Why finals student Tjerk van Heck never stops learning: "Sky is the limit"

He was 15 years old when he discovered the guitar, which Tjerk van Heck considers quite late. "I thought: if you play that, then you're truly the coolest guy in class," he recalls. He had a talent for it, but he also developed other musical interests along the way. However, playing the guitar has always been a constant thread throughout his life. He enjoys learning new things and, for that reason, has already completed several studies. Tjerk earned his bachelor's degree in music therapy, and he also checked off the Music in Education program on his CV, which he pursued at ArtEZ. "I can also see myself doing a one-year course in music production after this," he shares. "I realize that I still have a lot to learn in that area."

Working with young people who have experienced trauma

He teaches at the ROC to an MBO class that consists partly of (war) immigrants. The fact that they were required to complete an internship in elderly care as part of their education, sparked an idea for Tjerk's graduation project. "In the past few weeks, I have been very busy preparing a number of music activities that the students from my class performed together with the elderly," he explains. "We visited two different care facilities on separate days, where the students showcased songs from the past during a singing and dancing performance. Some of the students, of course, come from very uncertain backgrounds. They are young people who had to flee their home countries. For them, standing in front of a group and expressing themselves in this way is a significant step." He appreciated the idea of bringing these two groups together and seeing what would emerge. "They truly did it together," says Tjerk.

Often, students discover a talent they didn't know they had."

He finds it most interesting to work with the students who enter his classroom in the morning, slouching and expressing little interest in an hour-long music lesson. "Sometimes, you can already capture their attention after just one lesson because they quickly discover a talent within themselves when working in a group, which they didn't know they had," he explains. He enjoys the excitement of creating something together within a short period of time. "That's also the beauty of music education," Tjerk believes. "You have more flexibility in choosing your curriculum. Unlike subjects like mathematics, you don't have to memorize rules from A to Z."

Challenging during jam sessions

In addition to his graduation project, during his Tailor-Made Music in Education course, he came up with a music game using a twelve-digit die. Depending on the number rolled, players must follow certain rules and create a composition within that framework. The game combines serial aleatory techniques and improvisation. Tjerk emphasizes that the game requires a certain level of musicianship and is intended for upper-level students or bands looking to challenge themselves during a jam session.

Delve deeper into the classical genre

Due to the exemptions he received for certain subjects, Tjerk completed his education within three years. When he looks back on his time at ArtEZ, one phrase stands out: "sky is the limit." Tjerk states, "I really feel that way about this program. For example, I absolutely love composing, and sometimes I would even have lessons via Teams in the evenings on non-class days. It was truly amazing." He also found subjects such as singing, ensemble, composition, and arranging to be very interesting to pursue. Although he comes from the world of pop music himself, Tjerk found it enriching to delve deeper into the classical genre as well. "I've learned so much over the past years. Additionally, the atmosphere at the program is excellent. The teachers are helpful, and there's no sense of competition among students; everything is very friendly."

Southeast Asia

Despite being proud and happy about the fact that he can add this diploma to his achievements after three years of studying, Tjerk will miss the school. "I spent one day a week in Zwolle for three years," he says. "It becomes a part of your life. But I'm also looking forward to the period after." He plans to take a few months of rest first and then board a plane with his girlfriend to explore Southeast Asia. "Furthermore, I recently found out that I will be assisting in setting up a practical learning center within the ROC. It's an exciting challenge because it's still in its early stages." Additionally, he has a one-year music production course on the agenda. "But first, some rest," Tjerk laughs.