IES Abroad Amsterdam: Conservatorium van Amsterdam (Direct Enrollment)

» General Information

Location:

Amsterdam, Netherlands

Description:

Affiliated for Northwestern Music majors only, this Direct Enrollment program allows students to enroll at the largest and most diverse conservatory in the Netherlands, the Conservatorium van Amsterdam.  Students have the opportunity to take classes in the departments of Classical and Jazz that vary from performance and theory classes to ones focusing on specific instruments. 

As the largest and most diverse conservatory in the Netherlands, Conservatorium van Amsterdam (the Amsterdam School of Music) takes full advantage of Amsterdam’s established reputation in music, including classical, jazz, and contemporary. The school is dedicated to upholding the highest standards of teaching, performing, and creating music through a highly-individualized course of study. It aims to train students to become versatile musicians at the highest level in every sphere of professional musicianship.

Students who study at the Amsterdam School of Music should be strong Performance, Composition, or Theory majors with the motivation and intention to become professional musicians, music scholars, or composers.



Terms:

Fall Semester (Fall Quarter), Spring Semester (Winter-Spring Quarters), Full Year

Sponsor:

IES Abroad

Website:

IES Abroad Conservatorium van Amsterdam


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Program Requirements

  • 3.0 GPA or better
  • Junior or Senior standing when program begins
  • Must be Music majors

Academic Specialties

Music; this program is affiliated for Music majors only.

Working closely with an advisor, you will develop a highly-individualized, full-time (15 credits) course of study within the concentration of Jazz or Classical music. Each combines practical and theoretical aspects of music study with various electives and optional courses. The Amsterdam School of Music offers students courses within the departments of Classical and Jazz:
  • Brass Instruments 
  • Historical Instruments (Classical only)
  • Improvisation (Jazz only)
  • Percussion Piano and Other Keyboard Instruments
  • String Instruments
  • Voice
  • Woodwind Instruments

The elective/optional component includes additional Performance and Theory options. Within both of the Classical and Jazz departments, elective courses are available in:

  • Analysis
  • Arranging
  • Chamber Music
  • Composition
  • Conducting
  • Continuo Playing and Directing Ensembles
  • Counterpoint
  • Drama
  • Ear Training
  • Harmonic Analysis of the Piano
  • Harmony
  • Music and Social History (History of Western Music)
  • Orchestra or Ensemble Projects (Big Band, Baroque Ensemble, Jazz Formations, Gamelan Fusion Groups)

Course Type

Conservatory courses in the departments of Classical and Jazz.  Students will also enroll in an IES Abroad Dutch Language and Culture course.

Additional Information

About Amsterdam:

The capital city of the Netherlands with a population of about 765,000, Amsterdam is a progressive city defined by its cutting edge contributions to the arts, business, politics, and social policy. The city has a central place in European economic, political, and cultural history; yet, the city is far from frozen in time—some of the most forward-looking socio-political policy in the world originates here. Amsterdam is also home to the famous Van Gogh Museum, which boasts the largest collection in the world of the artist's works.

Housing

Co-ed apartments with other IES Abroad and/or international students.  Rooms may be single or shared, and each apartment has a shared kitchen and bath.  Local Resident Assistants live in some of the apartments.

Program Costs

Estimated Costs:  Fall 2011
For the most updated program cost information, please refer to your program provider’s website.

  • Tuition:  $18,290
  • Room & Board:  $6,595
  • SAAF:  $2,355
  • Transportation:  $1,650
  • Books & Supplies:  $300
  • Personal Expenses:  $2,350
  • HTH:  $190
  • Visa:  $600
  • Total Estimated Costs:  $32,330

Additional Information:

For more information on billing and financial aid, visit the Financial Considerations section of the website.

Application Requirements

Northwestern students must complete two applications for this program:

  1. IES Abroad program application, available on the IES Abroad website.  All program application materials should be submitted to IES Abroad; you should NOT apply directly to the Conservatory van Amsterdam.
  2. Northwestern University Application for Permission to Study Abroad, submitted to the Study Abroad Office.