Artist Training - Course: MUSIC

This Artist Training MUSIC course is designed for musicians, newcomers to the Berlin music scene, and artists at risk who want to expand their artistic practice beyond performance and develop sustainable ways of working in a new cultural environment. The workshops are designed to provide practical tools for developing artistic projects, presenting work professionally, promoting music through digital platforms, creating visual content, building collaborations, securing performance opportunities, organizing independent concerts, and understanding key aspects of working as a self-employed musician in Germany, including KSK and GEMA. Each workshop combines practical exercises, discussion, and peer exchange, enabling participants to apply new skills directly to their own artistic practice. The course supports artists in refining their artistic direction, expanding their professional networks, and building sustainable ways of working within Berlin’s independent music scene.

Facilitator: Niki Yaghmaee is a Berlin-based violin/viola player, composer, producer originally from Tehran, Iran. He is the founder of Duos Duet and Borderless Creatures. His artistic practice combines classical string instruments, experimental music, live looping, field recordings, and electronic production. Alongside his artistic practice, he curates concerts and cultural events, develops educational programs for independent musicians, and creates visual and social media content for his own artistic projects as well as promotional campaigns for other artists and cultural organizations.

Program:
Monday, 10 August 11:00 – 15:00: Building Your Artistic Project
Wednesday, 12 August 11:00 – 15:00: Presenting Your Work Online
Monday, 17 August 11:00 – 15:00: DIY Social Media for Musicians
Wednesday, 19 August 11:00 – 15:00: Algorithm-Friendly Visual Content: Creating Music Videos
Monday, 24 August 11:00 – 15:00: Collaborative Creation: From Idea to Sound
Wednesday, 26 August 11:00 – 15:00: Booking Opportunities in Berlin

Deadline for registration: 3 August 2026

Venue: Universität der Künste Berlin, Berlin Career College / Zentralinstitut für Weiterbildung, Bundesallee 1-12, D-10719 Berlin, room 341

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ARTIST TRAINING is a consulting and further education program at the Berlin University of the Arts for artists at risk. The aims are to network in the cultural and creative industries as well as in the UdK Berlin, to qualify for strategic positioning in the respective artistic field and to provide advice on further professional development. Since 2016, a total of 54 basic and in-depth courses have offered information and contacts to over 800 participants from the following sectors Music, Visual Arts, Performing Arts, Film and initially also Cultural Journalism. 2020 - 21 Educational films, workshops, excursions and advice on basic topics were offered at three other locations (Babelsberg, Hamburg, Hanover). Parallel to this, a series of events and podcasts on institutional transformation processes were created.
The project Access Art Schools Berlin in cooperation with the Hochschule für Schauspielkunst Ernst Busch is funded from April to December 2025 by special funds for participation for refugees, Senate Department Berlin.

More information:
www.udk-berlin.de/ziw/artisttraining
www.facebook.com/artisttraining.udk.berlin
artist.training