Classical Music

  • Bachelor
  • Full-time
Hero Klassieke Muziek bachelor.jpg

Classical Music

Level
bachelor
Form
full-time
Duration
4 years
Language
Dutch, English
Locations
Groningen
Degree
Bachelor of Music
Credits
240 ECTS
Startmonths
Start: September

When you choose the Classical Music study programme, you choose a life with your instrument or your voice. A passion that you have been working on for years. If you are driven, want to reach the highest level musically and make music your profession, then studying Classical Music at the Prince Claus Conservatoire is an excellent choice.

Apply via Studielink Admission process

Overview

With us, you are trained to become a versatile musician of a high level, who can also reflect on their own practice. You will gain extensive stage experience in symphony and chamber orchestras, the choir, and in various ensembles or as a soloist, both inside and especially outside the conservatoire. Music education is part of your training; you will learn to teach, which will also give you deeper insight into yourself and your own instrument, and you will collaborate with fellow students to give workshops and work with groups. You will also learn entrepreneurial skills that will be very useful later on, allowing you to develop your musical activities in your professional career.

Zangklas klassieke muziek Oranjewoudfestival
Vocal class during the Oranjewoud festival

Why choose this programme?

After graduation you can work as a performing musician in an ensemble, in an orchestra or as a soloist. Perhaps it is your ambition to play in a renowned symphony orchestra or in one of the Dutch professional military ensembles, or you may wish to become a member of a professional or semi-professional chamber choir. Many of our graduates combine playing (chamber music) with teaching at a music school, or they give private lessons. Some perform solo in international concerts.

Whatever your future path is going to be, at the Prince Claus Conservatoire you will be trained to become a versatile musician at a high level. If you also studied for a teaching qualification, you can work at a music school or as a private teacher. Most graduates are self-employed, pursuing ‘portfolio careers’ that combine performance with teaching.

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A learning community for the music of the future

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

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About this programme

Propaedeutic year

Your main instrument is the focal point throughout your studies. The first year is mainly an orientation year. In addition to your main instrument classes, practical training and projects, you will be attending theoretical classes.

Main phase

In the second year your knowledge and skills will be broadened and deepened, in both practical and theoretical subjects. You will be studying the basis of musical entrepreneurship and teaching. In the third and fourth year a lot of time is invested in didactical subjects with a focus on work placements (internal, external and project internships). You can make your own choice in terms of optional modules, that fit your interests or capabilities. You may participate in an international exchange programme. In the final year you will focus on your main instrument, leading to a graduation concert.

  • Performing
    There are plenty of opportunities to gain performing experience, including in orchestras, at chamber music evenings, in solo performances or in master classes and concerts, both within the conservatoire and outside. You will also attend regular workshops and master classes given by internationally renowned musicians.
  • Work placement
    Work placements will give you a good picture of your future profession. Work placements can be taken with institutions such as the North Netherlands Orchestra, the Royal Military Band “Johan Willem Friso”, the National Travelling Opera or the Netherlands Radio Choir. You can also gain teaching experience by doing a work placement in education, at a music school or as a private music tutor.

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Admission requirements per instrument

  • Bassoon

    • Technique
      Major, minor an chromatic scales
      Major and minor triades
    • Etudes
      Etude nr. 35* - J. Weissenborn
      Technical etude by choice
    • Sonates
      Such as:
      Sonate in G Op. 3 no.4  - L. Merci
      Sonate in D  - W. de Fesch
      Sonate in D  - M. Corrette
    • Recital pieces
      At least two pieces, e.g.:
      First pieces for Bassoon (uitg. Oxford)
      Classical album (bassoon and piano) (uitg. Breitkopf).
      Elégie pour le basson - Weingärter
      Romanze Op. 227 - J. Weissenborn
      Introduction and Hornpipe  - F. Baines

    * = compulsory

  • Bass Trombone

    Three pieces: one chosen by the candidate from each of the three lists A, B and

    • List A:
      30 etudes for basstrombone, no. 15  D. Uber, arr. Knaub
      Concert Etudes, no. 1 D. Uber
      Elementary Etudes for bass trombone, no. 56          T. Pederson Melodious Etudes for bass trombone, no. 19   Bordogni
    • List B:
      Concerto         A. Lebedev
      Sonata for Bass Trombone (1e deel) P. McCarty
      Sonata l in a minor (Vivace)   J.E. Galliard
    • List C:
      Cello Suite nr. 1, Menuet I en II          J. S. Bach
      Cello Suite nr. 1, Gigue          J. S. Bach
      Fantasy Pieces (no. 3)           D. Bourgeois

