If you are taking an instrumental or vocal main subject, you will receive lessons both individually and in ensembles and groups. As a future choral conductor, you will follow an individual route within the Classical Music department. As a composer, you will choose between composing for the stage and applied composition. Future carillon players will follow a large part of their programme in Amersfoort, at the Dutch Carillon School.
Besides your own main subject, you will receive:
• basic musical subjects
• ensemble playing in many forms
• masterclasses by guest lecturers
• projects and concerts, to gain concert experience
• an introduction to world music and community music
• profession-oriented subjects: ICT, presentation technique, written skills, audition and application training, the business side of professional practice and entrepreneurship
Your development as a musician and as a teacher go hand in hand. In the study programme, therefore, attention is paid to didactics and pedagogy, besides concentrating on musical skills. You will be teaching at a music school or cultural centre, for example, or in your private practice or in other regular forms of education. As a music teacher, you could also write about or explain music.
A producer cannot do without musical skills and insight into music. He or she must be able to transform the artistic vision of an ensemble into a music production. You will learn how to make this transformation. You will also learn how to arrange music. Naturally, you will also learn about the equipment and software that are important to music production. There are joint projects with the Music Technology department of the Faculty of Art, Media & Technology.
During the course, you will often work with other students and with teachers and coaches from various musical disciplines. You can take part in many different practical projects, such as playing in an ensemble or giving a concert.
Performing within the walls of the conservatoire is a safe, familiar practice situation. You can extend this to performances in one of the many venues in the city or region of Utrecht. Then, you will also be concerned with aspects such as choice of repertoire, rehearsals, organisation, logistics and public relations. For example, Utrechts Conservatorium has its own annual series of lunch concerts within the programming of Muziekcentrum Vredenburg, one of the main stages for classical music in Utrecht and in fact in the Netherlands.
If your main subject teacher and tutor agree, you can study abroad for a while. This usually takes place in your third or fourth year. There are many contacts and collaborations with other European conservatoires.
On completion of this course, you will receive a Bachelor of Music degree, and abbreviated to BMus after your name. There is a supplement to this certificate, which states which specialisation, subjects and projects you followed during your studies.
