ArtEZ Academy of Music in Arnhem

At ArtEZ Academy of Music in Arnhem, there’s plenty of room to experiment: with music and other art forms. You’ll develop your musical skills, collaborate with students from dance, theatre and fine art, and discover what kind of maker you want to be. You’ll also gain experience beyond ArtEZ. During your studies, you’ll work with artists and organisations from the professional field, building connections and gaining hands-on experience along the way.

As a student at ArtEZ Academy of Music in Arnhem, you:

develop as a performing musician, composer, interdisciplinary maker, producer or artist educator;
present your own work;
collaborate with students from music, dance, theatre, writing and fine art;
learn from professionals working in the music industry;
build a network both within and beyond ArtEZ while you study;
become part of an artistic community that isn’t afraid to do things differently.

All music programmes in Arnhem

Why study music in Arnhem?

At ArtEZ Academy of Music in Arnhem, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to experiment and collaborate across different art disciplines. You’ll also make music beyond the academy: rehearsing in practice rooms, jamming in cafés and performing at venues and festivals. Along the way, you’ll get to know other makers and organisations in Arnhem’s music scene.

ArtEZ Academy of Music has locations in Arnhem, Enschede and Zwolle, each with its own character. In Arnhem, there’s a strong focus on experimentation and collaboration across different art disciplines. Alongside Music in Education and Music Therapy, Enschede places more emphasis on pop, technology and entrepreneurship. In Zwolle, the focus is on craftsmanship, social impact and developing your own musical identity.

‘You put a lot of yourself into what you create. Here, you feel safe and supported enough to do that. The lecturers are working professionals themselves, so they understand what they’re asking of you.’

Niels van Rijswijk, Music Theatre student at ArtEZ Academy of Music in Arnhem

Interdisciplinary and artistic

In Arnhem, experimentation goes beyond your own programme. During projects, you’ll collaborate with students from other art disciplines, creating everything from concerts and music theatre to sound design and performances in unexpected locations.

One of these projects is Pleasure Island. During this annual project week, first- and second-year students from seven performing arts bachelor’s programmes in Arnhem join forces. Students from theatre, dance, music, writing and fine art work in mixed groups to create new work together in just one week.

‘I’ve met so many students from different programmes. It inspires you to try new things.’

Joël Smidt, Composition for Film and Theatre student at ArtEZ Academy of Music in Arnhem

From making music to building your career

Through your programme, you’ll connect with teachers, makers and organisations working in the professional field. Arnhem is home to venues, studios, funding organisations and talent development programmes such as Poppunt Gelderland, Luxor Live, Jacobiberg, Cultuur Academy, PLANK Arnhem and Music Support Gelderland. This gives you the chance to meet people working in the industry while you study and gradually build a professional network of your own.

Venues, studios and rehearsal spaces

At ArtEZ Academy of Music, you’ll quickly find your way to the stage. Gain experience at the weekly Black Hole concerts in the concert hall, or play your first shows at one of the city’s many cafés, such as Nelson, café Classen, café Atlanta, Libertas of café Kroon. Nijmegen also has an accessible music scene, with opportunities to perform at places like café Dollars, Brebl of de Thiemeloods.

There are strong connections with professional venues in Arnhem. As a student, you’ll perform at Luxor Live, Willemeen, Theater aan de Rijn, Rozet and even Musis. There are plenty of places to rehearse too: at ArtEZ Academy of Music, Jacobiberg, Huis van Puck, Rozet and other studios in and around the city.

Jam sessions

Want to join a jam session? In Arnhem, you’ll find one happening almost every week. Head to the weekly Nelson Session at Nelson, the Reggae Jam at Willemeen or the monthly MonkeyJam at Café Bosch. At GROWE, hip-hop, Afro, R&B and dancehall come together in jam sessions held around five times a year. For jazz, funk and blues, head to Café Classen or the Dollars Jam Session at Café Dollars in Nijmegen.

Festival scene

Festivals in and around Arnhem are a great place to share your work with an audience. Whether you make jazz, pop, punk, rock or blues, you can take to the stage with a band or as a solo artist. There’s also plenty of room for music theatre. ArtEZ students regularly perform at festivals and events such as Hoogte80 Festival, Café Theater Festival, Uitnacht, Spijkerrok, Arnhem (Z)Uitnacht, Park Open and SonsbeekProeft.

Music Theatre

Studying Music Theatre? You’ll regularly rehearse and perform beyond the academy. You’ll create performances, site-specific projects and interdisciplinary productions, and take your work to festivals. ArtEZ Academy of Music in Arnhem collaborates with Hoogte80 Festival, Karavaan Festival, Café Theater Festival, Kunstnacht, Uitnacht, Theater aan de Rijn, Rozet and Posttheater.

Partners

During your studies, you’ll connect with venues, festivals and organisations in Arnhem and beyond. ArtEZ Academy of Music works with partners including Muziekhub Oost, Poppunt Gelderland, Luxor Live, Jacobiberg, Willemeen, Festival Jazz International Nijmegen, Kunstnacht Nijmegen, Andriessen Festival, Booster, Popronde and PLANK. These connections give you the chance to get to know the professional field from up close while you’re still studying.