Master of Music | Global Musics
The Master of Music in Global Musics at Codarts is designed for musicians and composers who wish to deepen their expertise in diverse musical genres and traditions, through practice. Whether you focus on performance, composition, or research, this programme supports your artistic development, encourages critical engagement with global musical heritage and fosters meaningful intercultural collboration.
Redesigned in 2025, the programme reflects the breadth and richness of global musics today. The curriculum is flexible and student-centred, enabling you to shape a pathway that aligns with your specific artistic and research goals.
A Flexible and Personalised Curriculum
As a student in the Global Musics master's programme, you may specialise in one or more musical traditions. The programme currently offers two principal areas of focus:
Caribbean and South American (CaSA) Music, including:
CaSA Caribbean Music
CaSA Brazilian Music
CaSA Tango Music
Music of the Silk Roads, including:
Maqam Music
Folk & Modal Traditions along the Silk Routes
Each area integrates performance, artistic research, and contextual inquiry, supporting you in positioning your practice within both historical and contemporary musical landscapes.
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CaSA Cuban & Caribbean Music
The CaSA area within Global Musics brings together musical traditions from the Caribbean and South America through three interconnected pathways: CaSA Tango Music, CaSA Brazilian Music, and CaSA Cuban & Caribbean Music. Each pathway offers in-depth engagement with specific traditions, their histories, and contemporary practices, while recognising their shared roots in migration, diaspora, and cultural exchange.
Students may choose to focus on one pathway or to combine elements across CaSA areas, developing an artistic trajectory that reflects both depth and connection. The programme encourages dialogue, supporting research-driven practice, ensemble collaboration, and creative exploration across musical, cultural, and geographic boundaries.
CaSA at Codarts values respect for origins, responsibility in artistic practice, and openness to new forms of expression preparing students to work thoughtfully and professionally within a globally connected musical landscape.
CaSA Cuban & Caribbean Music
The CaSA Cuban & Caribbean Music pathway offers an in-depth engagement with the musics of Cuba and the wider Caribbean, understood as interconnected yet distinct cultural ecosystems shaped by African diasporic histories, Indigenous continuities, colonial encounters, and contemporary global movement.
Students work with specialised teachers and guest artists to develop advanced skills in performance, rhythm, ensemble practice, improvisation, arrangement, and stylistic fluency. Equal importance is given to embodied knowledge, oral transmission, and contextual understanding, recognising these as central to Caribbean musical practices.
Students can join classes to critically reflect on issues of heritage, migration, power, and representation, particularly in relation to how Caribbean musics circulate and transform within European and global contexts. Rotterdam’s cultural landscape provides a living environment in which these questions can be explored through practice.
The Master’s pathway is flexible and grounded in Artistic Research, enabling students to deepen their existing expertise or to immerse themselves in Cuban and Caribbean music from another musical background. Research trajectories may focus on genre-specific study, creative innovation, or intercultural artistic dialogue.
Graduate Profile
Graduates of the CaSA Cuban & Caribbean Music pathway:
Show advanced artistic and stylistic mastery in Cuban and Caribbean musics.
Engage ethically and creatively with tradition and contemporary practice.
Collaborate with awareness and responsibility across musical and cultural settings.
Develop professional paths as performers, creators, educators, and artistic researchers.
