The Master of Music is a two-year course with a study load of 120 study points. It is also possible to follow the Master of Music part-time. The part-time programme takes 4 years and has a yearly study load of 30 credit points. The Master of Music has 2 pathways: Performance and Music Design.
In order to be accepted for this pathway, you must have completed a professional music course at bachelor’s level. There are various courses within the Performance pathway:
• Performance
Within this course, you can specialise in: Ensemble, Orchestra, Solo or Accompaniment (for piano and harpsichord).
• Jazz & Pop programme
• Conducting
• Carillon
• Music & Arts Education
• Composition
• Church Music
• Entrepreneurship
• Opera
• Community music & arts
More about the Performance pathway
Within the Music Design pathway, you can specialise in Composition, Music Production, Music Technology and Sound Design. You can follow this pathway if you have successfully completed a Bachelor’s course in composition, music production, music technology, sound design, or a similar course.
More about the Music Design pathway
As a student, you are expected to have an independent attitude and working method, which will continually be tested on a clear and well-founded vision of the future. You will describe this vision of the future – your own focus on and vision of your future professional practice – in a study plan.
More about the study programme
If you wish to put yourself forward as a candidate for the Master of Music, you must have completed a professional music course at Bachelor’s level. To apply for admission, you should fill in an application form and submit it along with a letter of motivation, in which you explain your study goals, and your CV. A broad-based admission committee will assess whether you can be admitted on the basis of an audition, interview and the documents submitted. You must also be able to show that you have completed a professional music course in the Netherlands or a similar course abroad before 1 September of the new study year.
• personal study plan
• personal coaching by tutor, supervisors and teachers
• practice-oriented research
• practice-oriented internship
• contacts with the professional field: venues, music organisations, etc.
• training in business and organisational skills
• masterclasses and clinics
And within the Pathway Music Design, also:
• Interdisciplinary projects in cooperation with animation, modern dance, theatre, film, games, fine arts, et cetera.
• Artist in residence projects
• Collaboration with the Music Design research group: presentations and conferences.
The Master of Music is given at Utrechts Conservatorium (for Carillon at the Dutch Carillon School in Amersfoort) and at the Faculty of Arts, Media & Technology in Hilversum.
The Performance pathway is offered by the Utrechts Conservatorium (Faculty of Music). The Music Design pathway is offered by the Faculty of Art, Media & Technology.
The Composition specialisation is offered by both faculties: Composition for the Stage is taught at the Utrechts Conservatorium and Composition for the Media and Composition Electronic Music at the Faculty of Art, Media & Technology.
The language of instruction is Dutch or English. Some subjects are only given in English. Students from abroad are required to have a good command of English. Proof of a pass in the IETLTS or TOEFL test is part of the admission procedure (for more information, see Application, the Utrecht Conservatoire). Other languages are possible for the (individual) main subject, depending on the teacher of the main subject.
You can get more information about the Master of Music during the open day. For further information about the Master of Music at Utrechts Conservatorium, you can contact the tutor of this course, Linda Scheeres: linda.scheeres@muziek.hku.nl.
For more informatio about the programme at the Faculty of Art, Media & Technology, you can contact the course leader Mr. Jan IJzermans: jan.ijzermans@kmt.hku.nl.
