Past teaching
Online teaching: Composer Circle
I lead the Composer Circle, a small cohort of people who are committed to growing as creative humans and encouraging each other in this endeavor. You can read about it on its own page,
I also do individual teaching and coaching.
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Topics may include but need not be limited to:
- electronic and experimental music composition, theory and history
- audio software programming (Max, Max for Live)
- interface design and best practices for concerts, theatre and installations
- listening skills
- developing your artistic voice through suitable practices and workflows
- and artist coaching in a more broader way.
- workshops for schools and festivals
My experience ranges from University seminars and mentorships to primary school workshops.
I teach in German, English, and French.
Private lessons may take place face-to-face or online.
Accommodation for visiting students can be provided for free. I'm also happy to travel.
I regularly teach or organize experimental music and media art projects for schools. See here for a few documentations.
As of January 2018 I am in charge of music educaton/mediaton at Musikfestival Bern, the city's major contemporary and experimental music festival.
contact: tobias(at)tobiasreber.com
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Selected references:
19.01.24 «Listening Class»
Hochschule der Künste Luzern HSLU
05.12.23 «Die Kunst des Umwegs»
Lecture-performance and discussion
«Die Kunst des Umwegs», Musikakademie Basel, FHNW
2019 - 2023
Ears at Work
music mediation project for Zuhören Schweiz in collaboration with various social institutions in cities across Switzerland. artistic and pedagogical lead.
2023
Musikfestival Bern «Wurzelzeichen»
head of music mediation, various formats including school workshops, online teaching, school workshops, artist talks, transdisciplinary formats and more.
2022
Lucerne University of Applied Sciences (HSLU)
CAS Musikvermittlung
guest lecturer on "listening"
2022
Swiss Chamber Music Festival
Adelboden, CH
concert moderation
2022
Musikfestival Bern «unvermittelt»
head of music mediation, various formats including online teaching, school workshops, radio shows, and more.
- Vermittlungsangebot Musikfestival
2020-2021
Composing with Max
weekly online class on algorithmic composition
see course description here
2021
Swiss Chamber Music Festival
Adelboden, CH
school workshops, concert moderations
2021
Musikfestival Bern «schwärme»
head of music mediation, various formats
- Vermittlungsangebot Musikfestival
2020
Swiss Chamber Music Festival
Adelboden, CH
school workshops, sound walk, concert moderations
2020
Musikfestival Bern «Tektonik»
head of music mediation, various formats
- Vermittlungsangebot Musikfestival
2019
Swiss Chamber Music Festival
Adelboden, CH
listening workshop, sound walks, concert moderation/interview
2019
Musikfestival Bern «rauschen»
head of music mediation, various formats
- Vermittlungsangebot Musikfestival
- Vermittlungsangebot Radio Antenne
2019
Musikvermittlung Schweiz+
Presentation on Handyensemble Thun, with Thomas Jacobi
2019
MA Contemporary Arts Practice, HKB
invited guest for an interview and discussion on art, media and media arts
2018
Handyensemble Thun
Educational project for Tönstör with 20 kids at Gymnasium Thun, Switzerland
Sound walks, using mobile phones as 20+ channel sound system, feedback networks, etc.
- Newspaper article with images
- Blog entry describing a sound walk on the first day of the project
2018
Swiss Chamber Music Festival
listening class, concert moderations/interviews
- Photography by Sabine Burger
2018
Musikfestival Bern «unzeitig»
head of music mediation, various formats
- Vermittlungsangebot Musikfestival
- Vermittlungsangebot Radio Antenne
2018
external student mentor, Berne University of the Arts
2018
Winterreise Remixed
educational project for 8th grade students
Studying and remixing Schubert's "Winterreise"
co-teaching with Felicitas Erb and Christine Grossenbacher
2018
Composing music for theater with Borderlands and other tools
Five day class for 9th grade pupils, Münchenbuchsee CH
Co-teaching with Christine Grossenbacher
2018 - ongoing
Music educator/mediator for Musikfestival Bern.
2017
"Composing with Borderlands Granular" workshop for teachers, ICT-V-Tagung, PH Bern
2017 - 2018
Live and beyond
Guest lecturer (fall term), HKB Sound Arts
A seminar exploring Ableton Live's lesser known compositional features and the ways in which Ableton Live and Max 8 (not Max for Live) can interact.
