The Conservatoire offers Bachelors and Masters courses in Baroque Cello, within the department of Early Music. The Bachelors course consists of three years, while the Masters lasts two years.
The bachelors course focuses on playing early cellos, from the Renaissance to classical period. The course is part of a unique pedagogical project. The course helps students gain a fine understanding of the difference between techniques for playing different instruments as related to the different eras, places and contexts in which they were played, as related to the functions of consort, basso continuo and soloist, and taught in direct relation the courses in applied theory taught within the Early Music department, helping students to gain a comprehensive training in artistic, practical and theoretical skills alongside general and cultural skills.
Alongside the weekly group and individual, instrumental and chamber music classes, each year students also participate in projects organised by the cello class (open class, projects around the topic basses, Bach suites, etc.), and by the department (colloquia, concerts, seminars, orchestra sessions, conferences). The training also includes classes in reading, theory, and writing. Instruments, bows and scores are made available for use by students (instruments with 4 or 5 strings, with different strings, bass violins, bows). Bachelor students receive a solid musical, cultural and general training, including a good overview of practice for all early cellos.
Students can then build on this solid foundation during the Masters programme, allowing them to further develop their specific approach to their instrumental and artistic work, in particular work as a soloist. This culminates in the realisation of a personal artistic project at the end of their studies. During this second cycle, or masters programme, chamber music grows in importance, and leads students to develop links to the professional world (concerts, recordings...). Students regularly take part in ambitious projects, thanks to the artistic partnerships of the Conservatoire royal de Bruxelles.