We train you not only to become a skilled bass guitarist, but also give the skills to become an autonomous musician with the tools to continuously develop yourself. Broaden your musical horizons at Codarts and get ready for a career in the music world. Rotterdam, with its vibrant music scene, offers the perfect setting for this!

At Codarts we believe in the power of improvisation and the versatility of jazz music. We focus on contemporary and historical styles, using as our foundation the grammar of the jazz language, as it emerged in the 1940s/1950s with bebop. But jazz has evolved, and so has the bass guitar. Rising to popularity in the 1950s/60s/70s, the instrument has a very different history and brought a new dimension to jazz music. 
 
We bring these different elements together and build a bridge between the past and the present. We want you to discover your own voice and sound within this rich musical tradition.  

As a student you learn from teachers who each represent their own musical world and genre. An all-round bassist, Jeroen Vierdag teaches technique, and his classes focus on the connection between instrument and hearing.  
 
Alessandro Fongaro’s classes study building the melodies, rhythm, harmony and developing expressive skills. He also uses his experience as a band leader, composer and sideman to help students become well-rounded musicians.

In addition to offering interpretation lessons, our curriculum begins with technique lessons to strengthen your basic instrument skills. We emphasise repetition and application to achieve technical excellence. We also encourage you to explore your own musical preferences and passions and integrate these into your learning process. 
 
You also play in ensembles with your fellow students to experience a variety of jazz styles, ranging from bebop to jazz rock. These sessions are an opportunity to practice what you have learned and work on musical arrangements.

In the third year we encourage you to create your own musical project. This will strengthen your mastery of the jazz tradition and challenge you to experiment with contemporary jazz music. You also have the opportunity to perform at the annual Brand New Jazz Festival. 
 
Our goal is to help you become a self-sufficient musician who will thrive in the music world. As a musician, you are never finished learning. After four years at Codarts you will be able to continue to develop and perfect your skills without constant guidance. We want you to become your own 'teacher', capable of learning new music styles, improving yourself and being creative in your musical expressions.

Notable Codarts alumni include Daniel Eskens, Dean Montanaro, Mees Booden and Chiel van Rijn.  
 

We value our masterclasses and collaborations with well-known artists and teachers. These hands-on sessions allow you to learn from the best and build your network in the music industry.  

Michael League, Panagiotis Andreou and Meshell Ndegeocello are a few of the well-known artists who have recently taught a masterclass.

Our holistic 'Team Around the Artist' approach at Codarts ensures broad support for our students, while our focus on the quality of professional working relationships creates an atmosphere of pride and community. 

The Jazz, Pop and World Music departments are all housed in the same building, so you can immerse yourself in a lively and stimulating musical learning environment with like-minded people We actively promote and encourage this cross-pollination between different musical disciplines to help you become a more versatile artist. Our modern facilities, including state-of-the-art recording and rehearsal studios, give you the tools to further explore and develop your musical creativity. 

Rotterdam's vibrant music scene offers you plenty of opportunity to discover and absorb the city's musical diversity. The annual North Sea Jazz Festival even has a stage that hosts several bands from Codarts!

We have also created opportunities for students to collaborate with other learning institutions, venues and major events, such as the Willem de Kooning Academy, Erasmus University Rotterdam, Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences, Lantarenvenster, BIRD, Jazz International Rotterdam and the International Film Festival Rotterdam. At Codarts you will find many opportunities to expand your musical and artistic horizons!