Music for cello and piano – a concert recording by Gunther Tiedemann and Thomas Rückert. Their enthusiasm for South American music is one they share with many musicians throughout jazz history. For their program Con Alma (“With Soul”), they have selected not only works by South American composers but also pieces by Chick Corea, Dizzy Gillespie, and others whose music bridges their own approach to this musical world with the language of jazz.
Podcast
"UNVERHOFFT
MUSIKALISCH."
(Unexpectedly musical.)
PODCAST DESCRIPTION
This podcast is the result of over 30 years of teaching piano and my exploration of myself as a musician. I have found that collective patterns of behavior and beliefs block the free flow of music in myself, my students and colleagues, and feed anxiety, stress and stage fright.
My training in Somatic Experience, a trauma therapeutic approach by Peter Levine, led me to develop many tools to release these blocks.
I often use the term "nervous system" in this podcast, referring to our well-being and un-well-being in terms of fear, panic, trust, confidence and relaxation. The podcast is autobiographical in nature, as I can best explain the subject matter from my own experience and story. At the end of each episode follows a small exercise that you can easily follow and participate in if you wish.
A modern encounter with the songs of John Dowland. The fragile beauty of Renaissance melodies meets a world of improvisational clarity, subtle openness, and expansive sonic landscapes. Saxophone and piano gently weave together, creating a quiet yet radiant homage to melancholy, comfort, and the enduring timelessness of music. This project invites listeners into a space where old and new resonate with each other, allowing Dowland’s spirit to shine through in a contemporary, deeply emotive form.
Courses, seminars & workshops
NEW
Workshop · Oct 29 – Nov 1, 2026
UNEXPECTEDLY MUSICAL -
Experience music in a new way.
Experience yourself in a new way.
In this intensive in-person workshop, we embark together on a journey that will lead you step by step deeper into your musicality—whether you are a beginner, advanced, or professional.
Day 1 – Working with the “Unexpectedly Musical” Method
This is where your journey begins: In a safe and supportive space, you will learn to let go of old blockages and inner voices. Through mindful body and awareness exercises, you will discover your own sounds—free from shame, free from performance pressure.
Day 2 – Feeling Music Theory
Music theory without the headache: Together we explore how harmony, melody, and rhythm feel in the body. This transforms theory from dry knowledge into a vivid, lived experience that immediately opens new doors for your playing and singing. Having reconnected with your sense of feeling on Day 1, new pathways will now open for you to experience music theory physically.
Days 3 & 4 – Band Coaching in a Masterclass Format
Now it becomes practical: In a real band setting, you will experience what it means to truly play together. Each participant will be coached in a masterclass format—live, in front of the group, within a respectful and supportive atmosphere. You will not only learn from your own experience but also benefit from the coaching and insights of your fellow musicians.
By the end of these four days, you will take away not only new knowledge, but above all a new feeling for yourself and your music.
Join us and discover how free and natural music can be!
Getting Started
To take your first steps with my “Unexpectedly Musical” approach, you can try this exercise:
In my work as a lecturer at music universities, I have not only worked with pianists, but also extensively with singers, guitarists, drummers, bassists, saxophonists, and trumpeters—both at the master’s level and in band settings.
This workshop is especially aimed at bands who want to grow together. Individual participants are, of course, also very welcome.
No prior experience is required—what matters most is your openness to new experiences.
Schedule
Thursday, October 29, 2026 – Sunday, November 1, 2026
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Thursday, October 29: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM (incl. breaks)
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Friday, October 30: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM (incl. breaks)
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Saturday, October 31: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
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Sunday, November 1: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Location
o-ton Hall, Music & Project House K7A
Kyllstraße 7A, 50678 Cologne
Stefan Döring & Verena Guido
General Information
Participants: The workshop will take place with a minimum of 15 participants and is limited to a maximum of 30 people.
Costs: €220
Band special: €200 per person when registering as a band
Payment: After registration, you will receive all payment details. Your place is confirmed upon receipt of payment.
Cancellation:
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Free until July 20, 2026
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50% after that
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100% from 14 days before the workshop begins, unless your spot can be reassigned
Catering: Participants are responsible for their own meals. A kitchen is available on-site, and there are numerous restaurants nearby offering delivery.
Instruments: Please bring your own instrument (if transportable). A Steinway grand piano is available on site.
Note: Participation is at your own responsibility. The workshop is not a therapeutic offering.
Photo & Video: Photos and short videos may be taken during the workshop for promotional purposes. If you prefer not to appear, please let me know.
Registration & Questions:
I look forward to meeting you. ✨
Music beyond shame -
The role of the nervous system
in music
Are you a musician, hobby/amateur musician or do you love music?
