Introduction
You want to learn your profession in the jazz city of the Netherlands. Learn all about the rich jazz tradition and do a lot of improvisation. You not only want to perform, you also want to create and produce. And all that preferably in an inspiring, attractive, and international environment. At Codarts Jazz you can develop yourself and become a technically strong and creative musician. You take classes with experienced teachers and guest teachers, you are supported in designing your study path, and by playing with others, by composing and arranging, by managing and researching, you learn how to prepare yourself for what is expected of you in your professional life as a musician/maker.
In addition to your regular classes there is plenty of room to experiment at Codarts Jazz. The wide range of study programmes (Pop, World Music, Classical Music, Music Theatre, Dance, Circus and Education) provides almost unlimited possibilities for cross-overs. For you this means a chance to explore various art forms and apply them in your practice. Besides taking classes and doing projects, let yourself be inspired by the lively Rotterdam jazz scene, with the world-famous North Sea Jazz Festival, the network event The Jazz Day, and the Festival Jazz International. You can gain stage experience on a daily basis, during the many jam sessions in Dizzy, BIRD, Stadsbrasserie de Doelen, or on our own stage in the WMDC building.
Our main subjects are: bass guitar, double bass, drums, flute, guitar, piano, Hammond organ saxophone, trombone, trumpet, composition, voice, and harmonica. Do you play an instrument that we are currently not offering classes for? Please tell us via jazz@codarts.nl and we’ll look into the possibilities of providing main subject classes for this instrument.
Year 1 - 2
The first year is a broad, basic year. Emphasis is on developing your technical skills.
- You take classes in your main subject, rhythmic training, solfège, practical solfège, piano/practical harmony, ensemble classes, home recording, entrepreneurship, music worldwide, and history, and you will work on a studio project.
- Each week you will play in two ensembles: one of these focuses on playing together, the other one on creating (composing/arranging).
- Solfège is an important subject this first year. A good hearing is essential to improvisation.
- You develop your versatility during projects in which you work together with other music departments, and dance and circus departments.
- You learn about recording techniques, do research into repertoire, and immediately apply what you’ve learnt in practice.
In the second year, the emphasis shifts to your independence as a performing musician. More is asked of you in the areas of entrepreneurship and personal development.
- You take classes in your main subject, rhythmic training, solfège, practical solfège, piano/practical harmony, ensemble classes, home recording, entrepreneurship, music worldwide, and history, and you will work on a studio project.
- You learn how to reflect on your learning process.
- You develop your entrepreneurial skills by making a business and marketing plan. In addition, you learn more about the practical sides of the profession, such as setting up your own company, and so on.
- You learn more about studio skills, about sound and the use of microphones, the recording process, and mixing and mastering.
- You have the opportunity to take part in an exchange programme abroad, supervised by Codarts’ International Office.
- During the second year we also work with other departments during the project week.
Year 3 - 4
In the third year, your individual research as a performer is the main focus. In consultation with your teachers and coaches you create your own profile, based on your talents and perspective.
- You take classes in your main subject, music theory, ensemble, and education (qualification to teach at music schools). In addition, you prepare your graduation paper and take part in projects.
- You develop your profile as a musician and learn to reflect on that.
- You choose a minor in order to deepen or broaden your profile.
- You work at the Brand New Jazz Festival. During this project you work on your own repertoire with a line-up of your own choice.
- For this project your coaches and fellow students are your sounding board.
- Programmers, bookers, and other people from the professional field also attend the festival. It is an excellent opportunity to show them what you’ve got.
- This year your teachers have more of a coaching role. By now you have a clear goal and you know what it takes to achieve it. You are more and more in control of what you wish to learn, and how.
- You have the opportunity to take part in an exchange programme abroad, supervised by Codarts’ International Office.
- By the end of the third year you draw up a proposal for your graduation research.
By the end of your studies you have become an experienced artist, maker, and entrepreneur who knows his profession from A to Z. The fourth year is one big preparation for graduating.
- Your graduation project consists of a theoretical part (paper) and the practical part (graduation presentation).
- You research a subject that is related to jazz and you write a paper on it, demonstrating that you possess the skills for doing proper research and know how to put your views in writing.
- You work closely together with coaches and external experts to prepare your graduation presentation.
- About this final presentation: in it you show how you present yourself to the world as an artist. You choose a form that fits your graduation profile (a common form is that of the live performance). You organise everything yourself, from the repertoire to the venue, from the stage setting to the PR/marketing.
- In this year you are already very active in the professional practice and you will have built a nice resume.
- You fill the free space in your study schedule with subjects of your own choice.
Dual Degree
Do you have an artistic talent, as well as a hunger for academic knowledge? You can now mix arts and academia in metropolitan Rotterdam. Codarts and her partners from the Rotterdam Arts & Sciences Lab offer you the possibility to combine theory and practice in a five-year Dual Degree programme. For more information, click here.
After graduation
After your graduation you will be a great musicians with a high artistic and entrepreneurial level. You are able to create your own place in the music industry and are active across the entire musical practice. Often you combine different qualities: playing in a band or as a soloist, working on music productions or working as a music teacher. During you study you will get to know our extensive network in the music industry from which you can benefit after you graduation. Some of our students continued their studies with a Master of Music. Jimmi Hueting (graduation year 2015), Jo Goes Hunting “That’s one of the things I learned during my Jazz study: played live, music can live, breeze and change. It may overwhelm and surprise you.” Click here for the interview with Jimmi.
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