Bachelor Music and Performing Arts

Music and Performing Arts is an ambitious and innovative Bachelor conservatory programme. Our vision is based on the idea that your individual musical development into a top musician can only flourish through practice. We encourage you, together with our teachers, your fellow students, and the professional field, to develop new visions of musical artistry!

This artistry is underpinned by six key skills: instrument & ensemble playing, self-management, interdisciplinarity, practice-oriented research, collective entrepreneurship, and international connectedness. Our top teachers are right in the middle of the field and will coach you to further develop your talent.

What do we offer

• You will be intensively coached by your main subject, theory, research, and ensemble teachers and taught by experts in the fields of creative skills, personal development, and entrepreneurship.
• A programme full of master classes and projects, collaborating with other art disciplines at Fontys Academy of the Arts.
• You will work with various artists, venues, and disciplines, and have access to state-of-the-art developments.
• An enthusiastic team of teachers who have earned their spurs in the field and know exactly what you need.
• A creative learning environment that offers plenty of room for your initiative.

Year 1

• Develop basic skills in your instrument (technique and interpretation), ensemble, music theory, history, cultural history, and research
• Interdisciplinarity (working together with other disciplines, body, and mind (Cesar Therapy, injury prevention)
• Projects and masterclasses
• Additional piano lessons
• For jazz students we also offer bigband lessons (all years)
• Classical singers have an additional trajectory in languages (French, IPA, German, Italian) and drama (actor training, theatrical improvisation)

Year 2

• Richer and a deeper level of lessons in the instrument, ensemble, music theory, history, cultural history, and research.
• 2 introductory courses (to select out of 8): concerning conducting, teaching, entrepreneurship, or theory on demand.
• Interdisciplinarity: focus on the theatricality of music performance
• Projects and masterclasses
• Additional instrument lessons
• Classical singers have an additional trajectory in languages (French, IPA, German, Italian) and drama (actor training, theatrical improvisation).

Year 3

• Instrument and ensemble continues.
• Entrepreneurship course.
• Interdisciplinarity: focus on concept development for concerts and performances.
• Projects and masterclasses
• Free Choice (30 out of 60EC): you can design your trajectory

Jaar 4

• Focus on the final exam and personal interdisciplinary project
• Electives (10EC).
• Entrepreneurship course
• Projects and masterclasses

What are you going to learn

We have built the bachelor program on six key skills that help you to become a pioneer: instrument & ensemble playing, self-management, interdisciplinarity, practice-oriented research, collective entrepreneurship, and international connectedness.

You will follow at least 3 hours of instrument classes a week, consisting of individual lessons, group lessons, technique, and ensemble. This means that you have almost twice as much contact with your instrument and ensemble teachers than in other conservatories. At the same time, you will learn how to reflect on your development and that of others.

In the ensemble and chamber music trajectories team teaching is at the heart of the program. You will become inspired by various teachers in a dynamic and collaborative context. Alongside this, you will participate in projects and masterclasses, work together with ensembles in residence and partners in the region, and you will audition for our concert series.

Your curriculum will be supported by knowledge of music theory, music history, cultural theory, research, entrepreneurship, interdisciplinary courses, and other electives (such as conducting, philosophy, and teaching skills).

• The academy brings students to a high level of excellence while connecting music with other art forms such as dance, theater, and fine arts
• You’ll become a leader in your field and play important roles in the development of new visions on the music profession
• You evolve at a faster pace because you’ll get individual lessons, group lessons, technique, and ensembles
• You’ll learn how to reflect on your development and that of others

We aim to train you to become a top-qualified artist. In today’s networked societies, crucial skills for people, and therefore for artists, include being able to communicate and to create and maintain good networks. These are prerequisites for allowing your creativity to blossom.

Our motto is: Putting your Musical Talent to work.

• Performing in traditional concert venues and festivals with small ensembles
• Teaching in music schools or private practices
• Participating in interdisciplinary performances with Dance, Circus, Theatre or performing in unconventional spaces like outdoor, prisons, elderly homes, refugee shelters, etc.
• Working as a project manager, and policy maker in the artistic sector
• Working as a session musician and recording business