  • Cello

    • Technique
      Scales/triads over 4 octaves
    • Etudes
      A choice of at least 2 etudes from Popper High School of Duport or comparable level.
    • Recital pieces
      A sonata of the Baroque periode, f.e. Cirri, Marcello, De Fesch, Vivaldi or a suite by Bach. One or more recital pieces with difficulty level of the cello concerto by Saint-Saëns or Lalo.
    • Specifics
      Mastery of the positions, including the thumb position. Candidates are expected to demonstrate proficiency in the following bowing techniques: détaché, martelé, spiccato

  • Clarinet

    • Etudes
      One etude*:
      Etudes progressives et mélodiques  - P. Jeanjean
      One technical etude* from e.g.:
      Exercices journaliers  - H. Klosé
      Boek -  Uhl
      30 Capricci - Cavallini
    • Concerts
      Movement from a clarinet concert e.g.:
      F. Krommer, C. Stamitz, C. von Weber
    • Recital pieces
      Clarinet sonate 1st movement  - C. Saint Saens
      Variationen Op. 33  - C. M. von Weber
      Or a recital piece of comparable difficulty.

    * = compulsory

  • Double bass

    • Technique
      Different scales.
    • Etudes
      An etude from:
      Etudes - R. Kreutzer
      30 etudes - F. Simandl
      Etudes Second method - F. Simandl
      Etudes - E. Nanny
    • Recital pieces
      1st and 2nd movement of e.g. Eccles Sonate, Fesch Sonate, Marcello Sonate.
      1st movement of a classical concerto, e.g. Dragonetti, Capuzzi, Pichl, Hoffmeister.

  • Euphonium

    • Etudes
      Two contrasting etudes, e.g.:
      From `Studies in legato' nr. 20           S. Fink
      From `60 Etudes' nr. 22          C. Kopprasch
      From `Etudes part 2' no. 1 of 6          J. P. Arban
    • Recital pieces, e.g.:
      Arpegietto       J. van der Roost
      Fantasy for Euphonium and Piano     H. Hoshina Intrada     O. Ketting

  • Flute

    • Technique
      All major and minor scales 
      All major and minor triads
      A chromatic scale (legato) of c1 - c4  
    • Etudes
      2 etudes of different character e.g.: nr. 16 Adagio Cantabile (from: 25 studies for the flute)    L. Drouet nr. 6 (from: 25 Romantische Etuden op. 66)                 E. Köhler  
    • Recital pieces
      2. pieces of different style and character, e.g.:
      Concert G, op. 29                                                                K. Stamitz
      Suite de trois Morceaux                                                      B. Godard
      Movement 1: Allegretto & Movement 2: Idylle

  • Guitar

    • An etude for guitar, free choice that demonstrates the candidate’s current technical skills.
    • One movement from any of the Sonatas, Suites or Partitas by J. S. Bach/ or a Renaissance/ Baroque piece of free choice.
    • A piece of free choice/ or 1 movement from the Sonatas originally composed for the guitar (19th, 20th or 21st century).

    Programme length: ca. 15 minutes, performed by heart.

  • Harp

    • Two etudes different in style and technique (f.e. Bochsa 50 Etudes, Damase, Dizi, Larivière, Godefroid)
    • Two solo pieces different in style (one to be played by heart) (f.e. Tournier, Grandjany, Watkins, Godefroid, Saint-Saëns, Pierné, Patterson)
    • Sonate À vue playing (prima vista)

  • Harpsichord

    • Technique
      Playing of cadenzas in all keys.
    • Styles
      Playing works from different periods and styles (such as French, German, English, Italian), Amongst which at least a preludium and fuga from “Das wohltemperierte Klavier” or a piece of comparable grade of difficulty by J.S. Bach and a work of before 1650.

  • Horn

    • Technique
      Major and minor scales in keys with at least 3 sharps or flats; broken chords, played detached and legato, over 2 octaves
    • Etudes
      Deux cents Etudes Nouvelles from part II/IIIM. Alphonse
      Hornschule     F. Schollar
      Waldhornschule, from etude nr.4       O. Franz
      60 Etuden I and/or II from etude nr.19           C. Kopprasch
      55 etudes for horn in 3 movements   K. Stary
      Soixante Etudes         L. Thévet

    Or different works of comparable difficulty.

    • Recital pieces
      A choice of 2 works:
      En Irlande       E. Bozza
      Variations sur un thème populaire (thema en enkele variaties)        A. Dupuis Andante pour cor   V. d’Indy
      Rêverie           A. Glazunov
      Nocturne of Intermezzo          R. Glière
      Hoorn concert no. 2 in D        J.Haydn
      Sonatine voor horn and piano            J. Koetsier
      Horn concert Kv 447 (nr. 3) part I , II, of III    W.A. Mozart
      Horn concert Kv417 (nr2) part 1, 2, of 3        W.A. Mozart
      Concertino no. 5         J. Porret
      Concertino      J.D. Skroup
      Nocturne         Fr. Strauss
      Horn concert op.8       Fr. Strauss
      Andante op. Posth      R. Strauss
      Romance op. 36         C. Saint-Saëns
      Lied     L. Sinigaglia
    • Or different works of comparable difficulty.