2017
Workshop "Das Zuhören lernen - vom Schubladenhören zum Klangerleben" ("Learning how to listen"), 3h
Swiss Chamber Music Festival, Adelboden CH
2014 - 2017
Assistant lecturer at the Sound Arts departement
Hochschule der Künste Bern / University of the Arts Bern
student mentor and "Electronic Ear Training" seminar
Website / Facebook
2017
013_untersich
Moderation of two evenings discussing experimental music pieces that attendees shared and put up for discussion. For by Pakt Bern
2017
Composing music for theater with Borderlands and other tools
Five day class for 9th grade pupils, Münchenbuchsee CH
Co-teaching with Christine Grossenbacher and Eliane Baumann (theater)
2016
Irritationen: Musikvermittlungsprojekte in der Schule
Irritationen: Music mediation projects in public schools
Two 90 minute presentations and Q&A with Christine Grossenbacher
Pädagogische Hochschule PH Bern, Fachbereich Musik, Masterstudiengang Sek1
2016
WhatsApp-Ensemble: Calimeros Ringtone Remix
Based on original and derived motives from the Calimeros Schlager "Ich hab genug von deinen Lügen". Performed by music students of the Hochschule der Künste Bern (HKB) at the award ceremony for the cultural and music education awards of the city of Bern, October 2016
Documentation / Booking
2015 - 2016
Artistic director and teacher for educational project Irritationen II, Bern, October 2015 - April 2016
Documentary video:
Radio feature on Radio RaBe, March 31st, 2016
2015
"Composing with Borderlands Granular"
Workshops for Kids for Migros Kulturprozent / bugnplay.ch, all across CH
co-teaching with Christine Grossenbacher
photo credit: Shusha Niederberger / HeK
More images from the workshop at Haus der elektronischen Künste Basel
2015
"Instant Satie"
Composing generative musique d'ameublement
with a Max patch for Disklavier and Computer
Hochschule der Künste Bern, Zukunftstag 2015
photo credit: Kristina Herbst
2015
Student mentor (2 months)
MA Scenic Arts Practice, Hochschule der Künste Bern (HKB)
2015
"Introduction to Composing with Max", 2 day class
Taktung Festival 2015, Zürich CH
2014-15
student mentor
Institut für Musik, Hochschule Osnabrück, D
2014
First student visiting from abroad for two days of intensive studies
2014
"Introduction to Composing with Max", 2 day class
Institut für Musik, Hochschule Osnabrück, D
2013 - 2014
Artistic director and teacher for educational project Irritationen, Münchenbuchsee, October 2013 - June 2014
Website: www.irritationen.weebly.com
Blog entry: Listen I
Blog entry: Listen II
Blog entry: Otodate
Blog entry: Irritationen at Dampfzentrale
Blog entry: Poster
Newspaper feature "Lieder in den Dingen wecken" (Der Bund, german)
2013 - ongoing
Touch guitar teaching in Biel
2013
Fall term
Hochschule der Künste Bern (HKB) / University of the Arts Berne
project mentor at the MA in Contemporary Arts Practice
2013
July 22 - 27
teaching touch guitar technique at the Touch Guitar Circle summer course, Inzing, A
2013
Hochschule der Künste Bern (HKB) / University of the Arts Berne
teaching electronic music ear training, composition and personal lessons at the BA in Music and Media Arts and MA in Contemporary Arts Practice faculties from April to June.
2012
co-teaching a workshop for 84 eighth grade pupils with the Aargau Symphony Orchestra
2012
Davos Festival: 3.5-day class on creating an introductory lecture-performance for Karlheinz Stockhausen's "Mantra" (1970) in collaboration with Barbara Weber. classes from August 6-9, workshop concert August 9.
for more info on the course contents please see this blog entry.
for more pictures of the performance rehearsal see this blog entry.
2011 - ongoing
private lessons in composition and music software programming
2011 - ongoing
Tönstör Laptop Ensemble for Teenagers
most recent performance at Lange Nacht der Elektronischen Musik, Dampfzentrale, Bern
For a rehearsal snapshot see this blog entry.
For more pictures of the performance see this blog entry.
This concert was reviewed in "dissonance #119" (pdf, german)
photo credit: Samira Zribi
2012
Tönstör: "Bildbrechung"
a 30 minute concert performed March 29 & 30 at at Casino Bern, opening for the Berne Symphony Orchestra
Here's a recording of the first piece, "Bildbrechung(-Brechung)", Roland Moser's orchestral work "Bildbrechung", remixed live using 21 mobile phones. A documentary blog entry describing the thoughts behind the piece can be found here.
Video excerpt:
2011/2012
"Would you like to KISS?"
weekly one-term practical seminar
Hochschule der Künste Bern HKB, Y-Institute for Transdisciplinarity
co-taught by Alain Jenzer and Tobias Reber
exhibition of student projects at F11, Bern
2011
Tönstör Laptop Ensemble
debut performance "Sprachlos" - music for modern dance, performed at Dampfzentrale Bern
Music: Tobias Reber, performed by the Tönstör Laptop Ensemble
Dance: Marcel Leemann Physical Dance Theatre & 9th grade students
2010
Tönstör: "Abwalden", a 30 minute concert performed twice as part of the Biennale Bern 2010
Feature/Interview in Bieler Tagblatt (jpg, german)
2010
Tönstör: "Vrruckt", performed at Dampfzentrale Bern
2007
MyCulture - 50 Jahre Migros Kulturprozent
musical coaching for the finalists' projects
2006
Recorders & Live Electronics
two day workshop and performance project for children aged 6-12, co-taught by Sabrina Frey and Tobias Reber, Blockflötentage Schaffhausen 2006