The Institute For Music And Media (IMM) at the University of Music, Düsseldorf was founded in October 2004. The Institute is aiming to teach on the edge of innovative production and theoretical criticism of music and media on the base of an interactive and multidisciplinary environment involving dynamic exchange and co-operation among various departments through discourse, research projects and artistic development.

 

Currently, the IMM is organizing three different programs:

 

1. The art/compositing leg of the eight-semester-"Diplom"-certificate-course Audio- and Video-Engineering, offered in cooperation with the media department of the University of Applied Sciences Düsseldorf (FHD). This program will expire in 2013. No new students will be admitted into the program.

 

2. The Audio- and Video program (Bachelor of Engineering), offered in cooperation with the media department of the University of Applied Science Düsseldorf (FHD). It is an eight-semester-program.

 

3. The eight semesters Music and Media program (Bachelor of Music).

 

 

"Diplom"-Certificate Audio- and Video-Engineering, Dipl. Ing. (FH)

The "Düsseldorf School", as it is referred to in the industry, is looking back on a 50-year-long educational tradition. For many years, it was Germany's prime education for certificate sound engineers who wanted to pursuit a career in broadcasting, audio- and video-studios, as well as in developing laboratories for audio- and video-equipment. One of the special features of the program is the shared responsibility of two universities. It is a strongly unique project. The expiring Audio- and Video-Engineering "Diplom"-certificate-program is based on the idea of dual education. The new Audio and Video bachelor-program will continue to provide students these two aspects of the wide professional field of music and the music-industry: While the University of Applied Sciences Düsseldorf is providing a profound scientific and technical knowledge, the University of Music is offering art- and content-oriented classes.

 

Audio and Video, Bachelor of Engineering (B.Eng.)

The courses at the University of Applied Sciences Düsseldorf are installed to teach a very wide range of subjects: In addition of basic classes in math, IT, electronic-, measurement-technology, the University of Applied Sciences Düsseldorf offers acoustic, audio- and video-studio-, and multi-media technology-studies. Students are required to take a number of elective subjects like architectural acoustics, computer-animation, software developing, virtual reality, lightening- and security engineering. Business administration and management complete the wide range of studies. In addition to the scientific program at the University of Applied Sciences Düsseldorf, the University of Music offers art-oriented classes. The profound study and practice of a musical instrument are, of course, part of the course. Classes like ear training, compositional studies, orchestration, advanced hearing, instruments, musicology and music theory.

All core studies are a practice- and project-oriented education in audio and video compositing. Productions made in cooperation with the School of Opera or the University Orchestra will be planned, organized and executed by students only, including directing, musical directing, camera, sound- and video-tech, producing, DVD-production and multi-media-directing.

 

Music and Media, Bachelor of Music (B.Mus.)

The central goal of the Bachelor of Music and Media program is enabling students and graduates to work in the large range of professional positions within the music and media industry. We are providing orientation, start-up and career-advice throughout practice-oriented projects and vocational workshops. Graduates will be familiar with a realistic view of the full production process, including methods and techniques. During their studies, students are learning basic theory and its application to various professions and conceptual processes. Students' professional judgment is being trained in a historic and academic context. Complex assignments can be preceded with the high skills of critical analysis, concerning their economic and industrial value and structure. Students' sensory perception is being trained intensively. This will help building the students' professional instinct, description and classification of content and form of video- and audio-material in wide field of audio-video communication.

The artistic development is being deepened through intense instrumental training and practice. The training is helping students to find excess to their own creative abilities. Depending on their self-applied focus, they are learning to conceive, create, execute and produce creative work by themselves. Students are obtaining diverse social expertise, helping the development of team- and solo-work, in leading and executive-, as well as cooperative positions.

 

Occupations

While students in the Music and Media program are looking at future occupations in conception and production within the creative media, such as composers, authors, directors, editors, producers and managers, students in the Audio and Video program are being trained to start careers in technical professions such as: Engineering, development, technology, manufacture or technical direction. Occupations for graduates in Music and Media on the real market include: Music production, direction for radio plays, sound design, musical direction for film or stage, film score or commercial music composition, event design, VJ-ing, audio-visual conception and production, music management, music journalism and music supervision. For graduates of the Audio and Video program future professions include: Development engineer in audio- and video technology, manufacturing engineer of electronic instruments, sound engineering in the film industry, on-set sound mixing, applied audio- and video engineering in science and research, sound engineering, acoustic irradiation, theatre-tech, music production, music informatics, music-oriented software-development and DVD-production.

 

Master

A master-degree-program in Music and Media is in development and is expected to start 2013.

 

Cooperation

Cooperation between the University of Music Düsseldorf and Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg in Ludwigsburg and the Academy of Media Arts Cologne has been practiced successfully for many years. A large number of joint project have been produced within these cooperation. Finished products have grown to become a regular fixture in the German film and television scene.

 

Admission

An entrance examination is required for admission at the University of Music Düsseldorf - for the Bachelor-program Music and Media as well as the Bachelor-program Audio and Video. Terms of admission (in German) for both Bachelor-programs can be downloaded here as a PDF-file:

> Music and Media (Bachelor of Music)

> Audio and Video (Bachelor of Engineering)