Year 1 - 2

The first year is a broad introductory year focusing on essential areas of study:

• Principal study: development of technical and artistic skills.
• Projects: you are a member of an ensemble, orchestra or choir, if possible in collaboration with other departments.
• Theory including harmony, analysis, counterpoint and music history. This helps you to better understand the pieces that you play or sing.
• Performance: you take part in the ‘open podia’ (‘open stages’) at Codarts and present yourself as a performing artist.

During the second year you broaden and deepen your knowledge and skills, both in theory and in practice.

• You get many major lessons, next to the theory, analysis and music history lessons (as in year 1).
• Introductory course in teaching. You learn how to transfer knowledge to a variety of target groups.
• A new subject this year is Music Worldwide. You learn about a wide range of musical styles.

Year 3 - 4

Year 3 offers you the chance to develop your strengths and make choices towards your future career. Your musical personality becomes more and more defined. This year includes:

• A choice of minors from a large and diverse offering. From entrepreneurship to homerecording and conducting.
• Continued classes in theory, analysis and history of music.
• Working towards a historically informed performance. You explore and experience how music was performed in its time: a must for every musician.
• You take an introductory course in teaching. You learn how to transfer knowledge to a variety of target groups.

This is your graduation year, when you demonstrate your abilities as a highly qualified and original performer.

• At your lecture recital you present a piece of music that you have analysed and rehearsed, demonstrating that you know how to analyse your compositions. You also show your presentation skills and originality as a performer.
• Another important project this year is the writing and presenting your graduation paper.
• As in year 3, you choose a number of minors from a large and diverse offering.
• In May or June you present yourself as a performing musician in a final recital. In a concert of roughly one hour you perform various styles of playing or singing in front of a jury and audience, both solo and in an ensemble.

Double Degree

Do you have an artistic or a musical talent, as well as a hunger for academic knowledge? You can now mix arts and academia in metropolitan Rotterdam. Erasmus University Rotterdam (EUR), Willem de Kooning Academy (WdKA) and Codarts offer you the possibility to combine theory and practice in a five-year Double Degree programme.
The Double Degree programmes allow you to simultaneously develop your artistic or musical talent, as well as your academic ambitions. After completing the Double Degree programme you will receive two bachelor degrees: one from Erasmus University Rotterdam (Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science) and one from Codarts or WdKA (Bachelor of Music or Bachelor of Arts). The length of the programme is five years.

For more information, click here.

After graduation

The Department of Classical Music trains musicians who combine robust craftsmanship with an open, adventurous and entrepreneurial attitude. Our graduates are active across the entire musical practice: from symphony orchestra to musical orchestra, from opera company to wind instrument ensemble. Many Codarts alumni combine their work as a performing musician with teaching. They either have their own teaching practice or their work at music schools. Some continued their studies with a Master of Music or a Bachelor of Music in Education.

Marleen A-tjak, (graduation year 2013),
now a second-year student of Master in Music (viola)
‘As a Master’s student I’m mainly occupied with research. This immersion broadens your view of the subject. (…) After Codarts I hope to obtain a position in an orchestra. It’s wonderful to create something beautiful with others.’