Percussion | Global Groove Program

For centuries, drums, percussion, and rhythm have formed the beating heart of music worldwide. They musically connect the continents of Africa, North and South America, Europe, and Asia. To extend the musical palette beyond jazz and pop, today’s percussionists and drummers need information from all traditions and styles around the globe. With the Global Groove Program, the Conservatorium van Amsterdam aims to meet this need.

To achieve excellence and refinement on a single musical instrument or style, exclusive focus on this subject is indispensable. For this reason, a high level of dedication to a selected principal instrument or style is an important part of the program.

Teachers

principal subject
Lucas van Merwijk latin drums, latin percussion
Steven Brezet Brazilian percussion, latin percussion, allround percussion, methodology
Alper Kekec Oriental percussion
Niti Ranjan Biswas tabla and Indian percussion
Yoran Vroomdrums
Maguette Gueye African percussion

guest teachers
Aly N’Diaye Rose
Moussé Pathé
Roberto Quintero
Luisito Quintero
Roberto Vizcaino

Parallel to this specialization, the program offers education in a global range of drum and percussion traditions, from Afro-Cuban percussion to Indian tablas and from Senegalese sabar drums to oriental frame drums.

The Global Groove Program is a comprehensive percussion program combined with a specialization of the student’s choice. It offers inspiration and encouragement to develop towards a top level percussionist.

Admission

Admission requirements

1. Playing skill
a. The committee will choose from three pieces prepared by the candidate in which the candidate shows the committee, in addition to command of the instrument and a reasonable rhythmic understanding, a distinct musical understanding, preferably in various styles such as Cuban/Brazilian/African.
b. The student is to prove in these pieces that he has mastered sufficient skills on different instruments, played by hand as well as sticks. The committee can ask for this, if necessary.
The committee reserves the right to interrupt the candidate's playing as according to the committee, he/she has supplied enough information (because of the limited time of 30 minutes).

2. Hearing, tempo/timing and reading skills
This may consist of:

playing by ear an unknown, simple piece, without any previous information
singing and playing by ear a sung and played rhythm
playing of a part of the student?s choice at a given tempo (clicktrack)
playing à vue of a written rhythm

The committee supplements the examination with some exercises which must show the candidate's skills which have not been sufficiently disclosed up till then.

3. Assessment
The possibilities to follow a principal subject study will be discussed by the committee. Important issues for the assessment are:

musicality, hearing and rhythmic understanding
feeling for rhythm and tempo
affinity with the instruments and the musical styles that are connected with the instruments

but besides these also:

sense of form
technique and tone quality
reading of rhythms, sight reading

Preselection
The candidate must submit via the application form three links (YouTube, Soundlink etc). to audio or video recordings of their performances. On the basis of these materials, the committee will assess the candidate's level. If the candidate's level meets the requirements for the master's degree programme, the candidate may be invited to do a practical audition. In this audition, the candidate will play three pieces, including one jazz standard (originality and a high level of improvising are required).

Candidates may bring their own accompaniment. It is also possible to make use of a conservatory trio; if you wish to do so, please state this on the application form.