The two-year full-time education has traditionally been the NSKA's showpiece and is intended for quartets that have the ambition and potential for a career as a full-time professional ensemble. The Matangi, Ragazze, Dudok and Animato Quartet are some of the excellent alumni from this programme.
The all-round education consists of a four-stage rocket of music education at post-academic level, workshops in entrepreneurship, residencies and concerts. The curriculum is continuously adapted to the requirements of the musician of tomorrow, with plenty of room for the students' own input. The NSKA also makes an effort to recruit a scholarship and - for foreign quartets - accommodation and visas. In this way, the NSKA offers the best possible start to a self-chosen career.
The music education (4 hours per week) is largely provided by artistic director Marc Danel, assisted by Joachim Eijlander, Stefan Metz and the other members of the Danel Quartet.
The repertoire focuses on the classical period, particularly Haydn and Beethoven. Not only is this the repertoire that students learn the most from, it also remains the core repertoire at international competitions. Delegation as a potential laureate to leading competitions such as Wigmore Hall or Banff is a musical focus in the training.
Every month, the NSKA invites an international figurehead for masterclasses. These ‘masters’ represent the various leading schools in quartet playing. All students are immersed in the world of the string quartet for three days, which makes the learning curve steep.
The masterclasses are an indispensable addition to the regular lessons. It is essential for students to receive nourishment from different angles and to learn to make their own choices. The closing masterclass on Sunday afternoon is always open to the public (see our agenda).
The NSKA encourages an open mind. In consultation, we therefore encourage students to also follow education outside the walls of the NSKA.
Forging four musicians into an independently functioning ensemble with a mature identity of its own involves more than just learning to play beautiful notes. That is why the NSKA is strongly committed to additional education. The modules not only cover musically supporting subjects (such as harmony, aesthetics, analysis and rehearsal methodology), but especially entrepreneurship (such as programming, stage presentation, internal organization, fundraising, marketing and communication).
Concerts
Performances are essential at all stages of the study to gain playing experience, build your own professional network and put the entrepreneurship you have learned into practice. The NSKA has a permanent place in the (lunch) concert series of the large halls in the Netherlands and contacts dozens of festivals and chamber music series in the country.
The À la Carte programme is a completely tailor-made programme and can therefore be ideally combined with an individual study or professional career. This programme is usually followed by foreign quartets, quartets that want to delve deeper into a specific repertoire, or want to receive lessons from a specific teacher. Depending on the quartet's wishes, in addition to masterclasses, workshops, residencies and concerts can also be part of the programme.
This programme is intended as a stepping stone for quartets that may eventually qualify for post-academic training or the À la Carte programme.
Keizersgracht 241
1016 EA Amsterdam
info@nska.nl
