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  4. Double Bass
Contrabas
bachelor of master in de Kunsten

Double Bass

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For whom?

  • You want to pursue your passion for playing double bass and dream of a professional music career.
  • You want to further develop your artistic expertise with the help of internationally renowned professors.
  • You have the necessary knowledge and skills to pass the admission test.

Your future

With your degree in Double Bass, you can become a freelance musician or play in an orchestra/ensemble. You can also continue studying and become an artist-teacher or perhaps an artistic researcher? This study programme is the preparation for a brilliant future both on and off stage.

Orchestra / Ensemble

Making music in a group format is important for your development and therefore compulsory during your studies. As a double bass player, you can join the string orchestra, symphonic orchestra or the contemporary ensemble among others.

Seminar & Masterclasses

Renowned guest professors from Belgium and abroad are invited to pass on their knowledge to you.

Brussels

You will have the chance to study in a metropolis with both large concert halls as well as small jazz clubs, the ideal starting point for a professional music career. Your campuses are surrounded by beautiful cathedrals, trending coffee bars and green parks to unwind in.

The KCB focusses on the broad artistic formation of each individual. The lessons are based on direct interaction between teacher and student due to the small amount of students in each class. The great number of orchestral productions each year allows us to gain experience on the stage and learn the ins and outs of the greatest pieces is in music history. 
 

Foto van Joachim
Joachim
Student Music

Kwaliteitsvol onderwijs

Erasmushogeschool Brussel streeft kwaliteitsvol onderwijs na en ontwikkelt haar opleidingen voortdurend om te voldoen aan (inter-)nationale kwaliteitskenmerken. EhB zet maximaal in op het ontwikkelen van een kwaliteitscultuur en hanteert haar eigen kwaliteitsregie als fundament voor kwaliteitsvol onderwijs.

Verschillende instrumenten garanderen het versterken en borgen van de onderwijskwaliteit van deze opleiding:

De website opleiding in cijfers van de Vlaamse overheid geeft informatie over het profiel van deze opleiding zoals wie deze opleiding volgt, hoelang studenten erover doen om hun diploma te behalen, etc.

Lees meer over de kwaliteitsborging binnen EhB.

After your study

Professional music career

With a Bachelor's and Master's degree in Music from the Koninklijk Conservatorium Brussel, you can choose many professional directions. Who knows, you might end up:

  • in a (inter)nationally renowned orchestra or ensemble
  • in the arts education field
  • in the social artistic field
  • at cultural institutions or governments as advisor or policy maker
Contrabas (f Tom De Beuckelaear)

Further studies

Abbreviated bachelor's degree

After your bachelor, you can move on to a master's degree and even an additional master's degree in another instrument, through a abbreviated bachelor's degree. Postgraduates are also among the possibilities.

 
Verkorte Educatieve Master Muziek

Merk je tijdens je studie dat lesgeven iets voor jou is? Aan het KCB kan je ook een Verkorte Educatieve master Muziek volgen. Zo kan je meteen aan de slag als kunstenaar-leraar.

 

Artistic researcher

Interested in a career as an artistic researcher? KCB organises various events around research and also offers you the opportunity to do a PhD in collaboration with the Brussels Arts Platform and the VUB (university).

Your subjects

Bachelor
Required subjects Ba1 (CR) BA2 (CR) BA3 (CR)
Main instrument I, II, III 24 24 27
Chamber music 1, 2   6 6
Orchestra 1, 2, 3  6 6 6
Theory and ear training  1, 2 4 4  
Rhythm and intonation   1, 2 5 5  
Harmony and analysis   1, 2 9 9  
History of music 1, 2, 3 6 6 6
Formal analysis 1     6
Encyclopedia and research 3    
Posture and movement 3    
History of culture     3
Optional subjects     6
Total  60 60 60

Master
Required subjects Ma1 (CR) Ma2 (CR)
Main instrument IV 27  
Master exam   30
Chamber music 3, 4 6 12
Orchestra 4, 5 6 6
Formal analysis 2 6  
Introduction to philosophy 3  
Artistic Research Practices 3  
Optional subjects 9 12
Total  60 60

More information about your subjects.

