Our Jazz Drums main subject offers you a team of teachers, each with a unique expertise and approach, for a diverse and versatile learning experience. 

Joost Patocka is Benjamin Herman's regular drummer and has played with Rita Reys, Francien van Tuinen, Branford Marsalis, Hans Dulfer, Kurt Rosenwinkel, Nat Adderley and Ben van Gelder. Joost organises an annual jazz festival in his hometown of Aartswoud, produces the podcast 'Why everyone hates jazz' and is the creator and publisher of drum magazine 'Ouwe Kaas'. 

Mark Schilders is a versatile drummer and multi-instrumentalist producer. He graduated cum laude from Codarts and won the Erasmus Jazz Prize while still a student. Mark studied in New York at The New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music with music greats such as Amir Ziv, Jim Black, Reggie Workman and Ben Street. In 2014, he was chosen as 'New Maker' by the Dutch Performing Arts Fund. Since 2020, he has been creating and publishing new electronic-infused music under the name Fabrik, blurring the lines between the worlds of acoustic and electronic sonic music. Mark plays the drums for the Dutch electronic-jazz group WAAN and other ensembles. 

Sun-Mi Hong is no stranger to the jazz world. She has won prestigious awards, including the Edison Award in the National category for her album ‘A Self-Strewn Portrait’ and the SENA Dutch Jazz Competition. Her ensemble, the Sun-Mi Hong Quintet, explores the rich tradition of post-bop jazz while collaborating with international talents she has met in the Netherlands. Additionally, Sun-Mi has shared the stage with renowned jazz musicians such as Benjamin Herman, Yuri Honing, and Tineke Postma. 
 

We are continuously innovating and modernising our curriculum, placing a strong emphasis on technique and artistic expression. We also promote your creativity, self-development and an increased awareness of the changing music scene. This prepares you for a variety of career paths in the music world, ranging from performing to teaching and everything in between. 
 
Codarts has created a dynamic learning environment where we offer each student a personalised education plan. Your individual needs and interests guide our teaching. You also play in ensembles with 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. 

Codarts believes in developing your unique musical voice and equipping you with the skills to continuously improve yourself.  
 
In the third year we encourage you to create your own musical project. This will strengthen your mastery of the jazz tradition and challenges you to experiment with contemporary jazz music. As a student you have the opportunity to perform at the annual Brand New Jazz Festival.

Our alumni are active in various sectors of the music industry. Some have made their mark as performing artists, while others have become successful teachers, session musicians and cultural entrepreneurs. The variety of career options reflects the versatility of our curriculum and highlights the value of our comprehensive educational approach. 
 
Some notable alumni include Niek de Bruijn, Joost Kroon, Jimmi Hueting, Jens Meijer and Mark Schilders.

Our annual series of inspiring masterclasses offer you the opportunity to learn first-hand from renowned music professionals. These interactive experiences give you insight into the practical aspects of the music business, while also learning about the human side of the industry, where even the most acclaimed artists have to learn how to manage their own insecurities and challenges. This enriching and stimulating learning experience helps you grow as a musician and person. Recent masterclasses have been presented by well-known professionals such as Jeff Ballard, Nate Wood, Bill Frisell, Bill Stewart and Jorge Rossy. 

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!