Alexander Mercks

Berlin-based handpan artist and teacher whose grounded improvisations, compositions and learning tools focus on emotional clarity and personal musical expression.

Alexander Mercks is a German handpan artist and educator based in Berlin. He discovered the instrument in 2014 and developed much of his early public work through Yatao, the duo formed with Malte Marten. After years of touring and collaborative performance, he expanded his solo practice through recordings such as Osmosis and through teaching centred on improvisation, listening and the gradual formation of a personal musical voice. His playing often combines grounded rhythmic structures with melodic development and emotional restraint, allowing complexity to emerge without losing clarity. Through HandpanPal and other educational formats, he translates intuitive playing into practical exercises that remain open to individual interpretation. His work therefore connects professional performance, composition and accessible pedagogy, with a particular interest in helping players move beyond memorised patterns.