Music in Society

Master Music in Society

The master Music in Society is intended for creative musicians who want to make a positive contribution to society from their profession. You will learn how to set up and carry out musical projects that can make a difference in society.

The Study Programme

In this two-year master's programme, you will acquire the knowledge and skills you need to independently set up, perform and lead projects as a maker and musical leader for diverse target groups. Participation, inclusion and diversity are key. Based on your personal interests and artistic personality, you will immerse yourself in the musical creative process and musical leadership. You will strengthen your music-pedagogical and educational expertise.

You will learn how to develop project plans with a realistic business model and enter into structural collaborations with involved parties. In this way, you lay a solid foundation for a professional practice in which music-making and creative entrepreneurship go hand in hand and in which you can make an innovative and socially relevant contribution to the professional field.

This master is very well suited for musicians and music teachers who want to further develop themselves in the artistic, organizational and educational field.

Merel Brusselers

Curriculum

Practical

Projects form the basis of the study programme. You will participate in existing projects and develop your own. Examples are:

intergenerational choir
telling musical stories with refugees
musical projects with people with disabilities
inclusive project ensembles
music events in care institutions
democratic music ensemble
music projects (hip-hop, percussion, composing) with at-risk youth
composing music for children with multiple disabilities
educational performance around singing
renewing classical music concerts and opera

At the same time, you will work on your personal musical development and artistic profile through a programme of subjects tailored to your needs. You will receive a lot of personal coaching.

The master taught me to do research, to fully immerse myself in a subject, while giving me the space to broaden myself musically. It opened new doors and gave old ones more foundation. A true addition to my Bachelor of Music Education degree.

Noa Samson

Theory
In study groups and seminars, you will acquire knowledge on project management, music pedagogy and current topics. You will discuss the progress of your projects and your personal development in intervision sessions. Courses from the Master's elective programme will complete the programme. In the free elective space, you can devote extra attention to your personal interests.

Research
Research and the socio-musical project are closely linked. The research question arises organically from putting the project into practice and will deepen it at the same time. You will combine literature study with field research; fieldwork being both a way to gather insights and to build networks and explore the field.
An example is a project on Syrian musicians performing in public spaces. This explores how music contributes to integration and strengthens a sense of recognition and belonging. The field research consists of in-depth interviews with Syrian musicians inside and outside asylum seekers' centres, organisations involved, fellow Dutch musicians and the public. This creates a rich, multi-voiced project, supported by a mixed-method approach.

The master offers me the chance to realize my dream project under professional guidance: making music with children in the hospital! I learn how to set up high-level projects and how to manage them organizationally and financially.

Julia Bitter

Artistic development
Artistic growth is an integral part of the socio-musical project. You can opt for weekly principal subject lessons on your instrument or focus on e.g. arranging/conducting/vocal painting. You will also have the space to broaden your artistic profile through master's electives, such as the Creative Performance Lab. We encourage hybrid forms of collaboration and interdisciplinarity.

During the execution of the project, you will constantly make artistic choices: how and with whom do you collaborate, which musical forms suit your target group, what role does your own style and sound play in the social context? These choices contribute to the development of a personal artistic signature that is visible and audible in the final project. This creates interaction between artistic expression and social commitment, with both reinforcing each other.

By setting up and carrying out this educational music project, I learned about my inquiring, managerial, designing and compositional sides. The master allowed me to develop these new, totally different roles.

Iris van Doggenaar

Practical Information

Please click here for the application deadline.

To be eligible for the Master in Music in Society, students must already hold a Bachelor in Music Education or a Bachelor of Music degree. Candidates should submit:
a. a motivation/cover letter explaining their reasons for wishing to take the course
b. a project proposal
c. a digital portfolio. The portfolio must convincingly demonstrate artistic qualities, skills in music pedagogy and entrepreneurial qualities.

We also ask you to prepare a 3-5 minute pitch for the proposal

Guidelines for the digital portfolio

• front page: name and date;
• table of overview;
• your cv;
• documentation, consisting of:

 recommendations and personal reflections on internship experiences
professional experiences as a musical leader in the field
assessments and diplomas
compositions or musical arrangements
a clear portrait photo and photos, videos and other media demonstrating your artistic, pedagogical and other relevant skills

Audition Interview

The audition interview will take place before a committee of at least three persons. During the interview, we will discuss:

• the contents of your project proposal
• your motivation letter
• your digital portfolio

The interview will take approximately 30 minutes after which we will take at least one week to inform you about our decision.

Please click here for the date of the entrance exam.

Please note: if you are an applicant from outside the EU, please consider the amount of time and additional cost of applying for the appropriate visa.

Full time study of 120 credits (2 x 60), divided across the master's programme subjects.

44739 (M Music)

Completion of this master's programme leads to the international degree of Master of Music (MMus).

The lessons are taught in English. Therefore, students must have a passive as well as an active knowledge of the English language. Students who cannot speak and understand English, cannot be admitted to the course.

Please contact Ben Hekkema for more information

Ben Hekkema project management, course leader
Carolien Hermans research, intervision
Bas Gaakeer musical coaching
Debby Korfmacher community music
vocal and instrumental teachers of the CvA
(international) guest teachers

The master Musical Leadership has given me the space and tools to design a music project for children living in a refugee center. The knowledge, experiences and network I gained from this master are of much value for my career as a music educator.

Tessel de Rijk

The Master Musical Leadership has given me the opportunity to further expand my practice as a leader within various social and musical contexts. The combination of theory, research and practice-oriented subjects reflects the balance that is expected in the professional field. In addition, I was able to pay a lot of attention to my own artistic development and to expand my network.

Jonathan Szegedi

Student and Alumni Experiences

The Master of Musical Leadership has been a transformative experience for me, artistically, academically, and personally. The level of education is unparalleled, and I have been fortunate to learn from professors who have a broad knowledge of the subjects and are also kind and supportive. I am grateful for this opportunity and look forward to using my new-found knowledge and inspiring others to do the same.

Wagner Vasconcelos