Do you love music and have you always wanted to know how a song is created? 

Then this is the right place for you: during the fall break, you will learn key techniques for producing contemporary music on the computer. And with our collection of artworks from the exhibition Never Final! The Evolving Museum, you'll find the right inspiration for your individual creativity!

And this is what's on our CREATE YOUR OWN SONG program:

• Monday, October 27 | Turn old into new: Sample Flipping – Create a new track from snippets of existing music
• Tuesday, October 28 | Beat Anatomy: Drums & 808s – Find the perfect rhythm with drums.
• Wednesday, October 29 | The sound that stays: Build your Hook – Make your chorus unforgettable
• Thursday, October 30 | Song Journey - From Intro to Outro: Arrangement
• Friday, October 31 | Final Touch – Mixing & Finishing: Individual parts come together to form a harmonious whole. And: On this workshop day, we will perfect all the musical elements we produced during the first workshop days: Your song is ready!

Each session runs from 10 am to 1 pm

For young people aged 14–18
You can book each day individually; the course is not sequential.
Please bring your own USB stick to each class.
Tip: If you want to take home a fully produced instrumental beat at the end, participate in all five sessions!
 

How it works
mumok provides laptops and headphones so you can get started right away. Of course, you are welcome to bring your own laptop if you prefer. You will work with FL Studio (Fruity Loops) and receive step-by-step guidance from experienced musicians. We use royalty-free/Creative Commons samples so you can work without complications.
 

No prior knowledge required.
The workshops will be held in German.

If you have any questions, please contact Benedikt Hochwartner, curator for AI and Learning Systems: creative-learning@mumok.at

From Old to New: Sample Flipping

Geologists analyze rock samples, Historians uncover timelines through wood samples—and musicians “sample” sounds. In the first module of our music workshop, we dive into the art of sample flipping: the process of creating new tracks from snippets of existing music. Flipping samples isn’t just the foundation of hip-hop—it’s also a defining element of contemporary pop music.
Using professional software and guided by experienced musicians, you’ll learn how to select, creatively manipulate, and reinvent samples to make them your own. Pop culture insights included: Alongside the technical basics, a visit to our exhibition introduces you to the aesthetics and history of sampling as a cultural practice.

Beat Anatomy: Drums & 808s

Radio hits live off rhythm—and that’s exactly where this session begins. Together, we dive into the world of drums, basslines, and 808s, and learn how these sounds shape the heartbeat of a track. We start by exploring the five pillars of modern drum kits. What are they called—and more importantly, what do they sound like? 
With the support of your workshop leaders, you’ll then create your own drum loop: punchy, driving, and full of character. Along the way, you’ll practice active listening and gain insight into the creative process behind a contemporary artwork. 
Since we’re focusing on the foundation of a track—not on any single genre—this session is open to all musical styles. In the final phase, you’ll add a melodic sample to your track and carefully match its pitch and tempo (BPM) to your rhythm—step by step, live on your laptop.

The Sound That Sticks: Build Your Hook
What makes a chorus unforgettable?

In music, the catchy part that gets stuck in your head is called the hook—a musical hook that pulls you in and won’t let go! In this workshop session, you’ll learn how to turn a given melody into a distinctive chorus. Whether your vibe is pop, EDM, hip-hop, or rock—each participant works with sounds that match their personal style. The result? Hooks that not only stay in your head but also reflect your unique musical taste.
But it’s not just about the feeling—it’s about the technique, too: What exactly is a loop? How do pitch and BPM shape the character of a track? And what makes a song instantly catchy?

Song Journey: From Intro to Outro: Arrangement

The next section of the course takes us on a musical journey that covers the entire song structure. We start with the intro and move on to the verses and hook (chorus) before reaching the outro. This is not just about technical processes, but also about creative decisions: Which elements are used when, which transitions could work, and how is tension created? Participants learn how to structure and consciously shape musical ideas. The module shows how versatile and universal the principle of arrangement is in art—whether in music, painting, or architecture. 
For participants without their own material, a ready-made instrumental beat is available, which can be analyzed and individually arranged in the course.

Final Touch: Mixing & Finishing

In the last unit of the workshop, participants will put the finishing touches on their compositions. Mixing—the adjustment of the volume of individual elements—adds the finishing touches to the sounds. Participants will hear how individual parts come together to form a harmonious whole. They will learn how to create musical balance, remove distractions, and add missing elements. Is the clap too dominant? Is an instrument missing, or is a sound unneeded? Next, basic effects such as delay, reverb, and distortion are introduced to add depth and atmosphere to the sounds. Finally, if desired, the finished projects can be presented in class and listened to together.

Modern soundscapes set the tone at the mumok Sound Lab, so be sure to join in and CREATE YOUR OWN SONG!

Registration will be available shortly!