* master electives

Theory and Electives Master Jazz

The theory component of the jazz master’s degree programme consists of a mandatory part and an electives part. In the course of the two years of the master’s degree programme, every student must earn up to a total of (at least) 20 credits in this music theory component. ‘Music Theory’ and ‘Composition - Creative Writing’ are mandatory. Together these courses amount to 10 credits.

For the electives part the student can choose courses from the electives list up to a total of at least 10 credits. Master electives are courses in music history, philosophy, music theory, analysis, arranging and composition. The study load is 5 or 10 credits per course.

Exchange
Students who wish to do an exchange programme in the first term of the second MA year should have earned at least 10 credits.

Extra credits
Students who have earned extra credits may use those for individual credits.

How to apply
All CvA master students will receive a registration form by e-mail. If you have any questions about the electives, please send an email to Barbara Bleij.

Jazz Master Electives 2025-2026

Mandatory Part

Creative Jazz Writing
The Creative Jazz Writing course will help you to create your own music and will improve your composing skills. Different techniques will be discussed, and assignments will be given. However, your own work will always be the starting point. The lessons are taught individually, and in pairs on occasion.

Advanced Jazz Theory
Advanced Jazz Theory is a two-hour course on a weekly basis for all 1st-year master students. Its main topic is the analysis of jazz compositions, primarily contemporary, post-Real-Book jazz originals. The analysis focuses on tonal hierarchies, compositional strategies, and stylistic characteristics. Homework includes transcriptions and analyses of jazz recordings as well as composition assignments, most of them with specific requirements aimed at applying some of the techniques and ideas learned from the analysed material in your own work.

Electives Part

Composition, Analysis and Performance

Course	Teacher	Short Description
Nicolas Slonimsky's 'Thesaurus of Scales and Melodic Patterns'	Jasper Blom	Slonimsky's Thesaurus of Scales and Melodic Patterns offers an overwhelming amount of melodic vocabulary and patterns for improvisation and composition. We will work systematically through the Thesaurus, creating and playing original compositions based on Slonimsky’s intervallic approach.
Get on Track - New Tools for Composition and Improvisation	Harmen Fraanje	We delve into isorhythm, polymeter, and rhythmic displacement, with students actively contributing their compositions to explore these fascinating musical techniques.

Critical Reflection: History, Analysis, Philosophy

Course	Teacher	Short Description
Reading Black Music: Key Texts on African American Music and other Afro-Diasporic Genres	Walter van de Leur	You will compile and read a list of books, articles, and chapters around one or two topics of your choice, to learn about the different debates that have accompanied the history of Black music.
Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn	Walter van de Leur	An in-depth confrontation with the repertory, idioms, histories, and composition and arranging techniques of Ellington and Strayhorn (including original scores).
Super Nova: Wayne Shorter, Composer/Improviser	Barbara Bleij	This analysis course centers around the compositions of Wayne Shorter from various periods in his career. You will gain insight into Shorter’s compositional methods and inspiration for how to compose in the jazz idiom.
Freedom and Improvisation	Joris Roelofs	This course explores improvisation and freedom as concepts, offering a critical perspective on how they are understood today and why they are often seen as intrinsically connected. The course involves a substantial amount of reading.
Developing Creativity	Sander van Maas	This course will make you understand why not all artistic production can be called creative, and how this insight can improve your creative practice. You follow a series of lectures and develop your own approach by doing a research project.
Textural Improvisation	Amit Gur, Ida Alanen	This course explores alternative approaches to improvisation. We will explore the role of texture in improvised music, study the practices of key artists and diverse musical cultures, and apply these approaches in our own playing.

Electives of the Classical Department open to Jazz Students

Course	Teacher
As Waters Rise: Musical Storytelling	Kim Spierenburg
Creative Performance Lab	Arnold Marinissen, Jorge Isaac, Jaco Benckhuysen
Electronic Music	Jorrit Tamminga
Intercultural Engagements in Music Composition and Performance	Harm Langenkamp
Musical Texture	Amit Gur
Patterns of Performance: The Neuroscience of Improving Experts	Beorn Nijenhuis
Technological Strategies in Composing and Performing	Arnold Marinissen
Tuning and Temperament	Jonas Bisquert, Andrea Friggi, Jorge Isaac, Jorrit Tamminga

Individual Credits

Jazz students may choose the following course for individual credits (but NOT for master elective credits):

Course	Teacher	Short Description
Advanced Rhythm	David de Marez Oyens et al.	The programme ‘Advanced Rhythm’ is intended for students from both the classical and jazz department, and structured in five different approaches.