Overview

Explore the practical principles of creating and performing electronic music along with studio recording practice, sequencing, synthesis and sampling, composition and arrangement, mixing and sound design. Discover and explore a wealth of electronic music styles and gain the skills and techniques required to create and finalise your own electronic music work.

• Develop your unique artistic voice and portfolio
• Record, mix, finalise and perform your own tracks
• Learn the essentials of recording and studio components
• Learn a variety of analogue and digital electronic music instruments
• Familiarise yourself with different hardware and software tools
• Build a collection of original sounds and sound design hacks
• Gain insight into electronic music culture, business and entrepreneurship

Workshops

Recording for Electronic Music

Focus on the fundamental concepts and practical techniques required to operate in a  professional recording studio environment. Explore various recording techniques and apply them in practical, real world projects, focusing on microphones, pre amps, signal flow and workflow.

Audio Production

Focus on the practical audio production skills required for electronic music creation using digital audio workstations (Ableton) to compose, arrange, and produce original pieces.

Sequencing, Synthesis and Sampling

Gain a practical understanding of a range of common synthesis, sampling, and sequencing tools. Experiment with subtractive, additive, FM/AM, wavetable and modular synthesis types along with a range of sampler features utilising both traditional and experimental sequencing tools and techniques.

Composition and Arrangement

Explore and demystify the most important concepts, frameworks, theoretical tools and historic trends which have shaped electronic music into the diverse and rich ecosystem it has become.

Music and Culture

Develop important analytical skills for discussing music and communicating complex musical ideas. Learn to formulate your opinions and enhance your understanding of the impact of electronic music on the wider cultural landscape through engaged research and discovery.

Performance

Explore the major tools, issues, and concepts surrounding contemporary electronic music performance. Develop practical tools and explore important performance-based subjects such as improvisation, collaboration, cross-disciplinary practice, and critique.

Mixing Principles

Develop core skills in contemporary mixing practice and the toolset required to support it from mix structure through to developing an awareness of spectral, dynamic and spatial elements.

Sound Design

Sculpt and craft sound using a range of electronic and acoustic instruments and tools. Overview the important developments of this field of work and create a range of otherworldly sounds!

Sound and Media

Create music, sound, foley and ADR in combination with visual content. Explore and analyse practices found in film, media, gaming, and the web in order to design your own unique approach to narrative construction.

Building an Artist / Producer Profile

Recognising and developing how you speak to the world is an integral part of the creative music industry. Develop and refine your own artistic identity in a way which enhances your musical values, your visual aesthetic and your public persona. Transform your ability to connect with a wider audience.

Music Industry

Situate yourself within the multiple commercial contexts of the contemporary music industry. From communication and marketing technique through to copyright and intellectual property rights, develop the knowledge which empowers you to overcome hurdles and to take full advantage of arising opportunities.

Overview

Year 1 goes wide, covering the foundations of electronic music production. Year 2 goes deep as you build on the foundational knowledge of Year 1. Refine and hone your newly acquired skills. Grow your own creative toolkit. Develop creative practical skills for public presentation, music programming, mastering, audio production for media, composition and arrangement, mixing, and sound design.

• Become completely comfortable around recording and advanced studio components
• Learn advanced synthesis & electronic sound manipulation techniques
• Gather comprehensive knowledge of music production hardware and software
• Learn creative production techniques and electronic instrument design hacks
• Work on tools and approaches for public presentation and repertoire.
• Develop finely honed listening skills

Workshops

Creative Programming

Design and develop personal software tools for music creation and production with this introduction to the fundamental principles of applied creative programming within Max/MSP and Max4Live.

Sound Design II

A practical and theoretical exploration of electronic sound design, synthesis and sampling techniques since the mid-1980s. Workshops focus on digital audio design, techniques and generation methods with a varied repertoire illustrating the influence that technology and culture have on each other’s development.

Composition and Arrangement II

A practical exploration of prominent 20th century composition and arrangement frameworks that are strongly rooted in electronic music theory, practice and technology. The work in this workshop is based around the creation of musical pieces, group critique and personal reflection.

Ethnomusicology II

This workshop aims to connect popular electronic music and dance-floor culture and musical vocabulary with other conceptual ideas in electronic music, contemporary music and ethnomusicology. 

Mixing Practice

A deeper exploration of essential mixing techniques, approaches, tools and strategies including analogue mixing desks, listening practices and advanced signal paths. Explore how to orchestrate musical ingredients to convey a clear message and an emotional charge.

Critical Listening and Mastering

Develop critical and analytical listening skills for musicians, audio engineers and producers, through the technical and creative aspects of mastering audio. Explore tools and techniques to attain a well balanced finished product.

Entrepreneurship

An introduction to the opportunities for progression that enable artists and practitioners to expand their range of activities and support themselves financially. Students are encouraged to engage in roles in the music industry community taking into account their own needs, desires and future plans

Public Presentation

A follow on from the Year 1 performance workshop. Students will engage with extended methods of public presentation beyond the orthodox concert experience - defining unique performance setups, installation work and interactivity. 

Instrument and interface design

Develop unique custom instruments tailored for our specific needs through an exploration of the musical instrument, the importance of interface and playability and our creative interaction with music technologies. 

Development

Focus on your own work and apply the knowledge gained in other workshops to your own music and professional development. Discover and develop a clearly defined musical identity for yourself and the contribution you wish to make to your own musical community.  

Overview

Consolidate your creative practical skills. Define your artistic voice and present it to the world. Produce your own creative projects from conceptualisation to public release. Actively collaborate with like minded individuals. Establish a professional framework and launch yourself in the music scene with empowering personalised projects that prepare you for the real world and your chosen path.

