Simon Asmus is a senior lecturer in practical piano instruction for schools, arrangement and improvisation at the Mozarteum University. His work brings together classical music, jazz and pop, both in his teaching and in his own musical practice. His research focuses on improvisation, harmony and scale theories.
Simon Asmus studied music theory (MMus) and secondary education (MEd), specialising in jazz piano, at the Hanover University of Music, Drama and Media (HMTMH) and Leibniz University Hannover. His teachers included Frank Märkel, Guido Heidloff-Herzig and Raphael D. Thöne.
After completing his studies, he worked as a research assistant at the Hamburg University of Music and Theatre (HfMT) before moving to Salzburg. He also teaches music theory and aural training at HMTMH.
His research interests include style-based improvisation on keyboard instruments, late-Romantic harmony, particularly in the music of Richard Wagner, and scale theories in jazz.
In his teaching, he emphasises the practical connections between classical composition, jazz and pop music, with a particular focus on applying these ideas at the instrument.
As a pianist, Asmus performs in a variety of contexts. He appears as a soloist, often improvising, and plays in big bands, jazz ensembles and rock and pop bands. He also performs gospel and classical church music on the piano and organ. His work in classical music focuses on accompaniment.
- Studium Gymnasiallehramt - Musik und Ev. Theologie (MEd) und Musiktheorie (MMus) an der HMTM Hannover
- Förderung durch die Studienstiftung des Deutschen Volkes, das Deutschlandstipendium und den Richard-Wagner-Verband Hannover e.V.
- Arbeit als freischaffender Pianist und Organist in der klassischen und Popularmusik
- Seit 2025 Lehrbeauftragter für Musiktheorie und Gehörbildung an der HMTM Hannover
- 2025-2026 Wissenschaftlicher Mitarbeiter für historische Musikwissenschaft an der HfMT Hamburg
- Seit 2026 Senior Lecturer an der Universität Mozarteum Salzburg