  • Oboe

    • Technique
      Scales until 4 sharps and flats with different articulation
    • Etudes
      2 études, e.g.:
      One of the last of the 45 etudes         L. Wiedemann
      A slow and fast étude Op.12  F. Ferling
      One of the 28 etudes  C. Besozzi
    • Sonates
      One sonate, e.g.:
      Sonate in c      G. F. Händel
      Sonate in C     J. B. Loeillet
      Largo and Allegro       B. Marcello
      Sonate in g     G. Ph. Telemann
    • Concerts
      One concert, e.g.:
      Concert in B-flat, D and d       T. Albinoni
      Concert in d    B. Marcello
      Concert v. oboe and orchestra           B. Cimarosa
    • Recital piece
      One piece, e.g.:
      Pièce   G. Fauré
      3 anthems       B. Bartók
      Fantasie Stücke          C. Nielsen

  • Organ

    • Two Works of the 17th century (f.e. choral work by JanPieterszoon Sweelinck and a preludium by Dietrich Buxtehude)
    • Two Works of J. S. Bach (f.e. choral work from “Das Orgelbüchlein” and a free work with comparable difficulty following on the “8 small preludia and fugues” [preludium en fuga in c BWV 549 or preludium in G BWV568])
    • A work of the 19th century (f.e. Felix Mendelssohn-Bartoldy, César Franck or Max Reger)
    • A work of the 20th century (f.e. Hugo Distler, Jean Langlais)

  • Percussion

    Snare Drum

    • Technique
      Rolls (piano, mezzoforte, forte)
    • Etudes
      1 etude from Advanced Snare Drum Studies Mitchell Peters
      1 etude from Douze Etudes or No 1 from Keiskleiriana        Jacques Delécluse
    • A prima vista playing

    Timpani

    • 2 etudes from the following Timpani Schools:
      Schule für Pauken      Eckehardt Keune
      Etüden für Timpani (Heft 1, 2, 3)        Richard Hochrainer
      30 Studies for Timpani           Jacques Delécluse

    Keyboard percussion: marimba

    • Technique
      All major and minor scales (melodic and harmonic) with two mallets

      Chords and broken chords with 2 and 4 mallets
      Etude in A flat Clair Omar Musser
      Etude of own choice from the '6 Concert Etudes' for marimba 2011 Peter Klatzow

      One unaccompanied piece with two mallets with the level of:
      One movement of any cello suites with two mallets  J.S. Bach
      Prism for solo marimba          Keiko Abe
      Marimba dances part I            Ross Edwards

      One solo marimba piece with 4 mallets with the level of:
      Mexican Dances         Gordon Stout
      Wind in the Bamboo groove   Keiko Abe
      Caritas Michael Burrit
      Prelude           J.S. Bach,
      arr. by Leigh Howard Stevens
      Or any movement from a cello suite, violin partita/sonata with four mallets.

  • Piano

    • Polyphonic:
      J. S. Bach: 2-part invention of:
      One of the small Praeludien und Fugen
    • Classical:
      Sonate/ sonatine (at least first movement) of:
      J. Haydn, F. Kuhlau>, F. Clementi
    • Etude:
      Etude by Czerny
      1 or 2 movements by Czerny-Germer

  • Saxophone

    • General
      The entrance exam can be played on a soprano, alto, tenor of baritone saxophone
    • Technique
      Major and minor scales, up to 4 sharps and flats, legato and staccato over the entire instrument Triads and dominant septimechords
    • Etudes
      Choose from:
      for alto:
      d’Apres Samie M. Mule
      Etudes Journaliers      H. Klosé
      Etudes de Mécanisme            H. Klosé
    • Recital pieces
      5 Pièces faciles           J. Absil
      L’age d’or        J. Ibert
      Suite Romantique       R. Planel
      Aria     E. Bozza
    • for soprano:
      Vocalises        M. Flothuis
      Three songs without words    P. Ben Haim

