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Master's Programme in Live Electronics
The master's programme in Live Electronics at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam is designed to accommodate the aspirations of performers from any musical background who wish to specialize in combining instrumental music with live electronics. The programme is targeted towards performers with a music-driven interest in electronics and technology, which could also include 'laptopists,' or software-based musicians as long as they can show proficiency in music theory and performance practice.
In a world where computers are ubiquitous, and advanced tools for making electronic music have become more accessible and affordable, there is an increasing interest in musicians who can work with live electronics in creative and innovative ways.
The Amsterdam two-year master's programme provides profound education in combining the traditional instrument with live electronic extensions. Through balanced training using dedicated software and hardware on one hand and the traditional instrument on the other, students are enabled to develop their artistic, creative and technological skills in an area which asks for consistent development. Performance, composition, improvisation, multimedia, audiovisual, computer programming, synthesizer programming, new and vintage hardware, and music theatre are among the key subjects taught.
The programme is completely cross-genre and is not biased towards one music style or tradition. Musicians with a background in classical, jazz or pop music can all follow this master's programme.
Lessons, lectures, and workshops are given by an experienced team of CvA teachers and internationally recognized guest lecturers.
Programme Structure
The two-year programme runs in project weeks, which means that once a month there will be a five-day intensive project. There are ten project weeks per academic year, the structure and content is subject to change in relation to availability of guest teachers. Each project deals with two main subjects, of which one is practical and the other either theoretical or technically oriented.
Each project week offers group lessons, individual lessons and workshops. Participation is compulsory, and students are expected to present their own work throughout the week and collaborate with other students. Most project weeks end with a concert that is open to the public.
Students may also receive individual instrumental lessons as a subsidiary subject in consultation with the programme coordinator.
Students are also required to complete a research project, with a written report and presentation due at the beginning of the second semester of the second year.
Exams take place during the last project week at the end of the year. First year students give a short (max. 20 minute) performance demonstrating the skills they acquired and how they plan to develop them in the second year.
At the end of the second year students do a final exam, which takes the form of a concert recital of approximately 50 minutes. The performance must consist of solo and ensemble performances in which the use of live electronics with instruments is central.
During the two years of the programme, students work on a variety of topics such as:
- Using the acoustic instrument as an electronic controller through feature extraction and dsp techniques
- MIDI hardware & software
- Working with Cycling74's Max, Arduino/Teensy, and Ableton Live
- History and theory of live electronic music
- Sound spatialization
- Synthesizers, including soft synths and plug-ins
- Audio Editing and Digital Audio Workstations
- Fundamental electroacoustic techniques, such as waveform synthesis, granular synthesis, vocoders and Fourier analysis/resynthesis
- Improvisation with electronics/electronic extensions
- Notation & composition for electronic performance
- New and experimental controllers (MIDI, audiovisual, OSC, touch and motion-based devices)
- Interactive video & audiovisual techniques, using Jitter and Beam4Max
- Using live electronics in a multidisciplinary or theatrical context
- Live electronic extensions as a tool for music education
- Professional practice, including new ways of promoting and disseminating your work
- Research skills
Jos Zwaanenburg coordinator
Jorge Isaac
Marcel Wierckx
Attie Bauw
Sander Notenbaert
Michele Abolaffio
The Live Electronics programme is intended for performers with an instrumental bachelor's degree or equivalent. Candidates with a bachelor's degree in another musical field may be admitted, provided that they show proficiency in music theory and a sufficient level of performance skills.
In addition to the completed and signed application form and the other documents, students are requested to send links to (an) audio and/or video recording(s) of a performance of live electronic music. A motivation letter stating the student's reasons for applying to the programme must also be included.
Selected candidates will be invited to do an audition in which they will present a live electronic performance of no more than 10 minutes, followed by an interview of about 10 minutes. Candidates from outside the European Union can opt for an online audition.
Applicants must have their own instruments (like any student of an instrumental principal subject), and also:
- a recent MacBookPro
- Max (cycling74.com), Ableton Live (ableton.com) and Teensy software installed
- a professional audio/MIDI interface (MOTU M-series or Focusrite Scarlett, for example)
- appropriate microphones and/or cabling that can be used for live performance with their instrument
The CvA can give technical advice for various instruments on request.
Application
Please find all information on how to apply and the closing date for application here
Programme Details
120 credits
Two years, full-time
English
44739 (M Music)
Master of Music