music production

Making music is at the very heart of our education program. Whether the students’ major discipline is creating, performing or producing classical music, pop, jazz, making musical instruments, or any combination of these disciplines, technical skills (instrumental technique, soft- and hardware, craftmanship) and creative skills (composition, improvisation, design) are of the utmost importance, supported by solid theoretical foundations (music theory, human and natural sciences). In addition to the skill set, we cultivate the so-called curating mindset: a prosperous artistic practice requires a researching mind, continual critical reflection, and an entrepreneurial spirit.

Making music requires playing together, with or in front of an audience. Even when a student is pursuing a solo career, we believe that musical collaboration in various contexts is key. To this end we offer and stimulate various ensemble practices, e.g. (big)band, chamber ensemble, choir, studio recording sessions, orchestra, creative labs and interdisciplinary collectives. Students need to be able to present often and have their work confronted with peers and audiences, from experimental creations in the safe environment of the school’s premises, over musical instrument exhibitions and try-outs, to official concerts in public venues on and off campus.

Making music is a relational practice, where a musician as well as a musical instrument maker connects with a complex and intertwined ecosystem of colleagues, stakeholders, and audiences. Throughout our education program, we underscore and facilitate networking in expanding circles: from self-care and self-reliance, over creating collaborative networks with other artists and cultural organizations, up to a critical and socially engaged attitude to the global world we live in.

During the three bachelor years, the core of the programme consists of three courses: producing, songwriting and soundlab. In producing, you learn everything about recording and mixing: microphone techniques, compression, eq, effects, etc. You work on assignments in class, individually and in groups, making full use of the school's infrastructure: two professionally equipped studios, equipped with an API1608 and an SSL AWS 924 mixing console, an extensive collection of peripherals and microphones. 

In the sound lab subject, you work with software (Pro Tools and Ableton), synths (hardware, software and modular) and drum computers, and again, everything is available in the school for you to experiment with to your heart's content. Fully equipped computers with the latest software, vintage (Roland Juno106) and more recent hardware, such as a Prophet6, Nord, Push2, Korg Volcas, TR8s, Doepfer, etc... In songwriting, you hone your creative skills through various assignments, which you then work out in producing or sound lab. You also take subjects such as Audio Technology (the theory behind the practice), Creative Lab (which focuses on live music-making), music theory subjects such as arrangement, ear training and pop and jazz history. Other subjects directly related to the professional field, such as music management and operation of the music circuit. From the academic section within the programme, there are general theoretical subjects such as music sociology and overview of philosophy, and research-related subjects such as dossier and thesis.

In the two consecutive master's years, producing is still central as a main subject, but you get more external assignments and the link to the professional field and building a network becomes more concrete through external mentors and subjects such as art in the professional field and an internship. As a capstone, you create a master's thesis which may include production work around your own work, productions for external artists and live performance.  

During your studies, you will certainly work 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 inspire each other across the various courses and where students can become creative masters in music in an exceptional setting. 

Whether it's as a songwriter & performer (Balthazar, Douglas Firs, Amatorski, Absynthe Minded, Shht, Yong Yello...), as a producer (Jasper Maekelberg, Wouter Vlaeminck,...), as a (film) composer (Hannes De Maeyer) or behind the scenes at VRT, in recording studios or audiovisual productions: our music producers are everywhere.

KASK & Conservatorium offers English-language master programmes in the visual arts, audiovisual arts, drama and music. Each year, dozens of foreign students choose the master programmes of our faculty to continue their studies. The presence of students from different international backgrounds is an enrichment for our educational tradition and provides an added value to the training of foreign master students and Flemish students moving on from the Dutch-language bachelor programmes alike.

The programmes are organized so as to facilitate encounters between Dutch-speaking and English-speaking students in informal contexts, in seminars and courses, and even in artistic projects they start up together. There are no differences in curricula, competencies, learning outcomes or organization between the English-language programmes and their Dutch-language counterparts. English-speaking candidates holding a master’s degree in music can also go in for the advanced master contemporary music or one of our postgraduate programmes.

Don’t hesitate to contact the study and learning track counsellors with your questions.