Course title: Master class / chamber music / orchestral projects Osiris course code: KC-M-KI Course content: Apart from the lessons in the principal subject, in the Master programme at the Royal Conservatoire a great deal of importance is attached to a wide variety of other activities. It is essential that the substance of these activities (master classes and chamber music, orchestral and ensemble projects) corresponds with the principal subject and that the activities organised by the department meet a high standard. At the same time, critical attention is devoted to whether the activities complement the range of activities outside the Royal Conservatoire (EYUO, chamber music festivals etc.) and the student’s study load is monitored. The head of the department produces the annual plan and devises, initiates and plans productions (in consultation with external partners, teachers and students); teachers are involved in the assignment of students to projects; and the department’s project manager executes the plans(in association with students from the elective subject, concert production). Orchestral projects are not only of a high standard, but also add a combination of works to the standard repertoire and involve participation in unique projects, or a combination of the two. There have traditionally been large orchestral projects (Gurrelieder, Turangalila Symphony), also linked to school-wide projects dedicated to particular composers (Stockhausen, McMillan, Kagel, etc), and there is an orchestra class in which during each period students prepare an important part of the repertoire at weekly rehearsals for a series of afternoon concerts. The orchestral projects are professionall y organised by the department’s production manager: student s are given a list of all the projects at the start of the academic year, including the timetable for rehearsals and concerts. The students are informed in good time of their assignments, which are made by teachers from the various instrument groups in consultation with the head of the department. Students are invited to notify the department immediately and in writing of which projects they would prefer to take part in and they are able to say which projects they are not available for (they must have a good reason, such as a try-out or professional work outside school). The head of the department decides in consultation with the teacher of the principal subject and the assignments are made. The arrangements are then recorded in a memo for each project. Chamber music: Master students and Bachelor students play together in ensembles that take part in the chamber music programme (lessons by the principal subject teachers and theory teachers, exams in the chamber music festival). There are series of concerts (including the coffee concerts broadcast live on radio from the Dr Anton Philipszaal) that are programmed by the classical music department. In the ‘Master/Apprentice’ series (with concerts in the Dr Anton Philipszaal and the De Vereeniging Nijmegen), teachers and students play together. Ensemble projects:
