This week is the autumn Project Week at Codarts, a time when the normal curriculum in the Bachelor is suspended to allow for other activities to be pursued. There are two Project Weeks each year and the first is generally carried out within each department, whilst the spring Project Week is managed across all departments. In Codarts Classical Music we have designed these autumn weeks to explore issues of professional development and entrepreneurship. In the past four years our themes have been:

2011       Personal development and entrepreneurship

Beginning with an inspirational address from Dame Janet Ritterman, former Director of The Royal    College of Music, the week held a series of instrumental and vocal workshops that looked at opportunities for individual specialisation. General workshops on entrepreneurship and orchestral playing were also presented by Neil Wallace (Programme Director, De Doelen), Henk Swinnen (Artistic Manager, Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra) and other speakers. Each day began with physical warm-up exercises taken by Robert Hlatky and a choir rehearsal with Wiecher Mandemaker which resulted in a sing-through of Fauré’s Requiem.2012      Informed Musicianship

This week began with an inspiring presentation from clarinetist and conductor, Antony Pay and made use of many excellent colleagues in instrumental, vocal and orchestral sessions all focusing on the principles Historically Informed Performance. The week ended in a memorable concert in the Oude Kerk in Delft. Following on from this, Codarts Classical Music has run an Informed Musicianship programme since 2013 which has now broadened into Informed Performance, taking in contemporary issues as well as historical ones. As ever, the week was energised by Robert Hlatky’s great warm-up sessions.

2013       Idea, Skill, Preparation and Performance

This week looked at the skills and attributes that contribute to successful professionalism in music. Skill workshops in singing madrigals, rhythm tests and improvisation, were complemented by Robert Hlatky’s warm-up session, a choir rehearsal and a number of sessions dealing with performance preparation. The week ended with performances of the madrigals and Mozart’s Kronungsmesse.

2014      Let’s make a performance! Let’s make a difference!

With input from Neil Wallace (De Doelen), Carlo Balemans (Codarts), George Caird (Codarts), Robert Hlatky and Raaf Hekkema (Calefax Quintet), students have been divided into groups to create their own performances in four days. They have been challenged to fill up to 30 minutes with original material that demonstrates original thinking and team-working. Ideas, themes, content, delivery method, location, publicity and all factors to do with the creation of a performance are factored in. The performances are due to take place in or near Codarts on 6 November. This is surely a great climax to four years of exciting Project Weeks!

 

 

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