Then you certainly know the feeling of being ashamed of making mistakes while making music, or even with fear and panic? How do you feel playing your instrument or even singing in front of an audience? Is this a relaxing idea or does the idea alone create discomfort? What are your memories of your instrumental or singing lessons as a child, as a teenager or now as an adult? Did you experience the fear of not being good enough there? Did you also hear as a child: "Shut up, your voice annoys me!"? Can you move freely in the music without stress and fear or do you constantly feel on guard not to make mistakes? Or do you dream of learning an instrument and fear that you are too old and untalented for it?
"Then stop holding on to early beliefs and behavior patterns that sabotage our heart's desire to express ourselves in music."
Thomas Rückert has been a music teacher and freelance musician for more than 25 years with a degree in jazz pianism from the University of Music and Dance.In addition, he completed two training courses - in Orgodynamics and Somatic Experience by Peter Levine, - teaching methods for trauma management. They inspired him to develop numerous techniques to release shame and fear in us while making music and to strengthen trust, aliveness and joy.
He uses this approach in his teaching activities as a lecturer for jazz piano at the Folkwang University of the Arts in Essen, the Bergische University in Wuppertal and the Institute for Music in Osnabrück. He also offers seminars and courses on this subject there, which are already very popular.
Thomas Rückert imparts these techniques in a relaxed, nonjudgmental and trusting atmosphere in a one-day seminar.
For more information you can listen to my podcast here:
What seminar participants say:
Alexandra
"The workshop with Thomas was a very important experience for me. It helped me to find my way back to myself and my personal expression when making music, so that I let myself be guided less by pressure to perform and feelings of stress. Since the workshop I have more confidence in singing again.
Thank you Thomas!"
Petra
"My most valuable insight from the workshop is that despite my excitement, yes, I am "functioning." This realization has something reassuring. Thus I am full of hope to feel my excitement as anticipation at the next performance. Putting this into practice will hopefully follow soon :-).
Thus, the previously negative touch has changed into something positive, with which so much has already been gained."
Jan
"We were directly helped by your seminar. Mareike incorporated ideas from it into her lessons on Monday and I try to remember the red blinds (Jan's positive resource) every day. Above all, I now approach my over routine differently and try to be much more mindful in rehearsals with fellow musicians. We will participate again anytime."
Patricia
"That I enjoyed the workshop day very much. Hopefully I was able to remember a lot to take it further for me and would be very happy about a second appointment. Above all, I think it's important that you not only learn to listen to yourself and pay better attention but also, in the best case, notice when someone else might need support now and you have suggestions and ideas to support them."
Annette
"Who is afraid of harmony theory? There is no guarantee that anyone who has completed a seminar with Thomas Rückert. Thomas turns music theory upside down; he transforms it into lived practice that incorporates the experiences of the seminar participants in an original way. That's fun and... awakens the joy of discovery. With a lot of competence, experience and empathy, he also provides a new, refreshing access to one's own musical resources. The seminar helped me to dissolve old, hindering beliefs and to trust my own body intelligence - all of this in an atmosphere that is determined by security and goodwill. Absolutely recommended –
Continuation desired!”
Nadine
"Thank you very much for the last Thursday evenings. I really enjoyed the sessions. It was particularly relaxing to experience and explore the topics, which are mostly conveyed purely on the mental level, on the body level. I can very well imagine that this inner "Exploring while making music leads to lasting greater body awareness, naturalness and relaxation. I would like to find out more about that."
Publications
*If you would like to purchase a CD, please send me a message
about the contact field or send me an E-mail (button "Buy now").
Music
Concerts, gigs, events, speeches & live streams
concert
Thursday, 12th, 2026
Inga Lühning - Daughters & Sons
Start: 8:00 pm
Admission: €22 / Reduced: €18
Kuktur- und Medienzentrum | Kl. Saal
Steinstr. 15
50259 Pulheim
Cologne-based singer and songwriter Inga Lühning presents her new album “Daughters & Sons” — ten personal songs written by herself and recorded with some of the finest musicians from the German jazz scene.
In her music, Inga Lühning explores themes of love, empowerment, and the small and big struggles of her life.
Inga Lühning (vocals), Thomas Rückert (piano, Fender Rhodes), André Nendza (bass), Marcus Möller (drums)a
concert
Friday, October 10th, 2025
Peter Dahms Prayana
Start 8:00 PM
Pre-sale: 20,– / Box office: 22,– €
Reduced*: Pre-Sale: 18 ,– / Box office: 20,– €
Inselkino
Noorderpad 25
26474 Spiekeroog
In Sanskrit, “prayāṇa” means departure. But “prayāṇa” also signifies a departure into a new shared world of sound. Four very different voices create a unique blend between jazz virtuosity and a world-music-inspired style.
