Conservatory of Music

The focus on song acting appealed to me because I want to tell a story

Ilse

Student year 4

I wanted to sing and perform on stage, and here at Fontys there is a lot of focus on the performing part. We have quite a few acting lessons each week and song acting to combine singing and acting. This really attracted me because, for me, singing is about telling stories to your audience and conveying something. So, just singing technique was not enough for me.We have chamber music projects where we work with other students and instruments. There are project weeks where you collaborate, sometimes with other art programmes, exploring and developing themes. Jazz students and people from the Music in Education programme often hang out at Paradox, and we singers also spend a lot of time together outside of school. On Fridays, we sometimes go for drinks with students and teachers after class.

Photo credits: Rens Bressers Fotografie

It's so great that almost all the art programmes are in one building, so you can quickly find the one you're looking for!

Kiki

Student year 2

I chose Conservatorium Tilburg because they collaborate so much with other art programmes and the atmosphere is so nice. Also because of the diversity within the programme.

The atmosphere is very pleasant and safe, in my opinion. They really listen to us as students. Also working with other programmes, like dance, visual arts and theatre, feels easy and pleasant. I make many friends and work in project collaborations with them!

The teachers pass on their knowledge, and you learn a lot from that. In addition, you get so many different subjects from different teachers that you gain expertise from every lesson.

I think it's absolutely fantastic that there are multiple art programmes within Fontys Academy of the Arts. As I said, I make many friendships and collaborations from it. It's so great that almost all the programmes are in one building, so you can quickly find the one you're looking for! I also think this makes Fontys unique, and it's definitely one of the reasons I wanted to study here.

What I'd like to say to those who are hesitant to do audition: don't live in fear, try the audition, and make your dream come true!

I help students step by step, so that they can eventually continue independently

Guus Bakker

Teacher bass guitar and double bass

What music means to meI have been playing music since I was ten years old. That's when I started playing the guitar. At fourteen, I switched to bass guitar, and since I was nineteen, I have also been playing the double bass. I still enjoy working with my instruments every day. Music helps me to continue developing myself, and that makes me very happy.

My work at the Tilburg ConservatorySince 2017, I have been working as a bass guitar and double bass teacher at Tilburg Conservatory. I also coach ensembles and bands. I find it very inspiring to share my knowledge with students. Music is my profession and playing bass is my great passion. It's wonderful to pass that on to young people who are just as enthusiastic about music as I am. I also learn a lot from my students, for example by discovering new artists.

My approach to teachingI mainly coach students in their own learning process. That process is different for everyone. Together with the student, I look at their motivation and their goals. Of course, there are also goals that need to be achieved. Studying independently can be quite difficult, especially alongside all the other challenges that come with life as a musician. For international students, this is often even more difficult. I help students step by step, so that they can eventually continue independently.

What makes Tilburg Conservatory unique?Tilburg Conservatory is unique to me for a few reasons:• We are a small-scale institution. This means there is a lot of personal contact with teachers and management. Bassists get extra opportunities to play in ensembles here. This allows students to gain a lot of practical experience alongside their studies.• Tilburg has had its own unique jazz scene for many years.• The jazz venue PARADOX is an important part of this scene. The Conservatory works closely with PARADOX. Students can attend concerts at a discount and participate in jam sessions.