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about the programme
Musical instrument making focuses on the history and structure of musical instruments, for the purpose of building, reconstructing and preserving these fascinating objects. It concentrates mainly on the study and (re)construction of historical instruments, investigating the acoustic possibilities of these 'sound instruments'. Moreover, it does so in the interest of the performance practice of old, but equally of new music.

musical instrument making

about the programme
study path
bachelor + master music
graduating option musical instrument making
3+2 years
language
Dutch
English master

read more about the programme

What does the instrument maker do?

As an instrument student, for your research and construction activities, you will thoroughly analyse historical sources and tracts, iconography and professional literature. Naturally, you will also study and document instruments from private and public collections. In doing so, you will use both traditional methods (surveying, plan drawing, photography) and the latest technologies, such as X-ray and CT scans, optical 3D scanning and digital endoscopy. Ultimately, all this data is used to build your reconstruction. 

A great deal of perseverance, a sense of precision, a passion for music and instruments and a certain degree of manual dexterity are crucial to complete your own course within the programme. We do not expect specific prior training (e.g. in woodworking). Our studios are located right in the old centre of Ghent, close to the Conservatorium.

From felling and planing to finished instrument

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. 

photo: Lukas Neven

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 instrument maker's field of work

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.

English master

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.

study programme

1E BACHELOR
60 credits
Course unit
Credits
Sem
Atelier Instrumentenbouw I
24
J
Algemene muziekleer en practicum instrument 1
6
J
Waarnemingstekenen
3
2
Organologie 1
3
1
Natuurwetenschappelijke ondersteuning 1
3
2
Materialenleer 1
3
1
Akoestiek 1
3
1
Muziekgeschiedenis: middeleeuwen, renaissance, barok
3
J
Overzicht van de kunsten: renaissance tot avant-garde
3
J
Overzicht van de wijsbegeerte
3
J
Inleiding tot het onderzoek in de kunsten
3
1
Opleidingsonderdeel naar keuze
3
Studium Generale
3
J
Conservatorium concerten
3
J
Ondernemen
3
1 of 2
Studie van literaire teksten
3
J
Specifiek theoretisch opleidingsonderdeel
3
J
60
2E BACHELOR
60 credits
Course unit
Credits
Sem
Atelier Instrumentenbouw II
21
J
Algemene muziekleer en practicum instrument 2
6
J
Digitale beeldvorming
3
J
Stemmen 1
3
J
Organologie 2
3
1
Natuurwetenschappelijke ondersteuning 2
3
1
Materialenleer 2
3
1
Akoestiek 2
3
2
Muziekgeschiedenis: klassiek en romantiek
3
J
Kunstenaarsteksten
3
J
Niet-Westerse muziektradities
3
2
Overzicht van de muziekpsychologie
3
1
Opleidingsonderdeel naar keuze
3
Studium Generale
3
J
Conservatorium concerten
3
J
Ondernemen
3
1 of 2
Specifiek theoretisch opleidingsonderdeel
3
J
60
3E BACHELOR
60 credits
Course unit
Credits
Sem
Atelier Instrumentenbouw III
21
J
Algemene muziekleer en practicum instrument 3
3
J
Stage
6
J
Stemmen 2
3
J
Organologie 3
3
1
Inleiding conservatie en restauratie
3
1
Inleiding elektronische instrumenten
3
J
Initiatie werkveld instrumentenbouw
3
2
Natuurwetenschappelijke ondersteuning 3
3
1
Muziekgeschiedenis van de 20e eeuw
3
J
Dossier
3
2
Overzicht van de muzieksociologie
3
1
Opleidingsonderdeel naar keuze
3
Studium Generale
3
J
Conservatorium concerten
3
J
Ondernemen
3
1of2
Koor 3
3
J
Specifiek theoretisch opleidingsonderdeel
3
J
60
1E MASTER
60 credits
Course unit
Credits
Sem
Masteratelier instrumentenbouw
25
J
Opleidingsonderdeel te kiezen
6
J
Restauratietechnieken 1
6
J
Elektronische instrumenten 1
6
J
Te kiezen
9
J
Kunst in het werkveld
9
Kunst in het werkveld
6
Kunst in het werkveld
3
Organologisch onderzoek 1
6
J
Masterseminaries
8
1of2
Opleidingsonderdelen naar keuze
6
Studium Generale
3
J
Conservatorium concerten
3
J
Ondernemen
3
1of2
Koor master 1
3
J
Specifiek theoretisch opleidingsonderdeel
3
J
60
2E MASTER
60 credits
Course unit
Credits
Sem
Masterproef Instrumentenbouw
29
J
Opleidingsonderdeel te kiezen uit
6
J
Restauratietechnieken 2
6
J
Elektronische instrumenten 2
6
J
Organologisch onderzoek 2
6
J
Bedrijfsbeheer
3
1
Masterseminaries
4
1 of 2
Scriptie
9
J
Opleidingsonderdeel naar keuze
3
Studium Generale
3
J
Conservatorium concerten
3
J
Ondernemen
3
J
Koor master 2
3
J
Specifiek theoretisch opleidingsonderdeel
3
J
60
1E ENGLISH MASTER
60 credits
Course unit
Credits
Sem
Elective subject master 1
6
Y
Restoration techniques 1
6
Y
Electronic instruments 1
6
Y
To choose
9
Y
Arts in Practice
9
Arts in Practice
6
Arts in Practice
3
Organological research 1
6
Y
Master seminars
8
1 or 2
Elective to choose
6
60
2E ENGLISH MASTER
60 credits
Course unit
Credits
Sem
Master project instrument building
29
Y
Elective subject master 2
6
Y
Restoration techniques 2
6
Y
Electronic instruments 2
6
Y
Organological research 2
6
Y
Business administration instrument building
3
1
Master seminars
4
1or2
Elective to choose
3
Y
Thesis
9
Y
60

enrolment

If you want to apply for an academic bachelor's, you must first pass an artistic admission test. To enter the master's programme, you will take part in an orientation test. These are organised several times per academic year.

quality assurance

KASK & Conservatorium's programme in music has been assessed against the internationally recognised standards of MusiQuE in 2022.

contact
the workshops of musical instrument making are located at
Nederpolder
26, Nederpolder
9000 Ghent

credits

  1. photo: Joselito Verschaeve
  2. video: Julie Daems
  3. Atelier musical instrument making, open day 2023, photo: Lukas Neven