Go to the main content Arrow right icon
Academy of Pop Music
Menu Academy of Pop Music
All courses   Academy of Pop Music

Course

Course

At the Academy of Pop Music, you will learn all about the music world, from musical ideas to effectively earning a living in music. You will not only become a technically capable pop artist, but a professional in the pop sector as well.

What will you learn at the Academy of Pop Music?

In four years, you will learn what your unique strengths are and how to use them to cement your place in the music industry. This happens at the Popacademie in three ways:

  • Through your main subject specialization, where you will master the technical aspects of your instrument. You will also learn several musical styles and genres, as well as how to play and work in a band.
  • Through various electives, in which you outline your own path of interest(s). Here you will choose what you want to learn, based on your own talents, abilities and ambitions.
  • Through hands-on work in projects. You will often work with other Popacademie students, as well as with students from other courses such as MediaMusic. This could, for example, look like organizing a festival together or even setting up your own company.

Course structure

  • The first year introduces you to the various components of the course. There is a lot of focus on your major, band culture, studio work and music theory. You will also learn the basics of songwriting, music production, education, management and business. You will get to know your teachers well and discover what they and the course can offer you. Your class size is small, typically ranging from four to ten students.

    From the very first year, the ArtEZ Academy of Music in Enschede offers you many opportunities to perform live, such as at band try-outs, the Booster Festival, Afterglow or BandLab.

  • In year 2, you will master the subjects you were introduced to in the first year. In this year, you will make great strides in your knowledge and skills. There will be lots of attention on mastering your major instrument. You will also start working on projects and organizing productions.

    You will also complete an educational internship, during which you will teach within a professional organization. You will apply the knowledge, insights and skills you have gained in your lessons as well as in your main subject. This internship will help you on your way to becoming an independent music teacher.

  • Whereas in the first two years you took several classes, in the third year you will choose your direction of study and continue as a performing artist, producer, songwriter, singer-songwriter, music manager, musical entrepreneur, studio or session musician, or teacher. You could, for example, start your own private music studio or your own label, under supervision.

    From the third year on, you will choose the direction of your studies more yourself. You will do so by choosing optional “profiles” in year 3 and 4, such as music management, music production, songwriting, music education, business, studio playing, studio singing, backing vocals or performance. To better prepare for professional work, you can also do several internships in year 3. Third- and fourth-year students doing the minor in Music Management and Business automatically do an internship at the PAMM production company of the Academy of Pop Music and MediaMusic.

    You can also choose to study abroad for a few months in your third or fourth year.

  • In year 4, you will choose your second direction of study; that is, your second “profile.” Depending on your career goals, preferences and interests, you can choose an internship somewhere in music industry. You will also graduate at the end of this year, which you do by completing a graduation project in one (or a combination) of the following ways:

    • concert;
    • releasing an EP;
    • concert featuring your own compositions;
    • documentary;
    • organizing a festival;
    • giving a presentation on your own music business;
    • doing live sets at festivals;
    • digital educational concepts.

PAMM Productions

PAMM is the production company of the Popacademie and MediaMusic. If you choose to do the minor in Music Management and Business in your third or fourth year, you will do an internship at PAMM. At this internship, you will programme bands, organise sessions at pop venues and support students in setting up their own projects.

PAMM is involved in festivals such as the Popronde, Booster and Stukafest. PAMM also maintains contacts within the professional field and ArtEZ alumni and organises some of the projects for the Popacademie programme. The production company also organises collaborations between Popacademie and MediaMusic students and students from other programmes within ArtEZ. All that makes PAMM a very cool place to do an internship!

Projects

  • Booster Festival is the showcase festival for the east of the Netherlands. Musical talent from Overijssel and Gelderland can be found playing all over the city centre in Enschede. This festival is organized by students of the Academy of Pop Music and MediaMusic doing the Management or Business minor.

     

  • Afterglow is a concert given for all first-year conservatory students in Enschede. Acts from the final year of the Academy of Pop Music perform here. Afterglow is partially organized by PAMM Productions.

  • Popcollegetour is a unique collaboration between six Dutch HBO pop academies. An initative of the Academy of Pop Music at the conservatory in Enschede, each conservatory selects one act from their department. Together, these acts tour pop venues throughout the Netherlands.

  • As a student of the Academy of Pop Music, you will take part regularly in writing camps. During these short, intensive camps, you will collaborate with students from other music courses on writing either your own songs or commissioned songs.

ArtEZ Finals

The graduation projects can be seen at ArtEZ Finals. If you want to know what students are doing and you are considering choosing this study programme, check out the site and visit the presentations.

Doing research outside of your regular class hours

When you study at ArtEZ, you also get acquainted with research. Think of theory classes, material research, and socially engaged research. Within your course, there is ample support and space to discover what kind of artistic researcher you are. But outside your regular class hours, there are also special initiatives, activities, and workshops where you can work on research. Especially for students who seek further depth. Curious? Then quickly read more about the (extracurricular) research activities.

Doing research outside of your regular class hours