Our jazz trombone main subject is the oldest in the Netherlands. In the past 30 years, we have mainly focused on encouraging and facilitating the personal musical development of our students, allowing you to develop your unique artistic identity. 

Our curriculum focuses on improving your instrumental skills and encourages you to explore and embrace diverse musical genres, ranging from traditional jazz and bebop to Latin jazz and jazz rock.  

Experienced teachers, such as Ilja Reijngoud, Efe Erdem and Andy Hunter, accomplished artists with unique musical specialties, provide an extraordinary learning environment for beginning and advanced jazz trombonists. As a student you also have the option of taking elective group or private lessons with classical trombone teachers. 

As a trombonist you gain versatile performance experience by playing in large trombone ensemble, jazz ensembles, but also in Latin jazz and Brazilian ensembles. You will also play in the Codarts Big Band, which performs annually on one of Rotterdam's major stages. Over the last few decades, this Big Band has accompanied well-known musicians such as Maria Schneider, Rick Margitza, Nelson Faria, Marshall Gilkes and Bert Joris. These hands-on learning and performing experiences will broaden your musical horizons and give you a well-rounded musical education. 
 

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.

Our alumni are active in various musical projects and genres, a testament to the diversity and flexibility of our department. We see some of our alumni playing as soloists in the most prominent European jazz orchestras and teaching at renowned schools in the Netherlands and abroad.  
 
Some notable Codarts Jazz Trombone alumni include: Efe Erdem, Louk Boudesteijn, Victor Corea, Vincent Veneman, Maarten Combrink, Ebba Esman, Nabou Claerhout, Peter Delanoye, Frederik Heirman, Juanga Lakunza and Sigrun Jonsdottir.

In addition to our regular curriculum, we regularly organise valuable workshops and collaborative projects with renowned jazz trombonists from all over the world. Spanish musician Carlos Martin is a permanent guest lecturer. Conrad Herwig, Nils Wogram, Phil Abraham, Jiggs Wigham, Steve Turre and Marshall Gilkes are a few of the artists who have recently given a workshop. 
 
The big band regularly participates in joint projects with the Antwerp and Cologne conservatoires. Students can also take advantage of the Erasmus programme and participate in exchanges with other European conservatoires.

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!