Vocals
The human voice is the most personal of all instruments. In your main subject lessons you will focus on skills such as technique, phrasing, intonation, improvisation, timing, storytelling, stage presence, and composition. There will also be an emphasis on the creative process to develop your own sound and artistic direction. Various styles will be dealt with such as contemporary jazz, the American songbook, singer-songwriting, Latin jazz, Nordic jazz, and many other styles. You will also learn group singing as a member of the close harmony ensemble, and of course you will collaborate with instrumentalists in a broad range of other specialised ensembles.
Teachers
Paulien van Schaik
After studying at Berklee College of Music in Boston, Paulien van Schaik started recording and performing with a range of well-known musicians such as bass player Hein van de Geyn and trumpet player Bert Joris. She won an Edison Award and performed at prestigious festivals such as North Sea Jazz. For Paulien teaching is not purely the passing of knowledge, but merely an exchange of energy, inspiration, skills and passion. ‘You will get acquainted with many different styles of music and even more, different ways of using your voice: lyrically, melodically, free, expressive, small or grand and compelling. And all of that in a quest for your own unique sound and musical personality.
Anna Serierse
From a very early age it was clear that Anna wanted to pursue a career in music, while growing up in a musical household. Anna has studied both in The Netherlands and in Scandinavia. Over the past years she has played with lots of different bands and ensembles, as a front- and sidewoman. She is equally at home with the traditional jazz repertoire, contemporary jazz and free improvisation as well as Brazilian music. She has her own quartet with guitarist Gijs Idema, and is part of Kika Sprangers Quintet. She has also collaborated with the Metropole Orkest, Paradox Jazz Orchestra, and recorded an album with saxophonist Benjamin Herman. While communicating through melodies, lyrics and wordless improvisations, Anna strives to create an intimate atmosphere during her concerts.
There are three steps to the audition:
- 1. Video-preselection
- 2. Theory test
- 3. Live/online session with the main subject teachers
Candidates are expected to prepare material for both the video-preselection and the session with the main subject teachers. This can be the same or similar material for both steps.
1. Video-Preselection
Upload 5 videos to your personal upload portal (PortalPlus). Suggested material to prepare and upload:
- To assess your level of ability, you have to prepare five pieces. The material should consist of four standards (two ballads and two medium / up tempo pieces) and one free choice song (it can be an original composition, or a repertoire song from another genre like soul, pop, latin, etc.).
2. Theory Test
If you are selected, you will be invited to an online theory test using Microsoft Teams (approx. 30min.). You can find the theory guidelines here.
3. Live/Online session
If you are selected after the first round, you will also be invited for a live or online audition:
- Candidates living in the Netherlands and Belgium will have to do a live audition, location Fontys Academy of the Arts (Zwijsenplein 1, Tilburg).
- Candidates from other countries will have to do an online audition.
Duration of the audition is 15/20 minutes.
When you are invited for a live audition, the commission prefers to see you perform and play your repertoire with an accompaniment/group or band of your own. If possible, bring your own musicians to the audition. In exceptional cases the school can provide accompaniment. Please indicate this on the questionnaire form you will receive after you application. Please be mindful: there is a warm-up room, but there’s no opportunity for a joint rehearsal on campus. Be sure to bring proper sheet music for your band members.
During both live and online sessions, you will be asked to perform your material as prepared for the pre-selection. Besides this, you can be asked to present additional exercises.