Bachelor Course in Sonology | Royal… | Royal Conservatoire The Hague

“On the threshold of beauty science and art collaborate.” – Edgard Varèse

Sonology is the field of study involving production and research in the field of electroacoustic music, computer music and sound art. Instead of composing with sounds, as is generally the case in music, in sonology the sound itself is composed in such a way that it gives expression to musical form. This can take place on the basis of the physical principles of sound, on the basis of perception or on the basis of purely compositional ideas.

The Institute of Sonology adopts a clear stance in terms of the use of technology in music: we believe that technology is not merely an adjunct to the existing music practice, but should be used primarily to explore new forms of composition and public presentation of music and art. At the same time, Sonology is not bound by any stylistic dogmas.

We offer

a unique combination of technological and artistic resources and expertise
highly qualified international teaching staff
the opportunity to join an international community of active artists and musicians of more than 30 different nationalities

The Institute of Sonology has an extensive network of partners that includes the Groupe de Recherches Musicales (GRM) in Paris, the Netherlands Music Institute (NMI), Willem Twee Studios in Den Bosch, Studio LOOS in The Hague, the Sonic Acts festival, the Technische Universität Berlin and the Game of Life Foundation in The Hague.

The curriculum of the four-year bachelor’s programme in Sonology, which is taught entirely in English, covers many technical aspects of electroacoustic music and the artistic context in which those techniques are applied. The subjects include studio composition, writing and using computer applications, research into sound, the relationship between sound and space, digital signal processing, algorithmic composition, music theory, live electronic music, free improvisation and sound art. The Institute of Sonology has five studios fitted with state-of-the-art equipment. One studio has a Wave Field Synthesis system for spatial sound projection. The conservatoire’s concert hall frequently hosts concerts by Sonology students, faculty members, guest artists and the Sonology Electroacoustic Ensemble.

In addition to group lessons, you will devote more and more time to your own projects as the course progresses. The projects can focus on technical and/or artistic aspects and you will have regular opportunities to present the results to an audience in the Sonology Discussion Concerts. A bachelor’s degree in Sonology opens the way to a career as an independent electronic musician or in the field of multimedia, sound design, live electronic music, sound engineering and education.