Teachers:
Pedro Luis Cosme
Bassist · Cuban and Caribbean musical traditionsNils Fischer
Percussionist · Cuban and Caribbean percussion traditionsJesús Hernández
Guitarist, tres player, bassist · Cuban and Caribbean musical practicesMarc Bischoff
Pianist, arranger · Cuban and Caribbean ensemble and theoretical contextsMartin Verdonk
Percussionist · Batá and Cuban-derived percussion practicesSofia Nakou
Vocalist · Cuban and Caribbean vocal traditionsThomas Böttcher
Pianist · Ensemble performance within Cuban and Caribbean traditionsEnrique Firpi
Drummer, percussionist · Afro-diasporic and Latin American rhythm traditionsCarlos Matos
Pianist, composer · Cape Verdean and transregional musical practicesLuis Rabello
Pianist · Brazilian classical piano traditionsMiro Herak
Vibraphonist · Improvisation-based and ensemble practices across traditionsAlex Simu
Clarinetist, saxophonist · Improvisation, composition, and ensemble practicesMark Alban Lotz
Flutist, composer · Improvisation-led and transregional performance practicesValeria Mignaco
Vocalist · Voice technique and contemporary vocal practicePablo Rodríguez
Violist · Ensemble practices across South American and Caribbean musicsElena Baker
Arts and heritage curator · Decolonial, community-centred cultural practiceJuliana Martina
Vocalist, Caribbean and Latin American traditions; multilingual artistic practiceAlan Palacios
Storyteller, poet, researcher · Decolonial and Latina/o/x aesthetic frameworks -
CaSA Brazilian Music
The CaSA area within Global Musics brings together musical traditions from the Caribbean and South America through three interconnected pathways: CaSA Tango Music, CaSA Brazilian Music, and CaSA Cuban & Caribbean Music. Each pathway offers in-depth engagement with specific traditions, their histories, and contemporary practices, while recognising their shared roots in migration, diaspora, and cultural exchange.
Students may choose to focus on one pathway or to combine elements across CaSA areas, developing an artistic trajectory that reflects both depth and connection. The programme encourages dialogue, supporting research-driven practice, ensemble collaboration, and creative exploration across musical, cultural, and geographic boundaries.
CaSA at Codarts values respect for origins, responsibility in artistic practice, and openness to new forms of expression preparing students to work thoughtfully and professionally within a globally connected musical landscape.
CaSA Brazilian Music
The CaSA Brazilian Music pathway supports musicians who wish to engage deeply with the diverse musics of Brazil while developing an individual artistic voice grounded in practice, context, and research. The pathway recognises Brazilian musics as plural, living traditions shaped by Indigenous knowledge systems, African diasporic histories, European influences, and contemporary urban practices.
Students develop advanced skills in performance, ensemble playing, rhythm, improvisation, arrangement, and stylistic interpretation. Attention is given to transmission practices, rhythm, embodiment, and the relationship between music, language, movement, and community.
The Master’s trajectory is personalised and centred on Artistic Research, allowing students to investigate specific genres, regional practices, or creative questions. This may include developing new ensemble formats, recontextualising traditional repertoire, or exploring the role of Brazilian musics within contemporary global and intercultural settings.
Graduate Profile
Graduates of the CaSA Brazilian Music pathway:
- Demonstrate advanced artistic and stylistic competence in Brazilian musical traditions.
- Engage creatively and critically with tradition through research-informed practice.
- Collaborate effectively in diverse musical and intercultural environments.
- Build sustainable careers as performers, creators, educators, and artistic researchers.
Teachers:
Daniel Montes
Guitarist · Brazilian popular music traditionsMarijn van der Linden
Cavaquinho player · Choro and samba traditionsElizabeth Fadel
Pianist · Brazilian classical and popular repertoiresMaxim Zettel
Percussionist · Brazilian rhythmic and ensemble practicesLilian Vieira
Vocalist · Brazilian popular vocal traditionsÁlvaro Ruiz
Guitarist, composer · South American and Brazilian musical contextsAngelo Ursini
Saxophonist, composer · Brazilian popular and contemporary practicesRafael Pereira
Saxophonist · Brazilian performance practice and music historyUdo Demandt
Drummer, percussionist · Brazilian and transregional percussion practicesEnrique Firpi
Drummer, percussionist · Afro-diasporic and Latin American rhythm traditionsCarlos Matos
Pianist, composer · Cape Verdean and transregional musical practicesLuis Rabello
Pianist · Brazilian classical piano traditionsMiro Herak
Vibraphonist · Improvisation-based and ensemble practices across traditionsAlex Simu
Clarinetist, saxophonist · Improvisation, composition, and ensemble practicesMark Alban Lotz
Flutist, composer · Improvisation-led and transregional performance practicesValeria Mignaco
Vocalist · Voice technique and contemporary vocal practicePablo Rodríguez
Violist · Ensemble practices across South American and Caribbean musicsElena Baker
Arts and heritage curator · Decolonial, community-centred cultural practiceJuliana Martina
Vocalist, Caribbean and Latin American traditions; multilingual artistic practiceAlan Palacios
Storyteller, poet, researcher · Decolonial and Latina/o/x aesthetic frameworks -
CaSA Tango Music
The CaSA area within Global Musics brings together musical traditions from the Caribbean and South America through three interconnected pathways: CaSA Tango Music, CaSA Brazilian Music, and CaSA Cuban & Caribbean Music. Each pathway offers in-depth engagement with specific traditions, their histories, and contemporary practices, while recognising their shared roots in migration, diaspora, and cultural exchange.
