Open Music Lab offers free production courses to anyone who wants to learn making their own music. Together with its sister project Open Music School, Open Music Lab aims for bringing diversity to the music scene and making it more equitable. Our music mentors and community members are experts drawn from Berlin's vibrant music scene. Either as instructor or learner, Open Music Lab offers a wide range of activities in the field of production to music enthusiasts.

The Open Music Lab is a space where anyone can learn how to create, record, and share. All of our workshops and courses are free of charge for the students and offer a place for Berlin’s diverse communities to connect and create together. We are an inclusive community that empowers people to make their own music with the vision of building a more equitable music scene.

What is the Open Music Lab about?

The Open Music Lab was born from the realization that many marginalized communities face structural barriers and discrimination, which can hinder their access to and opportunities in the music industry. Music education can often feel exclusive due to the high costs associated with learning, as well as the equipment and tools required to make music.

We are trying to find ways to counter these problems and believe music creation needs safer, more accessible spaces where cultural differences are celebrated. We are committed to including and supporting refugees, asylum seekers, people who identify as female, non-binary and LGBTQI+, people of colour, and people with disabilities. Our music mentors and community members are experts from Berlin’s vibrant music scene.

Open Music Lab activities

We provide weekly workshops on specific topics, ranging from building a basic microphone to learning to mix and master a track, from learning about harmony and scales to writing your own lyrics, from sampling to using synthesizers.

We also run beginners’ courses in music production, radio, and DJing, as well as more advanced courses for experienced musicians.

Time and location of activities

We run regular activities either at Refugio Berlin or Refuge Worldwide.

Please sign up to our newsletter for OML’s current workshops here.

Get involved with the Open Music Lab!

Donate to sustain our work!

We need your support to cover the expenses for equipment, instruments and the space used for our classes and workshops. We appreciate all donations, big and small and you can choose a one-time donation or set up regular monthly or yearly contributions. You can donate by following the instructions on this page.

Donate equipment and instruments for learners and instructors!

We are constantly growing and changing to meet the needs of our community and instrument donations help us to offer free tuition to more people. You can send/drop off donations to Give Something Back to Berlin e.V. office address: Lenaustrasse 4, 12047 Berlin, or simply get in touch to organise pick up.

Teach at the Open Music Lab!

We are always looking for friendly, passionate and patient people who have a good understanding of their instrument to join our pool of volunteer teachers. You do NOT have to be an expert, have years of teaching experience or commit to many hours per week. We support people with musical skills to share with others, and giving just one hour a week can be really helpful.

Contact

If you are looking for new friends, you might find them here! Join us! Our classes are relaxed, social, and a safe place for everyone. Find out more information about the Open Music Lab here: https://www.openmusiclab.org

For inquiries related to the Open Music Lab contact us at openmusiclab@gsbtb.org