*Concession information:
If a reduced ticket price is advertised for this event, the following groups are eligible for concessions: children up to 14 years, pupils, students up to the age of 27, trainees, and participants in voluntary services (BFD, FSJ, FÖJ). Eligibility must be proven with valid documentation (ID card, student card, etc.) at the entrance to the event.
concert
Saturday, October 04th, 2025
Julian Bosserts
TRISTANO
UNCHAINED
7:00 PM, admission 6:30 pm
Admission: 29,– / Concession: 26,– €
Prior registration required
Gallery hall – House for teaching
Burgstr. 20
53949 Dahlem-Kronenburg
Tristano Unchained combines inspiration from jazz history and film art. Named after the pianist Lennie Tristano and Tarantino's "Django Unchained", the quintet plays freely, without a setlist - each member can toast a piece that the others follow. This creates a multi-layered, polyphonic music experience full of Spontaneity and collective creativity.
• Stefan Karl Schmid - Saxophone
• Julian Bossert - Saxophone
• Thomas Rückert - Piano
• Calvin Lennig - Bass
• Fabian Arends - Drums
Colours of Jazz
On 31 May 2024, the jazz concert series "Colours of Jazz" will start in Neunkirchen-Seelscheid under the patronage of Mayor Nicole Berka in the foyer of the new self-study centre.
Renowned regional jazz musicians perform there, presenting jazz in all its facets. The mountain community thus strengthens its profile as a jazz hotspot and has been attracting an enthusiastic audience from the region for years.
Friday, 31 May 2024
Country Colours
Start 19:00 / 7 p.m.
Admission: 19,00 € , Reduced: 15,00 €
Location: Self-study centre
Walzenrather Str. 13
53819 Neunkirchen-Seelscheid
The opening act will be a dialogue between the two Seelscheid neighbours Frank Haunschild (guitar) and Thomas Rückert (piano). Under the title "Country Colours", the duo will present their own compositions and well-known jazz pieces.
Sunday, 07 July 2024
Mit anderen Worten
Start 19:00 / 7 p.m.
Admission: 19,00 € , Reduced: 15,00 €
Location: Self-study centre
Walzenrather Str. 13
53819 Neunkirchen-Seelscheid
Das zweite Konzert der Reihe trägt den programmatischen Titel „Mit anderen Worten“. Andreas Lambert (Vocal) singt Jazz-Standards mit
eigenen deutschen Texten, begleitet wird er von Thomas Rückert am Klavier
Saturday, 28 September 2024
Jammen mit Profis
Start 19:00 / 7 p.m.
Admission: 19,00 € , Reduced: 15,00 €
Location: Self-study centre
Walzenrather Str. 13
53819 Neunkirchen-Seelscheid
On 28 September, the workshop "Jamming with professionals" will take place, in which amateurs will play together with professional musicians and thus benefit from their knowledge. The result of this exciting exchange will be presented in a concert in the evening.
Thursday, 24 October 2024
Colours of
JAZZ
Start 20:00 / 8 p.m.
Admission: 19,00 € , Reduced: 15,00 €
Location: Self-study centre
Walzenrather Str. 13
53819 Neunkirchen-Seelscheid
The Bergische Jazzworkshop starts on 24 October with the
popular concert by the lecturers in the Antoniuskolleg auditorium. The line-up promises an extraordinary evening of jazz evening.
"Play Not,
what you know"
- Thomas Rückert audibly embodied the guiding principle of Lee Konitz. Improvisation unfolds in an adventure beyond concepts and clichés. For Thomas Rückert it is by no means about virtuosity, but about exploring new, energetic dimensions of sound - the exploration of space and width, energy and calm.
A constantly new, sometimes dense, sometimes light network of colors and lines unfolds in the listener's ears, reminiscent of Morton Feldman, Debussy, Skriabin, Arvo Pärt or Bill Evans.
That's what it says in the trade press:
Rueckert, Morgan, Arends
With this project, Thomas Rückert is realizing a long-cherished wish to play his new program with Thomas Morgan and Fabian Arends
Thomas Rückert and Thomas Morgan met in NYC in 1999 where they worked together and grew to like each other. Thomas Morgan is featured on many CDs from the ECM label, including with Paul Motian and Jakob Bro. Thomas Rückert and Fabian Arends have been valued trio partners for some time. Fabian is one of the most sought-after drummers on the German jazz scene.
The press writes about Thomas Rückert:
projects
Tiedemann & Rueckert
Gunther Tiedemann cello Thomas Rückert piano
Gunther Tiedemann and Thomas Rückert play - deliberately bold - their own music between free, direct improvisations and compositions. They are rooted in the jazz tradition and take a deep look into the traditional and contemporary music of their and other worlds. They are guided by the four big "I's": intuition, improvisation, intimacy, impression. And the three big "K's": sound, boldness, contact. And the two big "E's": expression, energy. And at the right time from that one big "G": Groove...
In 2017 they were guests at the "23rd New Directions Cello Festival" in Ithaca/New York (USA).
