Percussion
Professors
Peter de Vries
Vincent Houdijk
Major
Study activities for your major will consist of:
• individual and group lessons
• independent study
• concerts, projects and ensemble activities
• lessons and masterclasses from your personal budget
Assessment
You will perform in the following recitals and exams in order to complete work on your major:
• recital 1 at the end of the first year of the Master (45 minutes)
• final recital at the end of the second year of the Master (60 minutes)
• chamber music recitals in year 1 and 2 of the Master (15 minutes each)
About this main subject
In the past twenty years the profession of classical percussion changed dramatically. Where previously the classical percussionist was trained to contribute his or her part in the symphony orchestra, nowadays they find their employ in a far broader line of work. Percussionists perform in theatre, chamber music or percussion ensembles, they initiate collaborations with other artists like choreographers, visual artists or DJ’s, or they specialize in playing styles like Japanese or African percussion or Gamelan. Many percussionists start their own groups and find their place in performing arts in this way.
The first two years at the Academy of Music and Performing Arts (AMPA/bachelor) we will be focusing on establishing a strong technical and musical fundament, based on solo and chamber music repertoire. These two years are also meant as a period of orientation and research in the world of performing arts, in order to explore and discover the main interest of each student. From the third year on we will work on the development of personal taste and style, based on the student’s main interest, which eventually can result in a study at our Master of Music. In this program the student will get the opportunity to further facilitate his/her study into a career.
Audition
·You will be asked to submit a personal development plan, in which you outline your plans for the upcoming years of study and a CV.
·Candidates that live in the Netherlands, Belgium or western Germany will do a live audition. Candidates from other countries will do an online audition.
·The audition should consist of a 20-30 minute programme, with a free choice of repertoire. We recommend candidates to include repertoire that connects to your personal development plan and has at least the level to be performed on a Bachelor exam.