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Study Junior Jazz.
Develop your talent. Find your sound. Prepare for your future.

Are you a young musician aged 14–18 with a passion for jazz and contemporary music?

Junior Jazz at Conservatorium Maastricht offers ambitious young musicians the opportunity to develop their musical skills, discover their own sound and gain valuable performance experience in an inspiring international environment.

Apply for Junior Jazz
Book a taster class

Language

English

Duration

Yearly programme on Saturdays from 10:00 – 14:00.
Individual main subject lessons are scheduled in consultation with your teacher.

Location

Jazz Department of Conservatorium Maastricht
Franciscus Romanusweg 90, Maastricht

Start

September

Tuition fee

Starting at €1840,-
More about Junior Tuition Fees

Deadline application

Apply before 1 May 

Is Junior Jazz for you?

Junior Jazz is designed for young musicians aged 14–18 who want to take their musical development further and explore the world of jazz and contemporary music.

You may be considering Junior Jazz if you:

  • are aged 14–18
  • are passionate about jazz, contemporary music or related styles
  • want to develop your instrumental or vocal skills
  • enjoy playing and creating music with others
  • want to learn how to improvise and develop your own musical voice
  • are interested in performing on stage
  • are ready to learn in a challenging, inspiring and international environment

Jazz is more than a musical genre. It is a way of listening, communicating and creating music in the moment. At Junior Jazz, you will explore jazz while also connecting with styles such as pop, rock, R&B, soul, funk and blues.

What will you learn?

Junior Jazz is fundamentally a performance programme. You will spend much of your time playing or singing, while developing the theoretical and musical skills that support your performance.

Develop your own sound

Work individually with an experienced main subject teacher on your instrumental or vocal skills. Develop your technique, musical expression and personal sound while exploring repertoire that challenges and inspires you.

Learn to improvise and create

Improvisation is at the heart of jazz. You will learn to listen, respond and create music in the moment. Develop your understanding of harmony, melody, rhythm and form and discover how to turn musical ideas into your own sound.

Understand jazz in context 

Jazz Theory In Context (TIC), connects music theory directly to musical practice. Explore the harmonic and melodic language of jazz and develop your aural skills while immediately applying what you learn when playing.

Find your rhythm

Jazz Rhythm focuses on one of the defining elements of jazz: rhythm. Explore swing, riffs, patterns and polyrhythmic grooves while developing your sight-reading, timing and rhythmic awareness.

Make music together

Learn how to listen, communicate and respond to other musicians through ensemble playing. Develop your skills in a jazz band while working on repertoire and preparing for performances.

Grow as a performer

Gain confidence through rehearsals, concerts, projects, masterclasses and other performance opportunities. Learn how to prepare music, communicate with fellow musicians and connect with an audience.

Your programme

Junior Jazz combines group lessons with individual main subject lessons.

Group lessons take place on Saturdays from 10:00 to 14:00 at Conservatorium Maastricht. Your individual lessons are scheduled in consultation with your main subject teacher.

Your programme combines:

  • Band - The Jazz Performance Ensemble is at the heart of the programme. Together with your fellow students and a coach, you work on repertoire and prepare for concerts.
    You explore every aspect of jazz performance, including timing and phrasing, form, comping, voicings, improvisation and dynamics.
  • Jazz Theory In Context (TIC) - Theory becomes practical. You will explore the harmonic and melodic structures of jazz while developing your aural skills and learning how to apply theoretical concepts directly to your playing.
  • Jazz Rhythm - Discover the rhythmic language of jazz. Work with swing, riffs, patterns and polyrhythmic grooves while developing your timing, sight-reading and rhythmic awareness.
  • Voice Training - Whether you are a vocalist or instrumentalist, your voice is a powerful musical instrument. Voice Training helps you experience melody, harmony, rhythm and dynamics from a different perspective while developing basic vocal techniques.
  • Main subject - Your individual lesson is where you work one-to-one on your instrumental or vocal development.

The programme includes 20 individual sessions of 45 minutes. Additional lessons are possible in sets of five. The programme is tailored to the students taking part each year. All lessons combine practical work with theory and are taught in English.

Learn from musicians who inspire

You will work with experienced teachers from Conservatorium Maastricht and its professional network. Their expertise as performers and educators supports both your musical and personal development.

Junior Jazz - Meet the Team
Among others:

An international jazz community

Junior Jazz is taught in English and is part of the international environment of Conservatorium Maastricht.

Located in the centre of Maastricht and at the heart of the Euregion, the programme gives you the opportunity to meet young musicians from different backgrounds and connect with a vibrant regional and international jazz network.

You don't just learn about jazz, you become part of a musical community.

Course fees

The Junior Jazz core curriculum includes the weekly group lessons, joint project activities and concerts. Individual main subject lessons are part of the programme as specified above.
View below current Junior Tuition Fees for the latest information about fees, lesson options and payment arrangements.

View course fees

Experience Junior Jazz

Want to find out what Junior Jazz is like before applying? Join a taster class, meet the teachers and experience the programme for yourself. Taster classes are available by arrangement.

Book a taster class

How to apply

Admission to Junior Jazz is based on an audition.

  1. Check the requirements
    Junior Jazz is open to young musicians aged 14–18 who play an instrument or sing within the Jazz Department.
  2. Submit your audition video
    The first stage of the audition is based on a video of you playing or singing. This gives us an impression of your current musical level, potential and musical personality.
  3. Attend the audition
    Candidates who progress to the second stage are invited to a face-to-face audition.
    During the audition, we look at your:
    performance skills
    musical ear
    motivation
    potential for further musical development
  4. Start your Junior Jazz journey
    Successful candidates receive information about the next steps and their programme.


  More about application procedure and admission requirements 


Questions?

Contact Mike Roelofs 
at mike.roelofs@zuyd.nl.

or Rik Bastiaens
rik.bastiaens@zuyd.nl

Conservatorium Maastricht
Franciscus Romanusweg 90
6221 AH Maastricht
The Netherlands

“I was classically trained, but recently I became more interested in contemporary music. That’s how I ended up at Junior Jazz. I want to make music my profession and study both contemporary and classical music. Junior Jazz gives me a great opportunity to get a head start before applying to the conservatoire.”

Jort

Junior Jazz student, Conservatorium Maastricht

“Junior Jazz shows me the technical side of music, but above all it gives me the opportunity to meet people like me, play together and learn how other young musicians approach the real world of music.”

Naomi

unior Jazz student, Conservatorium Maastricht

“I have been singing since I was six and music is a very big part of my life. What I enjoy most is making music with other people and performing. I joined Junior Conservatorium because I want to continue developing in music. It is a very welcoming place and I learn a lot.”

Sef

Junior Jazz student, Conservatorium Maastricht