Bachelor of Music: Classical MusicAdd to shortlist

Programme profile

This programme is aimed at guiding you towards your future career as a performing musician, teacher, conductor, producer or composer. The programme is run in the Utrecht Conservatorium.  On offer are programmes in Classical Music or Historical Instruments or  Jazz & Pop or Carillon.

Programme content

In the Classical Music department, you choose either an instrumental or a vocal main subject. Whatever you choose, you will have lessons from professional, experienced musicians. During the annual projects and concerts, you will gain plenty of performing experience along with your fellow students.You will learn everything you need to become a professional musician. Playing your instrument is the most important part of the course. Besides individual lessons, you will have theory classes, coaching, group lessons and ensemble lessons.

You can choose one of the following main subjects:

- string instruments: violin, viola, violoncello or double bass
- wind instruments: flute, oboe, clarinet, saxophone, trumpet
- other instruments: piano, organ or carillon
- singing
- choral conducting 
- composition

At the end of your first year, you will choose one of the following specialise in either Performance & Education or Performance & Production

Should you choose the Historical Instruments route, the Conservatorium offers numerous opportunities to achieve your ambitions. Whether you come to study baroque violin, baroque cello or viola de gamba, recorder, traverso, baroque oboe or harpsichord, you will work hard on your individual playing skills and explore specific aspects of early music in depth

The  Jazz & Pop programme (offered through Dutch/English) covers a wide range, including jazz, pop, and all cross-over styles related to it. You develop your own musical identity within that sphere. You can choose from the following main subjects:

- Wind instruments: flute, saxophone, trumpet, trombone
- Stringed instruments: guitar, bass guitar, double bass
- Piano/Keyboards
- Drums
- Vocals

In the first two years of the course, in addition to your main subject you will be working on the basics of all musical styles: the harmonic, rhythmic and melodic principles of jazz and pop. This exercises skills that are useful in many musical styles.

The Conservatorium organises a lot of projects in which you gain experience for your future professional musical career, on all kind of themes: interdisciplinary projects with other schools, projects on styles as Latin, Brasilian, World Music, or on artists such as Joni Mitchel, Frank Zappa, Motown artists and many others. You can also participate regularly in masterclasses. Guests in recent years have included Marcus Miller, Jonathan Kreisberg, Gino Vanelli, Ari Hoenig and Richie Beirach.

Progression

The university offers the following relevant Master's programmes:

- MA Music
- MA Arts Management

Entry Requirements