  • Trombone

    • Technique
      Basic level: Level D ("NIB HaFaBra" [wind band] exams)
    • Etudes
      Two technical etudes chosen from e.g.:
      Makovecz (vol. 2)
      Muller (techn. Etudes vol. 3) Vobaron (24 etudes)
      Kopprasch (vol. 1+2)
      Tyrrell (40 etudes)
      Or comparable collections
    • A melodic etude chosen from e.g.:
      Rochut / Bordogni (vol. 1) Senon (24 etudes)
      Fink (legato studies)
    • Recital pieces
      Two recital pieces e.g.:
      Romance        C.M. von Weber
      Sonata in f-minor        G.P. Telemann
      Trombone Concerto   N. Rimsky Korsakov
      Various Sonatas         B. Marcello
      Concertino      L.-E. Larsson
      Cavatine          C. Saint-Saëns

  • Trumpet

    • Technique
      Proficiency in double and triple-tonguing (see Arban)
      All major and minor scales in keys up to 6 sharps and 6 flats.
    • Etudes
      Etude no. 2 and 4       T. Charlier
      Etude no. 10 (from: 24 etudes)          H. Duhem Etude no. 2 (from: 14 etudes caractéristiques) J. B. Arban Etude no. 2 and 6 (from: 40 etudes)            F. Werner
    • Recital pieces
      Trumpet concert, movement 2           J. Haydn
      Trompettunia  R. B. (uitg. Leduc)
      Aria and Scherzo        A. Arutunian (Leduc)
      Intrada O. Ketting

  • Tuba

    • Etudes
      Two contrasting etudes e.g.:
      Conservatory Etudes 1 or 3   D. Uber
      Legato etudes for tuba 2 or 5 J. Shoemaker
    • Recital pieces
      Andante          A. Tcherepnin
      Andante en Rondo     A. Capuzzi
    • Pieces e.g.:
      Tuba Concerto            R. Vaughan Williams
      Tuba Concerto            E. Gregson
      Sonate nr.5     B. Marcello
      Four Greek Preludes  R. Spillman

  • Viola

    • Technique
      2 etudes of different character e.g. Blumenstengel, Cavallini of Mazas
      A movement from a sonata or concerto: difficulty of G. Händel, Chr. Bach, J. Schubert etc.
    • Recital piece
      The candidates prepare a programme of 30 minutes, with 2 etudes of different character, a (movement of a) concerto and a recital piece. The committee will decide what will be played. The performance of the candidate will be judged on technical level, musicality, tone, rhythmic and intonation.

  • Violin

    • Technique
      Scale technique over 3 octaves
    • Etudes
      A choice of at least 2 etudes with different character by Mazas, Kreutzer of Fiorillo.
    • Sonates
      A sonata of the Baroque period, f.e. repertoire for violin solo by Bach of Telemann. Some movements from sonates by Mozart, Beethoven or Schubert.
    • Concerts
      Movement of a concerto (e.g. Mozart, Bach or Haydn)
    • Recital pieces
      A recital piece of comparable difficulty, e.g. Romanzes van Beethoven or Nigun van Bloch

  • Vocals

    • Three songs/arias of three different composers in three different languages, sang by heart:
    • Recite a poem by heart in native language
    • Biography and motivational letter

Admission process

To audition at the Prince Claus Conservatoire, the following steps are required:

  1. Apply through Studielink
    Apply to do audition for Classical Music before the 1st of March. You can do this through www.studielink.nl. Classical Music is listed under B Music. You will receive an e-mail from Hanze Apply/Osiris with login info. In this module you can specify your instrument.
     
  2. Motivation letter
    We ask you to write a motivation letter and upload it in Hanze Apply/Osiris. Please explain what motivates and moves you and why you want to study Classical Music at the Prince Claus Conservatoire.
     
  3. Pre-selection violin and vocals
    Some instruments have a set pre-selection for live and online applicants. We need you to upload three YouTube videos of you playing different pieces in different styles. These may be the same pieces you want to play at the online audition. Next to these videos of you playing, you need to upload a video of you introducing yourself (max. two minutes). Note that all videos have to be recorded recently and we need you to be recognisable. Two weeks prior to the date of your audition you will receive an e-mail informing you whether you have passed the pre-selection and will be invited for your audition or not.
     
  4. Online audition (only in exceptional cases)
    In general all our auditions are live in Groningen. However, if it’s impossible for you to travel to Groningen you may do your audition online. Please mark this in your application Hanze Apply/Osiris and contact us through email explaining why you can't come to Groningen. We need you to upload three YouTube videos of you playing different pieces in different styles. These may be the same pieces you want to play at the online audition. Next to these videos of you playing, you need to upload a video of you introducing yourself (max. two minutes). Note that all videos have to be recorded recently and we need you to be recognisable.
     
  5. English requirements
    As part of your enrolment, you have to upload an English certificate with a minimum IELTS score of 6.0 with no subscores below 5.5 (or an equivalent at comparable language tests like TOEFL, Cambridge ESOL etc). Check the general Hanze UAS application and entry requirements through the info block below.

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