Jazz (Master)

Edo Righini Vice-Principal / Director of Jazz & Popular Music
Bram Strijbis Programme Co-ordinator, Study Adviser

With a highly select population of four hundred students hailing from more than fifty different countries, the Jazz Department offers one of the most inspiring, effective and focused music programmes in Europe. We provide a contemporary didactical approach to jazz music, embracing all the principal musical movements of our time.

Our international teaching staff includes some of the leading forces in the contemporary Jazz music scene, guaranteeing a global, up-to-date and inspirational view on education.

With one and half hour weekly of instrument lessons, more than eighty ensembles and a rigorous ear training and theoretical programme, students exploit their full potential in a dynamic learning environment.

A comprehensive and structured curriculum in the bachelor’s and master’s degree programmes guarantees that students learn to build excellent instrumental and group playing skills and tap into the creativity essential to unfold their talents and develop their musical personality.

We continuously update our curriculum and technology to reflect the multiplicity of influences in today's music.

‘Guiding students to unfold their own musical talents and become accomplished, innovative and meaningful musicians is our ultimate commitment.’ Edo Righini - Vice-Principal / Director of Jazz & Popular Music

The Conservatorium van Amsterdam has developed an outstanding Artist-in-Residence programme consisting of a pool of international musicians who share and enrich the vision of the Jazz Department. Every student will study and interact with internationally acclaimed guests like Terell Stafford, John Clayton, Peter Bernstein, and Alex Sipiagin, in a week filled with clinics, workshops, masterclasses and private lessons. This week will be concluded with a concert given by the Artist in Residence together with the students.

The Cva Jazz Department maintains student exchange programmes with Manhattan School of Music, New York; New England Conservatory, Boston; Frost School of Music, University of Miami; Temple University Philadelphia en State University of New York at Purchase, Central Conservatory of Music Beijing, Escola de Música do Estado de São Paulo and other schools. There are also many exchange possibilities with prominent European institutes.

The Music Business & Career programme at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam provides students with the entrepreneurial skills necessary to shape and forward a professional career in music. Students will learn to tap into their own musical identity and learn how to translate their own personal abilities as performers, composers and educators into a successful career in the music industry.

Every week students take classes taught by leading experts, musicians and entrepreneurs from the music field who provide them with the structure, inspiration and tools necessary to set the fundament of a solid future music career. Students design a hands-on project that will be presented at the beginning and at the end of the music business course. During the whole programme students receive weekly feedback on their assignments, reviewing and improving the many skills required to successfully shape, present and promote their music project. Thus the students organically and thoroughly develop the entrepreneurial skills and the motivation needed to successfully launch their career into the present music scene.
A final presentation in a prestigious venue concludes this unique educational journey.

‘I have had the pleasure of being a guest artist and conductor at the Amsterdam Conservatory for years, and have found that the students’ level of performance, interest, dedication, commitment and energy are of the highest order.’

Justin DiCioccio, Assistant Dean
Former Chairman Jazz Arts program
Manhattan School of Music