Beyond 12 Tones. Discover New Melodic Possibilities.

What makes a melody perfect? And why should we limit ourselves to the Western 12-tone system?

Vahid Hosseini—sitarist, pianist, and composer—introduces you to the intonation system of Persian music and its relationship to the natural harmonic series. Learn how microtonal intervals and alternative tuning systems can expand your compositional palette and bring new emotional depth to your music.

What You’ll Explore:

• The intonation system of Persian classical music (dastgah modes and intervals)
• Microtonal intervals beyond Western equal temperament
• How Persian tuning relates to the natural harmonic series
• Practical applications in contemporary composition and production
• Integrating Persian melodic concepts into Western instruments and DAWs
• Emotional and expressive possibilities of microtonal music
• Notating and performing microtonal melodies

Walk out with new ears. You’ll hear intervals you’ve never consciously listened to before—and know how to use them in your own music.

No prior knowledge of Persian music required. Just curiosity and open ears.

Workshop Details:

 Date: [25.04.2026]
 Time: 10:00 – 16:00 (6 hours with lunch break)
 Location: Berlin School of Sound, [ACUD]
 Group Size: Limited to 12 participants
 Level: All levels welcome (composers, producers, instrumentalists)

What’s Included:

• Introduction to Persian modal system (dastgah)
• Listening examples and live sitar demonstration
• Practical exercises in microtonal melody writing
• DAW integration techniques (tuning plugins, MIDI microtuning)
• Course materials and reference recordings
• Coffee, tea, and course documentation

What to Bring:

• Your instrument (optional – piano/keyboard helpful but not required)
• Laptop with DAW (optional – for microtonal production techniques)
• Notebook for exercises
• Open mind and curious ears

Price:

€120 Regular
€99 Students (valid student ID required)

About Your Instructor: Vahid Hosseini

Iranian-born composer, sitarist, and pianist based in Berlin, specializing in the intersection of Persian classical music and contemporary composition. Vahid bridges Eastern and Western musical traditions, bringing microtonal thinking and Persian modal systems into modern compositional practice. His work explores how ancient tuning systems can inform new music.

Who This Is For:

✓ Composers seeking new melodic vocabulary beyond Western scales
✓ Producers interested in microtonal music and alternative tunings
✓ Instrumentalists exploring expressive intonation
✓ Sound designers looking for unique tonal palettes
✓ Music theorists curious about non-Western systems
✓ Anyone feeling limited by 12-tone equal temperament

No prerequisites:
Never studied music theory? Never heard Persian music? Perfect. We start with listening and build from there.

What Makes This Different:

Most Western music education treats 12-tone equal temperament as universal truth. Vahid shows it’s just one choice among infinite possibilities—and introduces you to a sophisticated, ancient alternative that’s deeply rooted in natural acoustics.

You’ll learn not just theory, but practical application: how to write, perform, and produce music using Persian intervals in contemporary contexts. This isn’t about imitating Persian music—it’s about expanding your creative toolkit.

Real-World Applications:

• Composition: Access new emotional colors and melodic shapes unavailable in Western scales
• Film scoring: Create authentic Middle Eastern atmospheres or unique hybrid sounds
• Electronic production: Program microtonal synthesizers and samplers
• Performance: Understand expressive intonation on fretless instruments, voice, strings
• Sound design: Generate tonal palettes nobody else is using
• Academic work: Deepen understanding of music as a global, pluralistic practice

Why Persian Music?

Persian classical music has one of the world’s most sophisticated microtonal systems, refined over centuries. Unlike Western equal temperament (which divides the octave into 12 identical steps), Persian music uses intervals derived from the natural harmonic series—creating melodies that resonate with the physics of sound itself.

Once you hear these intervals, Western tuning will never sound quite the same.

Ready to Expand Your Musical Palette?

Spots are limited to 12 people. Workshop runs with minimum 6 participants.

[BOOK YOUR SPOT – €120] [STUDENT PRICE – €99]

Questions? Email: fromzerotohero@berlinschoolofsound.com