Latin Wind Instruments
Study Latin Wind Instruments at Codarts and discover the unique world of Afro-Cuban and Afro-Brazilian music. Our collaboration with renowned teachers and our other music departments, such as Jazz and Pop, provides you with a broad cultural and musical experience.
Why study Latin Wind Instruments at Codarts?
Codarts is the only conservatoire in the world that offers you the opportunity to study Latin wind instruments as a main subject. Students looking to acquire first-class musical skills come to Codarts to learn from our highly qualified teachers, who are all active professionals in the national and international music industry.
This main subject focuses uniquely on wind instruments in Afro-Cuban and Afro-Brazilian music, with an emphasis on the trumpet, trombone, saxophone, clarinet and flute. In your studies you explore the prominent role of these instruments in Latin American music. Although at Codarts you can choose a variety of instruments, percussion is a mandatory curriculum component to help you learn the essence of Latin rhythms.
Our close ties with the Jazz and Pop departments, which share the same building, create an exciting learning environment that encourages students to mix and match across different genres and styles. These exchanges also provide aspiring musicians with invaluable performance experience and a large network of useful contacts.
Our programme
Codarts prepares students to become well-rounded and versatile artists. We achieve that with a tailor-made curriculum composed of three essential elements. First, we focus on the actual technical musical content as you learn how to play Latin music on your wind instrument. Next, we develop the artistic aspects of the genre, teaching you about the value of music, the purpose of art and how the concept of art and this genre interact. And last, but certainly not least, we cover the entrepreneurial component of the music business. Learn how the music industry works, what is expected of you as a musician, how to promote yourself and how to find your niche in the local or international artist scene.
As part of the curriculum, you study some of the most renowned Afro-Cuban and Afro-Brazilian wind instrument players. The connection with the countries and the culture that have given this music its origin is also important. And although we cannot replicate the original setting of Brazil or Cuba, Codarts offers students numerous opportunities to present and perform Latin music at events that certainly give a taste of the original context.
We are proud to see our alumni find their place in the music industry, playing on world tours with larger bands or performing at national and international festivals. Some students broaden their horizons by blending their Latin wind skills with other music styles, such as jazz.
An international port city with a multicultural population, Rotterdam is a magnet for diverse music and artists. The world music genre is also very popular across the Netherlands and in neighbouring countries Belgium and Germany.
Masterclasses
Our inspiring masterclasses are an integral part of the Latin Wind Instruments main subject at Codarts. We invite some of the best Latin wind players from the Afro-Cuban and Afro-Brazilian music scene to teach our students in an intimate, hands-on setting. These masterclasses not only enrich your learning experience, but also push the boundaries of your music education. Boost your musical knowledge and find inspiration by studying with music legends such as Dave Valentin, Diego Cortez, Arturo Sandoval and Amik Guerra!
"As a main subject teacher of Latin wind instruments, I'm inspired by Pythagoras, the man who is credited with defining the basis of music in Europe as we have known it for over 2,000 years: "The highest goal of music is to connect one's soul to their Divine Nature, not entertainment."
Alex Simu, main subject teacher Latin Wind instruments