Handpan Retreat with Malte Marten

This handpan retreat with Malte Marten is a five-night gathering at Schloss Elmau in Krün, Bavaria, for players who already have some time with the instrument. It is pitched at beginner-plus to intermediate level, and it is a chance to slow down, play a great deal, and deepen your handpan playing in a quiet alpine setting. Malte describes it as the only retreat he is offering this year.

What to Expect

The retreat moves through the different parts of handpan playing, with space left for playfulness and intuition. Sessions with Malte Marten cover:

- Grooves and rhythms: finding flow and ease in your playing
- Patterns and structure: understanding how melodies and rhythms connect
- Expression: bringing more emotion and personality into your music
- Improvisation and composition: exploring your own musical ideas
- Jamming and playing together: the pleasure of making music in a group
- Stroke techniques: simple, effective ways to refine your touch and sound

Malte says teaching is never just about technique. It is about supporting people in expressing something real and personal through their music. His approach is hands-on and free of pressure, and he teaches from experience rather than from rules. Nobody has to prove anything. You bring curiosity and a love for the sound of the handpan.

About Malte Marten

Malte Marten was born in a small town in Germany, in a culturally rich environment that encouraged his early interest in music and spirituality. As a child he was drawn to several instruments, especially guitar and piano, and he spent hours listening to the sounds of nature and exploring the emotional depth of music. His family supported his artistic pursuits. As an artist he has developed a sound that draws on ambient, folk, and world music, creating soundscapes that invite introspection and connection.

The Setting

The retreat takes place at Schloss Elmau, surrounded by nature and deep silence, which suits a gathering about listening and letting go. All rooms are in the Hideaway section of the hotel. Room options include single rooms, a single junior suite, and a junior suite shared by two guests.

Breakfast is served daily. Each person also receives a dinner voucher for every night of the stay, redeemable for food in the hotel restaurant. Guests have full access to the spa and wellness area.

Before You Go

This retreat is for people with some experience on the handpan, from beginner-plus to intermediate. You do not need to be perfect, only open to learning, exploring, and enjoying the music. Beginners who have spent some time with the instrument may find the pace suitable, but it is not designed as an introductory course.

The retreat is held in English so that international participants can follow along comfortably.

Included:

- Five nights of accommodation at Schloss Elmau
- Daily breakfast
- A nightly dinner voucher per person, for food in the hotel restaurant
- Full access to the spa and wellness area
- Handpan rental for the entire retreat
- All retreat sessions and offerings with Malte Marten

Not included: travel to and from Schloss Elmau, and meals beyond breakfast and the nightly dinner voucher.