Prof. Dr. Michael Ahlers

21335 Lüneburg, Universitätsallee 1, C16.216
Fon +49.4131.677-2581, michael.ahlers@leuphana.de
Professor*in, Professorship of Music Education, in Particular Popular Music
Assoziierte/r, The Future Centre of Teacher Education

Table of contents for this page

Vita

Education

2008                            Ph.D. at University of Paderborn with the research topic:  ‚Interface-Problems in Music Education: Historical and Empirical Studies on the Usage of Sequencer Software in Music Classes‘ 

1999–2001                   Additional Studies of Musicology at Musikhochschule Detmold

1995–1999                   Studies of Education with the subjects Music and German at University of Paderborn  

Academic Positions

09/2012                       Full Professorship for Music Education, in particular Popular Music, Leuphana University Lüneburg

Since 06/2012              Administration of a Professorship of Music Education, Leuphana University Lüneburg

09/2010                       Professorship (part-time) for Music Education focusing on Digital Media, Leopold-Mozart-Zentrum, University Augsburg

Since 09/2009              Academic Advisor (part-time) at University Paderborn 

Since 02/2005              Research Assistant, University Paderborn

2001–2005                   Editor-in-Chief of the Journal ‚Musikunterricht und Computer‘ (computers in music education), Lugert Publishing House

Teaching

Music Education, Music didactics, Musicology, Popular Music Studies.

Research Interests

Analysis and Didactics of Popular Music, Music and new media, Music on the internet, empirical music pedagogy, musicology, popular music studies. Research on interfaces in music making, music production, creativity and improvisation.

Projects

  1. dialoguing@rts – Advancing Cultural Literacy for Social Inclusion through Dialogical Arts Education
    Michael Ahlers (Project manager, academic) , Anita Jóri (Coordination)
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    Project: Research

  2. MI-RAP - Music Industry Resilience Acceleration Programme, Subproject 8
    Michael Ahlers (Project manager, academic)
    →

    Project: Research

  3. „ComeArts. fortbilden durch vernetzen - vernetzen durch fortbilden. Gelingensbedingungen diversitätssensibler, digitalisierungs- und digitalitätsbezogener Fortbildungsmodule für die Fächer Kunst und Musik in Community Networks. Teilprojekt Leuphana Universität Lüneburg
    Michael Ahlers (Project manager, academic)
    →

    Project: Research

  4. Digitalität – Diversität – Producing: Praktiken populärer Musik in Schule und Weiterbildung . Teilprojekt Leuphana Universität Lüneburg
    Michael Ahlers (Project manager, academic)
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    Project: Research

  5. ComeArts | fortbilden durch vernetzen – vernetzen durch fortbilden
    Esther-Marie Hall (Project staff) , Michael Ahlers (Project manager, academic)
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    Project: Transfer (R&D project)

View all projects

Publications

Books and anthologies

  1. Popular Music Songwriting as Cultural, Creative and Economic Practice: Songwriting von populärer Musik als kulturelle, kreative und ökonomische Praxis
    Michael Ahlers (Author) , Jan-Peter Herbst (Author) , Knut Holtsträter (Author) , 2025 Münster , 304 p.

    Research output: Books and anthologies › Collected editions and anthologies › Research

  2. Digitales Lehren und Lernen im Fachunterricht: Aktuelle Entwicklungen, Gegenstände und Prozesse
    Michael Ahlers (Editor) , Michael Besser (Editor) , Poldi Kuhl (Editor) , Christian Herzog (Editor) , 2023 Weinheim , 327 p.

    Research output: Books and anthologies › Collected editions and anthologies › Research

  3. Musikmachdinge im Kontext.: Forschungszugänge zur Soziomaterialität von Musiktechnologie
    Michael Ahlers (Editor) , Carsten Wernicke (Editor) , Benjamin Jörissen (Editor) , Martin Donner (Editor) , 2022 Hildeshelm , 304 p.

    Research output: Books and anthologies › Collected editions and anthologies › Research

  4. Not Ready to Make Nice – Macht und Bedrohung in der populären Musik
    Michael Ahlers (Author) , David-Emil Wickström (Author) , 2021 Dortmund

    Research output: Books and anthologies › Special Journal issue › Research

  5. Crises at Work: Potentials for Change?
    Michael Ahlers (Editor) , Jan-Peter Herbst (Editor) , 2021 , 110 p.

    Research output: Books and anthologies › Special Journal issue › Research

View all publications

Journal contributions

  1. Hybridität im Musikraum.: Theorien und Beispiele zum "neuen Normal"
    Michael Ahlers (Author) , Finn Joris Brunken (Author) , Esther-Marie Hall (Author) , Christoph Stange (Author) , 26.02.2026 , in: Diskussion Musikpädagogik, 2026, 109 , p. 1-8 , 8 p.

    Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review

  2. Songwriting Under Pressure: Songwriting Camps as Manifestation of Technological and Social Acceleration
    Carsten Wernicke (Author) , Michael Ahlers (Author) , 15.01.2026 , in: Sustain : journal of sustainability and futures in music education, 1, 1 , p. 1-31 , 31 p.

    Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review

  3. Negotiating Standards and Songwriting Myths in the Age of Platformisation: Sessions, Camps, and Their Functional Rules and (Media) Formats
    Michael Ahlers (Author) , Carsten Wernicke (Author) , 01.01.2025 , in: Popular Music, 44, 1 , p. 23-42 , 20 p.

    Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review

  4. Kompetenzorientierte Seminarbausteine für adaptives Klassenmusizieren: Eine Analyse aus der Perspektive des Handlungsmodells adaptiver Lernunterstützung
    Esther-Marie Hall (Author) , Michael Ahlers (Author) , 19.03.2024 , in: PFLB - Zeitschrift für Schul- und Professionsentwicklung, 6, 2 , p. 24–42 , 19 p.

    Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review

  5. Pop als Angebot: Fachliche und didaktische Überlegungen für die Grundschule
    Michael Ahlers (Author) , 15.02.2024 , in: Grundschule Musik, 2024, 109 , p. 2-6 , 5 p.

    Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Transfer

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Contributions to collected editions/anthologies

  1. Zur Bedeutung von Medienbildung für musikalische Bildung
    Michael Ahlers (Author) , Marc Godau (Author) , 04.03.2026 , p. 34-36 , 3 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/anthologies › Contributions to collected editions/anthologies › Transfer › peer-review

  2. Musikkulturen, Nachhaltigkeit und Klimabildung
    Wolf-Georg Zaddach (Author) , Michael Ahlers (Author) , 19.10.2025 Wiesbaden , p. 265-283 , 19 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/anthologies › Contributions to collected editions/anthologies › Education › peer-review

  3. From Sheet to Beat: Creativity and Composition as Useful Content for (Digital) Lifelong Learning
    Philipp Ahner (Author) , Michael Ahlers (Author) , Wilfried Aigner (Author) , Sabine Chatelain (Author) , Sandrine Desmurs (Author) , Daniel Hug (Author) , Peter Mall (Author) , Benno Spieker (Author) , 23.09.2025 Rum/Innsbruck , p. 189-205 , 17 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/anthologies › Article in conference proceedings › Research › peer-review

  4. Musikwirtschaft: "Chest always to puffed guy"
    Michael Ahlers (Author) , 22.09.2025 Bielefeld , p. 87-104 , 18 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/anthologies › Contributions to collected editions/anthologies › Education › peer-review

  5. Classroom music in Germany as praxis and object: Innovative approaches and early findings
    Esther-Marie Hall (Author) , Michael Ahlers (Author) , 29.05.2025 1 ed. New York , p. 117-129 , 13 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/anthologies › Chapter › Research › peer-review

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Activities

  1. Disputation im Verfahren der Dissertation von Liza Neukirch "Anknüpfungspunkte finden: Untersuchungen zur Wissenschaftskommunikation in der Musikpädagogik"
    Michael Ahlers (Reviewer)

    Activity: Academic Consultant › Research

  2. Über-diszipliniert und leidenschaftlich diskursiv
    Michael Ahlers (Speaker)

    Activity: Conference Presentations › Research

  3. Shaping Musical Futures: Perspectives on Post Digital Music Education
    Michael Ahlers (Speaker)

    Activity: Conference Presentations › Research

  4. Abschluss des Promotionsverfahrens Gernot Preusser
    Michael Ahlers (Reviewer)

    Activity: Academic Consultant › Research

  5. Abschluss des Promotionsverfahrens Thomas Köhn (Zweitgutachter)
    Michael Ahlers (Reviewer)

    Activity: Academic Consultant › Research

View all activities

Press / Media

  1. Musikszene sieht sich durch KI bedroht
    1 Media contribution

    Press/Media: Press/Media

  2. Songwriting Camps: Wie Hits am Fließband entstehen
    1 Media contribution

    Press/Media: Press/Media

  3. Meldung: Kooperatives DFG Projekt zu Songwriting Camps im 21. Jahrhundert
    1 Media contribution

    Press/Media: Press/Media

  4. Deutschlandfunk "Kompressor": Artifical Intelligence bei der Talentsuche im Pop
    1 Media contribution

    Press/Media: Press/Media

  5. "Wenn ich die Augen schließe, bin ich 21" - Roger Daltrey und The Who wieder auf Tour
    1 Media contribution

    Press/Media: Press/Media

View all press/media coverage

Prizes

  1. Visiting Professor an der Universität Huddersfield
    Michael Ahlers (Recipient) ,

    Prize: external Prizes, scholarships, distinctions, appointments › Research

  2. Visiting Professor at the University of Huddersfield
    Michael Ahlers (Recipient) ,

    Prize: external Prizes, scholarships, distinctions, appointments › Research

  3. Erfolgreiche Förderung des transdisziplinären Lehr- und Forschungsprojektes "Digitale Medien zwischen Kunst, Musik und Pädagogik" durch die Virtuelle Hochschule Bayern. (40.000 Euro)
    Michael Ahlers (Recipient) ,

    Prize: external Prizes, scholarships, distinctions, appointments › Education

  4. Forschungspreis der Universität Paderborn.
    Michael Ahlers (Recipient) ,

    Prize: external Prizes, scholarships, distinctions, appointments › Research

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Courses