Master
Vocal
Studies
Doing Jazz Vocals at Conservatorium Maastricht means you choose to spend an intensive period developing your individual talent. You will develop as a musician, working together in a band, combo or choir, or in close harmony projects.
The supporting curriculum aids this development and gradually adds challenges: writing charts, solo transcriptions, scat-singing/improvising, writing your own songs/lyrics/compositions, forming your own band/ensemble, leading a band, performing live in exams, jam-sessions, gigs, and more.
The combination of individual attention, an international group of students, and a curriculum with substance will inspire you to achieve your full potential. Our diverse team of vocal teachers will enable you to choose and develop your own path in creating and performing music, working on any of the countless ways to develop your voice; range, dynamics, sound, belting, blending the registers, posture, breathing, grounding, resonance, diction, interpretation, and carrying and delivering a tune.
The Master’s programme will allow you to focus on researching and deepening your knowledge of specific areas that are of particular interest to you , which you will then present in the 1st and 2nd- year Master’s exams.
Meet our team
Meet your lecturers
Compilation video Jazz Vocal
Master student vocals Sara Wittazscheck
Master student vocals Sara Wittazscheck
Curriculum
Curriculum Master Vocal Studies
Before you apply
Admission
requirements
Video Requirements
Share your un-edited video recording links in the portfolio; Videos should be uploaded to your YouTube channel ( if you don’t have one, make one). Set your videos to ‘unlisted’ so only you and we can see them. IMPORTANT: DO NOT send the actual video(s): ONLY LINKS to the video(s)
• The video is maximum 10 minutes long
• The candidate presents him/herself in English at the start of the video
• The video shows you, singing the necessary repertoire.
• A motivation letter
• A musical biography
And here some notes from the vocal department:
A video from a phone is good - you don’t have to book somebody for a professional video. A recording from a concert is also fine - so we really want to see you make music - the way you like it.
Interesting for us vocal teacher is:
• the music YOU love,
• Swing,
• Latin,
• Ballad or Blues,
• some scat-singing?
• do you compose yourself? - then show it :-) - and no prob if not.
• In the motivation letter you can tell us about why you want to study and what you wish for your development during studying. In your musical biography you write about your teachers, instruments you learned, concerts or combos – tell us the important music-steps you took.
- Include 3 songs in different styles/tempi sang with band. Own compositions/lyrics are very welcome, as well as influences/songs from the Great American Songbook, Latin Music, Instrumentals. Improvisation and scat singing is welcome too, we like to hear you with your individual musical statement. This recording can be part of your Bachelor concert, a live concert, a studio recording session, a rehearsal with good sound.
- Show us your vision. What would like to work on during your master studies? Present a try-out of what interests you and the direction you would like to develop into.
First Example
If your idea for further development / Master Research would be:
“How to integrate traditional Chinese Elements/Instruments in a context of jazz influenced own compositions”
Then you could record for us:
“a song own composition jazz Ballad with Chinese Lyrics and an interactive solo with a traditional Chinese string Instrument”
Second Example
If your idea for further development / Master Research would be:
“The art of improvising lyrics on the spot: Jazz vs. HipHop, Sheila Jordan vs. Fanta4 – lyrics, rhymes, harmonic and rhythmic approach – an artistic experiment including writing, preparing solos, analysing and comparing the different styles documented in a blog”
Then you could record for us:
“An own song with lyrics impro on-the-spot, influenced by Sheila Jordan’s impro on Sheila’s Blues”
If you have a video of your Bachelor Final Exam, please share that with us as well as an additional video link.
“Live” Audition
Depending on your level, you will be invited for an online meeting with the teachers for an online “live” audition.
For the “live” audition, you should be able to sing a representative short set (3 pieces), we highly recommend that you do this with your own band! Present us your vision. And be ready to do interactive exercises together with the main subject teachers, as well as individual ones, including sight reading and improvising.
The “live” audition should take approximately 20 – 45 minutes.
Master Interview
Finally, after passing the live audition, you will be invited for an interview with the jazz master coordinator to discuss your study and research plans.
The master interview should take approximately 45 – 60 minutes.