Alumnus in focus

Shih-Wen Lee

Shih-Wen Lee, accomplished both bachelor's and master's degrees in three years. Shih-Wen has already performed in several orchestras, including the Young Belgian Strings (YBS), Youth Orchestra Flanders (YOF), Brussels Philharmonic Orchestra, Taipei Philharmonic Youth Orchestra (TPYO), and the Asian Youth Orchestra (AYO), among others. Currently, she actively participates in orchestral performances across Belgium, Europe, and Asia, while also dedicating herself to solo performances and free improvisation. Additionally, she is a member of the Dutch/French electroacoustic alliance “DIKTAT."

Shih-Wen Lee KCB

Your professors

In order to develop your talents to the fullest you need a teacher that is capable to help and motivate you in the right way. Our teaching staff is world renowned and have years and years of experience both as performers but also as pedagogues. 

Do you have any specific questions before you register for the admission tests? Would you like to meet your teacher before you take the big step? Below is a list of all teachers with contact information.

Begeleiding
Koenraad Hofman

Koenraad Hofman

Teacher Double Bass

Koenraad Hofman (°1971), born and raised in Brussels, studied at our Koninklijk Conservatorium Brussel under the professors Maurice Aerts and Etienne Siebens. From 1996 to 2003, the double bassist shifted his focus to Amsterdam, where he performed as solo bassist with the string orchestra Amsterdam Sinfonietta led by Lev Markiz and Peter Oundjian, among others. He also held the same position in the European Union Chamber Orchestra until 2007. Closer to home, Hofman has been leader of the double basses at the Symfonieorkest Vlaanderen since 2004.  
 
Between 2015 and 2019, he taught double bass at the Conservatory of Ghent. His heart also beats for the chamber music ensemble Oxalys, born in the lap of our conservatoire. Hofman has been an uninterrupted double bass player there since 1993 and has been responsible for artistic coordination for the past 10 years. Since the academic year of 2019-2020, he has been teaching at our Koninklijk Conservatorium Brussel.

Contact Koenraad:

E-mail

Projects in the spotlight

Let's Dance | String Orchestra

The string orchestra has no conductor. Thus, the violin, viola, cello and double bass students learn to listen to each other while playing and to tune in well with each other. The string orchestra is led by double bass professor Koenraad Hofman.

Northern Echoes | Symphonic Orchestra

In the symphonic orchestra of autumn 2022, none other than conductor Bjarte Engeset came to teach our students the beauty of Scandinavian music. They performed Nielsen's Helios Overture, Elgar's Concerto in E minor for cello and orchestra with soloist João Gonçalves and Sibelius' second symphony.

SOI

Your campus

Campus Regentschapsstraat & Kleine Zavel

Our campuses are located in the vibrant Sablon district right in the heart of Brussels. The Conservatoire's stately main building on the Regentschapsstraat with its magnificent Concert Hall is one of Brussel's landmarks. Around the corner is our campus on Kleine Zavel where you can attend classes and study in the best conditions. Moreover, you can use our premises to study during the week and at weekends.

How can I access the campuses?

Alex KCB
Regent KCB

Renovation of the main building

After years of negotiations, we are proud to announce that the plans for the renovation of our impressive main building on Regentschapsstraat have been approved. More info on this can be found here.

Go abroad

During your studies at the Koninklijk Conservatorium Brussel, you will come in contact with the world: after all, you study in Brussels, Europe's most cosmopolitan capital. KCB offers guest lectures by international professionals or by a professor from a foreign partner school, international projects,... we will train you to become a professional ready for tomorrow's increasingly international world.

Do you want to spend some time abroad yourself? You can! Studying for a semester (or academic year) at a partner university or doing an internship abroad, mais oui, of course! Find out more about internationalisation.

KVDS KCB

Visit us!

Info moments

We organise several info moments during the second semester, such as (online) info days and open class moments.

Concerts

We welcome you to our many concerts, masterclasses and research days. Also come and listen to a caleidoscoop concert by our BA1 and BA2 students or our public exams. That way you can see what you would learn as a future KCB student. Every academic year, there are numerous productions in which our students perform. Subscribe to our newsletter and stay informed.

INFO & TICKETS

Nieuwjaarsconcert 2021

Enrolment & Admission Tests

AT

To start your studies at the Koninklijk Conservatorium, you must pass an artistic admission test. For information on the entrance exams - such as dates, the programmes to prepare, the enrolment conditions/fees and the module to enrol - click on the button below.

ADMISSION TESTS

KCB

Any question?

For more information on this programme you can contact the student administration via secretariaat.kcb@ehb.be.