Study programme

The Master of Music has three profiles: the Performer profile (for performing musicians), Composition profile (for composers) and the Creative performers profile. All profiles can be undertaken within the Classical Music, Jazz, Pop and World Music departments. In the World Music department you can, for instance, follow the Master in Tango. Within the Composition profile you could opt for the Master in Screen Scoring.  

During this master, you conduct research that has a close connection to your main subject. In the first semester you join a research group in which you produce a research design. In the following semesters, you attend monthly meetings supervised by a research coach. This coach offers you extensive feedback and you present the progress of your research on a regular basis. To conclude your research, you present the final results to a panel. Your results will be illustrated with video recordings as well as a written report that includes your research results.

The main subject is the key component of the Master of Music. You conclude the first year with a progress exam. For musicians this will be in the form of a concert, while composers will present their new work. At the end of the second year, you demonstrate your artistic and technical development in a public performance. Composers do this via a public performance at the composition festival.

Master of Music students take part in various ensemble or orchestra projects. For instance, in the Jazz department we form jazz ensembles you can play in, led by one of our renowned lecturers. If you study classical music, you’ll be offered a place in the symphony orchestra or in a chamber music ensemble. You can play in the OTRA ensemble in the Tango department, together with Bachelor students and lecturers. Composition students have their work performed by co-students. You are offered frequent performance opportunities throughout the year, both within and outside Codarts.

The Master of Music offers a lot of freedom and flexibility. You can choose from many elective courses and options to develop yourself in the field of music and design the majority of your curriculum yourself. At the end of each year, you present a portfolio in which you focus on the various elective courses and activities that you have undertaken during your study. Activities can vary from a concert tour to recording an album, for instance, whereas examples of elective courses include playing tango, producing a professional recording or following a crash course in networking.

Master of Music alumni are able to respond quickly to the changing music market. You will be able to organise both your own projects as well as perform in orchestras or ensembles. The current market requires musicians to be all-rounders who can manage a range of different activities simultaneously, such as working in a recording studio as performing musician or conducting academic research.