musical instrument making

In the first two undergraduate years, you will learn the use of hand tools and the various building techniques, by building both test pieces and relatively simple musical instruments from a variety of disciplines, such as hakkebord, baroque guitar, dance master violin or cister. From the third year, you can then specialise in historical string, plucked, woodwind or keyboard instruments. In addition, theory subjects such as art and music history, instrument theory, technical drawing, materials science, chemistry and acoustics form an equal component within the curriculum. In the master's years, you choose your own research theme, on which you then work for two full years in project form. Several musical instruments emerge from this project, based on the chosen theme. 

Experimental instrument building is also covered, as an initiation in instrument conservation and restoration. Making music is important throughout the curriculum. You learn to play musical instruments from the very beginning, and the instruments you have built yourself are also tested, weighed and weighed by conservatorium students during the academic year. During the final exams, your instruments will be assessed by professional, renowned musicians and established builders.

The course lays a foundation for a wide range of functions and professions. The multi-layered and interdisciplinary nature of the field of instrument making implies an extensive and diverse range of subjects. Graduates from our direction find their place in existing instrument-making workshops or have started their own. You will acquire a multitude of practical, organisational, communicative and reflective competences with which you can go to various cultural and scientific institutions. Some of our alumni now work as curators in instrument collections of museums, others became researchers or teachers. The instrument faculty maintains close contacts with museums and organisations in the field such as the Musical Instrument Museum (MIM) in Brussels, the museum Vleeshuis / Klank van de Stad in Antwerp, the Alamire Foundation in Leuven and other research groups at home and abroad. Within the programme, researchers are also active in research projects and doctorates in instrument making.

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.