Since the last General Meeting, there are not one, but two KVNM board members who focus mainly on student affairs: Lotte de Smet (University of Amsterdam) and Maria Zwartbol (Utrecht University). They work together to build a bridge between the KVNM and the variety of students engaged in musicological research at the various universities and conservatories in the Netherlands. Here they briefly introduce themselves and share their vision.

1. Can you briefly introduce yourself? Who are you and what do you do?

Lotte:

Besides working as a music teacher and piano teacher, I am currently studying musicology at the University of Amsterdam. Previously, I completed the Music Teaching course at the Codarts conservatory. I am also active as a musician where you can usually see me in action with a jazz ensemble or big band. This way the agenda is completely filled with music; so you can say that music is my greatest passion.

Maria:

Last summer I graduated from the research master's in Musicology at Utrecht University. I am currently following the educational master's in Art History at UU.

2. Are there certain projects or topics you focus on specifically within your studies?

Lotte: The direction I chose within the bachelor of musicology is historical musicology. This is actually because I really enjoy diving into scores and deciphering music, but I have to say that both the cognitive and cultural directions that UvA offers are also immensely interesting. My most recent research was on improvisational practices in baroque and bebop jazz. For that, I dove into an improvisation by bebop phenomenon Charlie Parker and compared his improvisational style to the Flute fanatasia of Baroque composer G.P. Telemann. From that came very interesting and surprising conclusions and I also had a lot of fun doing it. Chances are I will delve further into the subject of improvisation for my thesis this year.

Maria: My interests lie mainly within historical musicology, but within that I find an enormous number of subjects interesting. In the past year, I have mainly been researching the Dutch musical culture of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. For example, my Master's thesis was about children and song culture in the sixteenth- and seventeenth-century Northern Netherlands. At the same time, I am also much concerned with the intersection between musicology, heritage and museum studies, and public education.

3. How did you first learn about the KVNM and why did you decide to become a member?

Lotte: I think the first time I read about it was in an email from the UvA. Right then I started finding out what exactly the KVNM was. I was looking for a place where you could be involved with music on an academic level outside the university, so when I found out that the KVNM existed I immediately signed up as a member. Moreover, I thought it would be a good opportunity to meet other musicologists with whom I could discuss and talk about musicological topics. With that thought, I became a member. Later I saw that the KVNM was looking for a student board member and I did feel that I would like to do my part. I decided to apply for the position, and I am still very happy and grateful that I can now be part of the KVNM board.

Maria: I must honestly confess that during my Bachelor I had never heard of the KVNM, even though I was using the TVNM a lot for my essays at the time... It was only during my Master that I became involved with the KVNM, through Annelies Andries. When I immersed myself in the association at the time, I immediately became enthusiastic, because it actually answered something I had missed in my studies until then: a musicological network that reaches beyond Utrecht.

4. What do you think is important about the KVNM's role for students and recent graduates?

Maria: As a professional association for Musicologists, the KVNM is enormously valuable to young musicologists and musicologists-to-be, because it is perhaps the best way to find a network beyond the university or college. Knowing people within the broad field is enormously relevant if you are orienting yourself to career or research opportunities. But even if you're just starting out in Musicology, it's very valuable to have an idea of this, and also to find out what musicologists in the Netherlands are into.

Lotte: It is so nice that there is a place where you can meet musicologists. The KVNM is exactly that place. It can inspire you as a student and help you in your career even if you are not so sure yet what you want to do after your studies. I know that some students sometimes don't really know what direction they want to take after graduation or what field of work they want to move into. Through events organized by the KVNM, among others, you can get an idea of what is going on in the musicological field. Here you have the opportunity to meet other musicologists who may be able to inspire you in your further career and choices. I think this can be very valuable for students. What is also very nice is that the KVNM gives students the opportunity to publish things on the website or to openly ask questions about research topics. The board is very accessible so you can always send them an email, suppose you would like to do a research call, for example. The KVNM also offers other opportunities for students such as the chance to win scholarships and prizes. Importantly, the KVNM gives students a glimpse into the musicological world.

Maria: There is also the possibility to attend symposia or conferences organized by the KVNM. For example, I myself had never attended a conference during my undergraduate degree, and I didn't really have an idea of such an academic event, whereas the word “conference” is often dropped in an article or during a lecture. So, attending a KVNM symposium or conference is an accessible way to experience it, and relatively close to home! For master’s students, attending a KVNM conference or symposium can also be a good way to gain experience with academic presenting.

5. What do you (you) think are the biggest challenges facing students in Musicology today?

Lotte: It's hard to speak for a majority, but I think students don't have a very good idea of the job market for musicologists. This is also because the field of work for music scientists is not promoted much. The question of what are you and can you do after such a study? That image needs to change and I hope the KVNM can contribute to that. It does not make it easy that the cultural sector is increasingly under fire. Think of the increases in VAT and other cuts to culture. Measures like these make it harder for musical institutions such as orchestras, festivals and museums to continue to exist. This also puts pressure on music scholars, as they are suddenly faced with questions about what opportunities there are for music scholars to find work in sectors such as cultural heritage, music archives or concert organizations.

Maria: Nowadays a huge amount of source material can also be found online. This is mainly a positive development, because of course it makes an awful lot of material easily accessible, and it saves time and travel costs. But on the other hand, students also come into contact with archives and physical sources less often. I myself also only started going to (city) archives more often during my Master, and I initially found it difficult to know which institutions are relevant and to search through physical sources or registers... Being aware of the main (music) archives and institutions in the Netherlands can also be very practical in that respect!

6. Are there any specific student issues within the KVNM that you would like to focus on?

Maria: Students are part of the musicological field, and their involvement and voice within this association is therefore important. Therefore, I think the main goal is to get students more actively involved in the association. It is therefore important to increase the visibility of the KVNM, and its organized activities, among this target group - after all, you can't join an association you've never heard of! That's what Lotte and I are working on.

Lotte: Maria and I have recently been working on how to get students more involved in the association. Our main focus is on organizing activities for students, so that they become familiar with the association and the musicological research field. Human contact is the most enjoyable and important thing in this, in my opinion, which is why I also encourage students to attend events.

7. What projects or activities are planned at the KVNM that you are excited about?

Maria: The student conference in the spring of 2025! We can't say much about that at the moment, but I'm looking forward to setting this up with other students and the faculties.

Lotte: Surely that is the annual student conference. To be continued...!

8. Do you have any tips for students considering joining the KVNM?

Maria: Sometimes students sign up, but never actually come to events. That is a shame, because that is exactly where you get a concrete idea of the KVNM, its members and activities. So, my tip is: gather your fellow students to attend an event like the fall symposium on November 9! I say this not only for promotional purposes, but mainly because it is easier and much more fun to attend such an event with someone you already know. And there are also plenty of coffee moments during such a day to catch up and get to know the other members.

Lotte: Well, the answer is very simple really: just do it! You have nothing to lose, and there are mostly advantages for students. It opens up a world of possibilities, but it's up to you to take that first step. I can imagine that the name may also put students off because of its “limitation. The name Royal Society for Dutch Music History (KVNM) suggests that the society focuses purely on “Dutch Music History,” but that's actually not entirely true. Nowadays the field of musicological research within the KVNM is much broader; there is room for a diversity of music traditions - think popular music or other genres - or interdisciplinary research. Even though your interests may not necessarily lie in the branch of history, it is good to know that KVNM serves a broader purpose than its name suggests. Everyone is welcome ;)!

The first year of membership is free for students, the following years only cost € 15.-
For free student membership, please send a message to bestuursassistent[at]kvnm.nl