Students may choose to focus on one pathway or to combine elements across CaSA areas, developing an artistic trajectory that reflects both depth and connection. The programme encourages dialogue, supporting research-driven practice, ensemble collaboration, and creative exploration across musical, cultural, and geographic boundaries.
CaSA at Codarts values respect for origins, responsibility in artistic practice, and openness to new forms of expression preparing students to work thoughtfully and professionally within a globally connected musical landscape.
CaSA Tango Music
The CaSA Tango pathway supports musicians who wish to deepen their expertise in traditional and contemporary tango while engaging in artistic research and intercultural creation. Founded in 1993, the Tango Department at Codarts is one of the few institutions worldwide where tango can be formally studied. Its artistic foundations were shaped by key figures including Osvaldo Pugliese and Gustavo Beytelmann, whose artistic guidance and teachings continue to influence the programme today.
Students develop a comprehensive understanding of tango through performance, analysis, transcription, arrangement, composition, history, and ensemble practice. The programme combines mastery of tango’s stylistic languages with opportunities for innovation and personal artistic exploration. Codarts hosts multiple student ensembles, including OTRA, its full orquesta típica performing nationally and internationally.
The Master’s pathway is personalised and centred on Artistic Research, enabling students to design their own project—whether expanding tango vocabulary, experimenting with new ensemble formats, or integrating tango elements into other musical practices. Regular visits from renowned international tango artists offer additional professional and creative enrichment.
Graduate Profile
Graduates of the CaSA Tango pathway become reflective and versatile professional musicians who:
- Demonstrate advanced expertise in tango performance and stylistic interpretation.
- Engage critically with tango traditions and their historical lineages.
- Contribute creatively to new artistic developments through research-informed practice.
- Collaborate effectively across cultures, disciplines, and ensemble settings.
- Pursue careers as performers, composers, arrangers, educators, and researchers.
Teachers:
Dr Bárbara Varassi Pega
Pianist, composer, arranger, and leading tango researcher specialising in River Plate traditionsSantiago Cimadevilla
Bandoneonist, composer, and arranger known for his work across traditional and contemporary tangoDr Stephen Meyer
Violinist, educator, and researcher recognised internationally for his work on tango violin performanceWim Warman
Pianist, arranger, and educator specialising in tango-based electives and crossover musical practices -
Maqam and Modal Traditions along the Silk Roads
The Maqam and Modal Traditions along the Silk Roads pathway offers an in-depth engagement with musical practices shaped by long-standing systems of transmission, exchange, and artistic continuity. These traditions are approached as living musical languages that continue to evolve through performance, improvisation, composition, and collective practice.
Students work with specialised teachers and guest artists to develop a practice-based understanding of maqam; including repertoire, maqam theory, lineage, rhythmic structures, ornamentation, ensemble playing, improvisation, and composition. Central to the programme is an emphasis on aural and oral learning, embodied knowledge, and careful listening, recognising these as fundamental ways of engaging with maqam traditions.
The curriculum supports artistic depth, creative development, through Artistic Research, enabling students to work confidently across different practices and ensemble settings. Students have the opportunity to participate in dedicated classes in Maqam Theory, lineage, and ensembles,forming a coherent learning environment that connects historical knowledge with contemporary artistic work.
At the master’s level, the pathway offers a flexible and tailor-made trajectory. It is open to students entering as performers, improvisers, or composers, and supports blended artistic profiles that move between these roles. Through a self-designed artistic research, students develop new artistic directions, and deepen their practice through performance, improvisation, and composition within the interconnected traditions of the Silk Roads.
