The music production programme was founded at the Ghent School of Art (KASK) & Conservatorium in 1999. Twenty years later, this study programme has become a barometer for all those who are professionally involved with music and sound in a creative way.

Our alumni are everywhere: as songwriters and performers (Balthazar, Douglas Firs, Amatorski, Absynthe Minded, Shht, Yong Yello etc.), as producers (Jasper Maekelberg, Wouter Vlaeminck, etc.), as (film) composers (Hannes De Maeyer), or behind the scenes at the VRT (Flanders Radio & Television), in recording studios or in audiovisual productions.

The focus is on technique, musicality (both in performance and songwriting or composition) and creativity. It is precisely the combination of all these things that makes music production a unique course of study in Flanders.

The creative blossoming of students is central, with a solid musical and theoretical basis as a foundation. In the admission exam, musicality and creativity are assessed primarily on the basis of applicants’ portfolios of their own songs and productions. In a second phase, this image is further sharpened through such practical tests as songwriting and ensemble playing. Also assessed are the prospective students’ musical and theoretical background or achievements and, of course, their motivation. The final selection is made at the end of two intensive days.

During the three bachelor years, the core of the trajectory is contained in three subjects: Producing, Songwriting & Sound Lab. In Producing, students learn all there is to know about recording and mixing: microphone techniques, analogue & digital chains, compression, EQ (equalization), effects, hardware & software. Students work on assignments in class, but also individually and in groups, making full use of the school’s infrastructure, with two professionally equipped studios with API1608 and SSL AWS 924 mixing consoles and an extensive collection of peripherals and microphones. In the Sound Lab course, students learn to work with software (Pro Tools & Roland Juno106), synths (hardware, software & modular) and drum computers. Here too, everything is available here for students to experiment to their heart’s content: fully equipped computers with the latest software, vintage (Roland Juno106) and more recent hardware, such as a Prophet6, Nord, Push2, Korg Volca’s, TR8s, Doepfer, etc. Finally, in Songwriting, students’ creative skills are sharpened through a range of assignments, which are then often concretely elaborated in Producing or Sound Lab environments.

Students are moreover taught Audio Technology (the theory behind the practice), Creative Lab (in which live music is central), music theory subjects such as Arrangement, Ear Training and Pop and Jazz history, and subjects directly related to the working field, such as Music Management and The Workings of the Music Circuit. The academic segment of the programme includes general theoretical subjects, such as The Sociology of Music and an Overview of Philosophy, as well as related subjects such as Dossier and Thesis.

In the two master years, Producing is still central and the principle subject. Master students receive more external assignments, as the link to the working field and building a network becomes more concrete through external mentors and courses, including Art in the Working Field and a professional internship. Finally, students create a Master thesis project, which can involve production work around their own creations, productions for external artists and/or live performances.
During their study, music production majors work together with students of Jazz, Pop, Classical, Film, Animation, Drama, Fashion and other disciplines, on all kinds of projects inside and outside the school walls. KASK & Conservatorium is an environment where students and teachers continue to inspire each other across the various study programmes, and where students train to become creative masters in music in an exceptional setting.