u/Rude_Grape_8359

Hey everyone,

I’m looking for very high quality, expressive and “alive” orchestral/world instrument VSTs.

Mainly interested in:
- violins / strings
- expressive flutes and woodwinds
- Middle Eastern instruments
- Japanese instruments
- organic / emotional / atmospheric textures
- rare or soulful instruments in general

I’ve been trying SINE Player librariesand different Kontakt libraries…. but honestly they still didn’t fully hit what I’m looking for.

I’m less interested in “epic trailer orchestra” and more in something that feels deeply human, organic, intimate and emotional.

Are there higher-end plugins/libraries/platforms I may not be aware of?

Thank you.

Hey everyone,

I’m based in Berlin and looking for recommendations for teachers, mentors, schools, or even remote 1-on-1 studies around composition, harmony, arrangement, and emotional movement in music.

When I was younger I played in an orchestra for a few years, but over time I moved more into the electronic world… producing in Ableton, sound design, rhythm, textures, atmospheres, etc. Music has always been a huge part of my life, but I honestly forgot a lot of the formal theory since I haven’t practiced it deeply in years.

Now I want to take it much more seriously and professionally. I’m especially interested in understanding things like:
- tension & release
- emotional storytelling through harmony
- building happy/sad/deep atmospheres
- sophisticated chord progressions
- arrangement & energy shifting
- melodic movement and composition
- why certain harmonies emotionally hit the way they do

I’m not really looking for a jazz-oriented path (which is what I mostly find online), but something broader and more connected to electronic, cinematic, ambient, experimental, downtempo, leftfield, or emotionally driven music.

Open both to in-person studies in Berlin and remote mentorship with someone anywhere in the world.

Would really appreciate recommendations for people, schools, courses, or even the right wording/discipline I should be searching for.

Thanks a lot :)

Hey everyone,

I’m looking for recommendations in Berlin for in-person music theory / composition studies or private teachers.

When I was younger I played in an orchestra for a few years, and music has honestly been part of me since day one. Over the years I moved much more into the electronic world, producing in Ableton, exploring sound design, rhythm, atmosphere, etc. Because of that, I forgot a lot of the formal music theory since I haven’t practiced it deeply in a long time.

Now I’d like to take it more seriously and professionally again… not necessarily in a classical or jazz direction, but more around composition, arrangement, emotional movement in music, tension/release, harmony, energy shifting, building happy/sad/deep atmospheres, sophisticated chord progressions, scales, melodic storytelling, and generally understanding why music emotionally works.

Most of what I find in Berlin seems heavily jazz-oriented, which isn’t really my musical direction. I’m more interested in electronic music, cinematic/emotional composition, experimental music, ambient, downtempo, leftfield electronic, etc.

Does anyone know good schools, teachers, composers, arrangers, or programs in Berlin where I could study this in person?
Open to both structured studies and private mentorship.

Thanks a lot :)

Hey folks, :)

I am really into Outkast tunes from the early 00s more or less. The groove of Andre3000 is unbeatable. Which other artists I might like?
Thanks!!

Hi everyone,
I’m writing this because I feel like I’m losing my grip on who I am.

On paper, I’m doing great. I’m a successful engineer, and people around me genuinely love and appreciate me. But inside, I’m carrying the weight of a very painful childhood. As a kid, I struggled deeply with my identity (LGBT) and the lack of acceptance from my environment. I remember crying every single day for years as a child, feeling like there was no point to my life. I felt completely invisible and rejected and had to hide myself behind a character so people won’t suspect I am gay.

I’ve noticed a destructive pattern: when I meet people who are "larger than life", highly successful, world-travelers, or figures in the arts, I suddenly feel tiny. Even though I’m accomplished, their presence makes me doubt everything I’ve built. I find myself slipping into a "persona," acting out a version of myself that I think will earn their approval. It’s like I’m performing for validation to fill that void left by years of childhood sadness and the "loop" I never got to close with my late father.

I finally started seeing a therapist who specializes in EMDR and Hypnosis. We’ve had two sessions so far, but it’s been all talk. He’s gathering my history, and we haven't started any actual EMDR or hypnosis yet.
Is it normal to spend several sessions just talking before the "real" work starts?

I’m in so much internal pain and feel so desperate for relief that I’m starting to doubt the process. Has anyone else felt like they disappear or become a "character" to escape childhood trauma? Does it ever get better?
Thank you for listening.💔

Hey,
I’m currently looking for someone to join me in producing an album together - ideally a pianist or someone with a strong musical background and sense for harmony.

A bit about me:
I’m based in Berlin and have been involved in music for quite a while. About 1.5 years ago I received an offer from a known Berlin label to produce a 4-track release. I went through some personal issues and couldn’t make it, and since some time has passed it’s not guaranteed anymore, but I’m still in touch with the label owner and there’s definitely a realistic path to getting something released.

I also host a monthly radio show on a known radio in the UK, where I share and promote music including some of my own work.

Musically, I come from a classical background and used to play in an orchestra for several years, but grew up on psychedelic music in many forms. These days I’m more focused on electronic music in different forms, and this album would sit somewhere between electronic production and live instrumentation.

What I’m aiming for:
- Electronic foundation with live elements
Synth-driven, but organic (“Music From Memory” type of music)
- A love for groove and unusual rhythms (not just standard 4/4 — also things like 5/4, off-grid patterns, etc.)
- Some Middle Eastern influence (frame drums, percussion textures, etc.)

I’ve put together a short demo with 3 different sketches (link below). Please ignore the mastering… it’s more about the vibe. I played/produced everything myself (keys, bass, percussion, VST instruments like flutes, etc.).

What I’m looking for:
- A pianist or musician with a good understanding of music theory (scales, harmony, chord progressions, mood building)
- Someone who can bring emotional depth, melancholic, uplifting, or somewhere in between
- Someone who wants to create something meaningful first, not just chase a release, but build something real together

Ideally you’re based in Europe, Berlin would be perfect so we can meet and work in person.
I bring a lot of ideas, a wide musical taste, and a strong creative drive, but I’ve realized I work best when I’m building something with someone else. The goal is to find that sweet spot between your taste and mine and shape a cohesive album together.
If this resonates with you, hit me up with some of your work and a few words about yourself… would love to connect.

https://soundcloud.com/justademo-251287715/demo