Born Ernst Heinrich Franz Pepping in Duisburg, Pepping first studied to be a teacher. From 1922 to 1926 he studied composition at the Berliner Hochschule für Musik with Walter Gmeindl, a pupil of Franz Schreker.
Born Ernst Heinrich Franz Pepping in Duisburg, Pepping initially pursued a career as an educator. From 1922 to 1926 he studied composition at the Berliner Hochschule für Musik under Walter Gmeindl, who was a student of Franz Schreker.