Establish and own your own distinct and creative approach to electronic music production

• Manage your own creative projects from conceptualisation to realisation
• Fine-tune and define your focus and approach to your creative work
• Present your work to the public and establish yourself within the industry in Berlin and beyond
• Provide creative input to other’s work (sound design, tracks, composition, etc)
• Discover and develop new and innovative music production methodologies
• Achieve an internationally recognised BA Hons degree in Electronic Music Production & Performance

Projects & Modules

MAJOR PROJECT

Your major project is covered by the following modules. The module descriptions provide a starting place for how this project will look and feel however the full picture is entirely reliant on the individual choices you will make as a result of your time with us.

PUSH1: Frame

Produce and refine a proposal for your major project. Utilising skills and knowledge you’ve already acquired, set new challenges you don't yet know how to overcome. Be bold, be ambitious and take risks. Become a specialist in the area you are working, whilst producing a tangible outcome in a medium you can share with the world.

PUSH2: Invent

An intensive production period working on practical research, exploration, production, refinement and completion of your project. Overcome inevitable roadblocks and issues along the way in order to complete a finished artifact and receive weekly critique and feedback sessions to support your journey.

PUSH3: Launch

Develop and employ an appropriate strategy for getting your work out into the world. We want your project to connect with people in a way that is meaningful for you and that sets potential creative and practical foundations for your life after Catalyst.

MINOR PROJECT

Alongside your major project you’ll have a choice to make between two minor projects (PUSH4 or PUSH5) which will complete your honours year. 

PUSH4: Process (Option A)

Define, develop and provide a service/skill for an external client or collaborator. Document and reflect on the process in relation to professionality, communication, self-development, standards and expectations. Engage in real life collaboration, networking, client acquisition, communication & negotiation to further your own professional growth. Thought of in another way, imagine your work life starts now. What do you need to start out in a profession of your choice as a creative professional?

PUSH5: Dissertation (Option B)

A large scale research and investigation project culminating in a 10,000 word (+/-10%) written thesis. Define a topic/area that you’re passionate about and explore it with as much depth as possible, demonstrating an ability to understand the ideas of others, form your own ideas and opinions and present them coherently in a long form essay. 

However you measure it and whatever artistic realm you are working in, most creatives would like to achieve success with their creative endeavour. There are many types of success an individual may want to achieve. From successful completion of an artistic exploration all the way through to financial security and a global audience. 

There are many skills required to develop these dreams into real and practical futures. Our optional course in self-development and leadership is the ‘rocket fuel’ which will provide you with the frameworks, the focus and the drive to help realise your future.

Self development to better understand how to take decisive action, to communicate powerfully with others and take an honest look at how you limit yourself. Leadership to complete your creative project, to bring your work into the external world and to attract an audience to share, appreciate and follow your work. 

The employment model in the music industry has transformed over the last 25 years. Roles with permanent contracts do still exist but it is much more likely that you will work either as a freelancer or as part of a small startup on your way to professional creative autonomy.

The music industry never ceases to evolve and reinvent itself. We aim to provide you with an education that enables you to either be a change maker or to be capable of adapting and staying at the forefront of this change.

Here are some areas you may find yourself working in:-

Audio production, remix engineering, contemporary DJ performances, recording artist, performance artist, audio creation for events and brands, creative advertising, sample packs for labels and other artists, sounds installations, programmer, sound and music for games and film, interdisciplinary arts projects, working in related fields such as record labels, publishers, artist management companies to name but a few.

Our UK and Berlin centres have graduates working across the music industry from Abbey Road Recording Studios to the Glastonbury Festival and everything in between.

All applicants will be asked to provide: personal and educational information, documentation of their education experience, a portfolio or audition tape, and a personal introduction (which can be submitted as a written statement of motivation or a video/audio clip). 

MINIMUM ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

- Standard entry: graduation from high school at a level which would normally permit entry to university in the country where it was gained. This would be A-Levels in the UK and the Abitur in Germany, for example.

- Non-standard entry: We recognise that not all education happens in the classroom and it may be possible to admit you through a non-standard access route. If you do not possess the required formal qualification, but have acquired relevant professional or life experience, please contact our Admissions team.

If neither of the two categories above describe your situation, you'll most likely need to complete a short course to gain access to our 1 and 3-year HE degree courses.

LANGUAGE 

The language of instruction in all our courses is English and applicants must demonstrate a level equal to IELTS 6. We do not ask for official exam results, but we will assess the standard of English in your application and support materials.

For more information please contact our Admissions team and we’d be happy to discuss your opportunities to come study with us.

Course start: mid-September 2023

Application deadlines

• Round 1 - International (non-EU) and EU students - 31 March, 2023*
  * Non-EU students will need to apply for a student visa to live in Germany. The application process for this takes several months and you can only begin this process after you have been offered a place and enrolled on the course.
• Final deadline - EU students only - 31 May 2023

We offer two ways to pay:

• Single Payment Option:
  Enrolment Fee* €895 + Tuition Fee €9,855 = €10,750 per year**
• Instalment Payment Option:
  Enrolment Fee* €895 + Tuition Fee 10 instalments x €1,085.50 = €11,750 per year**

* Note- Enrolment fee is non-refundable. It is due every year as part of the total annual fee.
** BA degree = 3 years x total annual fee.

If you decide to enrol in both a 4-week short course and HE degree course (1 or 3-years long) with us, you will receive a discount of 500€ on the total tuition.

Get a feel for our school from the comfort of your home with our Virtual Open Days and skill-focussed Taster Workshops.

Hosted by our team and students, these online events will give you a sense of what it's like to come and study with us in Berlin.

We look forward to meeting you online soon!