Graduate Profile
Graduates of the Maqam and Modal Traditions along the Silk Roads pathway:
Demonstrate advanced artistic engagement with maqam traditions as performers, improvisers, and/or composers.
Understand lineage, transmission, and contextual responsibility within their artistic practice.
Contribute to artistic exploration through research-informed performance and creation.
Collaborate thoughtfully within diverse musical and intercultural environments.
Develop professional paths as performers, composers, educators, and artistic researchers within Silk Roads traditions.
Teachers:
Alexandros Papadimitrakis
Oud and lavta player · Maqam theory, ensemble practice, and improvisationAlper Kekeç
Percussionist · Maqam-based rhythmic systems and Anatolian–West Asian folk percussion practicesDr Barbaros Bozkır
Accordionist, composer · Contemporary modal composition and contextual studiesDr Michalis Cholevas
Yaylı tanbur and ney player · Maqam theory, improvisation (taksim), and artistic researchMutlu Kızılgedik
Bağlama player · Kurdish and Anatolian folk traditions; oral transmission and ensemble practiceBurak Savaş
Vocalist, violinist · Ottoman classical vocal music and maqam traditionsKudsi Ergüner (guest teacher)
Ney player · Ottoman music theory, maqam practice, and transmissionNiti Ranjan Biswas
Tabla player · North Indian (Hindustani) classical music; rhythmic systems (tāla)
You can also explore interdisciplinary fusion, blending these traditions with pop, jazz or Western classical music. The programme is flexible, allowing you to design your own study trajectory with guidance from an internationally renowned faculty.
Research & Artistic Development
Research is an integral and self-driven part of this master’s programme, always linked to your chosen specialisation. In your first semester, you'll join a research group and develop a research design. In the following semesters, you’ll participate in monthly research meetings, receiving feedback from a dedicated research coach. Your final research presentation, supported by video and a written report, will integrate your artistic practice to academic inquiry.
Alongside research, your main subject study is central to your development:
- Year 1: You’ll conclude with a progress exam, demonstrating artistic and technical growth.
- Year 2: Your final assessment is a public performance, showcasing your mastery of your chosen tradition.
This structure ensures that your artistic practice and research reinforce each other, fostering a deeper understanding of global musics.
Collaboration & Ensemble Work
Collaboration is at the heart of Global Musics. As part of your studies, you’ll participate in ensemble projects, where you can:
- Join diverse ensembles led by renowned lecturers.
- Form your own ensemble, bringing your creative vision to life.
- Work on interdisciplinary projects, engaging with various musical traditions.
These experiences allow you to expand your artistic influences, refine your ensemble skills, and create meaningful collaborations.
Electives & Free Space
The Master of Music at Codarts offers significant freedom and flexibility. You can shape your learning journey by choosing from a wide range of elective courses, allowing you to develop skills beyond your main subject.
Each year, you compile a portfolio in which you reflect on your courses, projects and artistic development. Your activities may include performances within Codarts or in professional contexta, participating in additional ensembles, electives, courses, projects, studio or live recordings, collaborative productions, or focused workshops supporting skills such as networking, production, or artistic positioning. This approach supports you in building a coherent professional profile while shaping your studies in relation to your artistic and research ambitions.
Career Perspectives
Graduates of the Master of Music in Global Musics are prepared for diverse professional pathways in today’s evolving music landscape. Throughout the programme you’ll develop the ability to:
- Initiate and lead your own artistic projects as an indepent musician.
- Perform in ensembles and/or orchestras, bringing global musical traditions into contemporary contexts.
- Collaborate across musical, cultural and interdisciplinary environments, contributing to collective artistic processes.
- Work in recording and production contexts, combining performance with studio-based practices.
- Engage in artistic and academic research, contributing to critical understanding and development of global musical practices.
The contemporary music field values musicians who are both autonomous and collaborative. This master’s programme equips you with the artistic, research, and entrepreneurial capacities needed to work independently, co-create with others, and sustain a meaningful professional practice in a dynamic and interconnected field.
