When you choose the Jazz study programme, you choose a life with your instrument or your voice. A passion that you have been working on for years. You are driven, you want to reach the highest level musically and make music your profession. Then studying jazz at the Prince Claus Conservatoire is an excellent choice.
As a jazz student in our unique 'New York comes to Groningen' programme, you will receive lessons from the best Dutch musicians and from the American jazz scene every week.
The stage experience our teachers have, as professional jazz musicians, directly influences their teaching style. It is more practical than people in the Netherlands are used to. From your first day in the programme, you will perform in front of an audience. You'll get a lot of theory of course, but the focus lies on how to use that knowledge on stage. Your main subject is central, but you also participate in ensembles. There are a number of set ones, such as the big band, the vocal ensemble, various small bands and a large soul band. In addition, you will play in bands composed by yourself. This is possible on our own concert stages, or during jam sessions and concerts in the many clubs and cafés of Groningen.
For inspiration, you can visit De Oosterpoort and the club circuit where internationally renowned jazz musicians regularly play. In the third year, you can go to conservatories in Europe and America as an exchange student. And to really experience the New York jazz scene, we organise an annual study trip to New York.
Since you are trained to be a professional musician, you are equipped to start a career performing in various ensembles and in all styles of jazz. You know how to promote yourself and your group. You can compose and arrange music for all kinds of ensembles and orchestras. You can also start teaching others at a music school or privately. Most graduates are self-employed, pursuing ‘portfolio careers’ that combine performance with teaching.
What is it like, to work on a concert with students from all departments of the conservatoire, and to perform it on the main stage in a big concert venue? Let’s take a behind-the-scenes look at such a large production.
Every year the jazz department organises a project week with renowned artists from the jazz scene working together with both bachelor and master students throughout the week. Last year's theme was 'The New Standard': new arrangements of existing pop songs.
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The European Digital Music Academy (TEDMA) is a project that works with universities and festival organisations from Denmark, the Netherlands, France as well as Germany to provide skills in music production, distribution, promotion and audience engagement to all future professionals. TEDMA was funded by Erasmus+.
For the Prince Claus Concert 2022, classical music students worked together with students from the jazz department in the Hanze Symphonic Jazz Orchestra. Guest conductor was the Japanese composer and conductor Miho Hazama.
We realise the music of the future by educating music professionals who can navigate the professional field with versatility and are curious about the world around them. We do this in a creative and musical learning community, connected to the professional practice.
A place to develop yourself and where you feel at home
About the Conservatoire
You start performing publicly from day one. The emphasis is on theory, although this relates to how you can apply this during performances. You will also learn to play the piano in order to understand the theory. You participate in studio projects and you will follow courses in jazz arranging techniques and composition. Your main instrument and the New York faculty classes are the focus throughout your entire study programme.
In addition to your private lessons, you play in ensembles (Jazz, Fusion, Latin, Big Band and Soul Band). We organise a trip to New York each year. Didactical subjects and musical entrepreneurship are offered in the second and third year, during which work placements play a major role. At the end of the fourth year you will complete your studies with a final concert, displaying the musical vision that you have developed.
All instruments are admissible; there are additional requirements for the following instruments:
Piano, saxophone, trombone and vocals.
The candidate has to prepare two entirely notated pieces, grade IV/V of Kloppenburg (similar to grade IV/V of the Associated Board of Royal Schools of Music), one of the pieces has to be a two voice Invention of J.S. Bach. The second piece can be chosen from the jazz piano repertoire or from the classic piano repertoire. Some examples:
Candidates are expected to demonstrate instrumental proficiency by playing studies from e.g. Lennie Niehaus, (vol. 1a onwards) and the Charly Parker Omnibook.
A classical study chosen from:
Three songs have to be performed in various times and styles. One of below mentioned songs is obligatory:
To audition at the Prince Claus Conservatoire, the following steps are required:
For questions about admission, dimplomas, exams and more.
Meeuwerderweg 1, 9724 EM Groningen
Meeuwerderweg 1, 9724 EM Groningen
For questions about admission, dimplomas, exams and more.
Meeuwerderweg 1, 9724 EM Groningen
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