistically incorporate the use of digital media, especially in the field of computer music. These Works can be in the form of scores, texts, recordings, computer programs, videos, etc. and/or interactive websites.
2. attend the entrance examination (in English) which consists of following parts:
   • a 3-hour written exam including a) an elaboration and solution of a task in the filed of interactive computer music/mutlimedia, b) a factual text to be summarised and commented on, c) multiple choice test on important terms in computer music and digital media
   • 15min interview on your work and motivation to join the program

Online Zoom Meeting for all potential applicants on 25.2. at 15:00 (CET) via tinyurl.com/MMM-HFMT

In the multimedia department of the HfMT both students and teachers have been developing tools for creative practice in the field of generative music, light and video control, score generation, networked music and sound processing amongst many more. These programs, patches and devices are partially the result of academic development and research, and partially the result of the personal artistic practice of staff and students alike. The majority of these developments can be found on the platform of the ZM4 (Zentrum für Mikrotonale Musik und Multimedia)

The program is run by

Further teaching and workshops by