Introduction
The master's degree programme at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam prepares you for a varied professional practice in which you can function as a musician at the highest level. Against the background of this versatile professional practice, CvA's personal master profile or PMP gives you plenty of opportunity to give your studies a personal direction, and to create a tailor-made package of courses.

If you are accepted for your principal subject and admitted to a master profile, when you set out on your master’s study programme you will meet with a study advisor with whom you can discuss your personal profile; on this basis, working agreements are made for the courses you will follow and further facilities for your study.

A Personal Master Profile (PMP) can be given shape in many ways. In consultation with the head of your department, a wide range of well-reasoned choices can be made and set down in the plan of study, such as choosing to work with a historic  version of your instrument, improvisation, the romantic lieder repertoire, or a teaching profile, for example. If you choose, you may also focus your studies exclusively on your principal subject and instrument, without any further delineation.

The Conservatory has worked out several examples of specific content for your Personal Master Profile that you can choose to follow in your principal subject. These profiles are composed of a number of elective subjects and modules. Admission requirements apply for some of them. They can be followed separately, as part of your own individual PMP, but when taken in a particular combination and relationship, they lead to a specialisation in a specific field of study. The CvA offers the following specific profiles for this: Principal Instruments in Historical Perspective, Chamber Music, New Music, Orchestral Performance, Creative Performance Lab and Applications of Karnatic Rhythm to Contemporary Music. A limited number of places are available for such profiles and specific admission requirements may apply. In such cases, a supplementary audition or selection is part of the procedure. A supplementary audition or selection is sometimes held after you have been accepted and admitted, often before the summer (May/June) or in the first month of the new academic year (September). On this point, see the admission requirements for each profile.

If you have chosen a specific profile, this is shown by an addendum to your master’s degree stating all subjects and modules you have completed and the associated credits. If desired, on the basis of your approved plan of study and the study track you have completed, the CvA can append an additional statement about your personal master profile to your diploma (Master of Music) and to your diploma addendum. If you have any questions about this, please contact the student secretariat (cva-studadmin@ahk.nl). If necessary, they will refer you to the coordinator of the master profile, the study advisor or to one of the heads of programmes.

Creative Performance Lab
Creative Performance Lab (CPL) is a two-year master profile for students who aim to develop and perform their own interdisciplinary productions. Through intensive collaboration within a team of students you create several performances in both master years, crossing the borders between disciplines such as music, theater, dance, video and live electronics. While your own principal subject serves as the basis, you are challenged to work in disciplines and artistic areas that may be new to you, and you are strongly encouraged to bring any skills you may have inside and outside the musical realm, such as improvising, acting, dancing, writing or videography. With the help of special guest coaches you explore such skills, bring them to an operational level and apply them to your productions.

An essential aspect of CPL is that the creative process takes place in a group setting. You learn to combine your own ideas with those of the others in the group, in order to develop a coherent and high-quality production. You support each other and offer constructive feedback. This way you create a unique product, resulting from the creative input of the entire group.