Research Catalogue

an international database for artistic research

• 3. Internal publication Research published in this issue are only for internal circulation within the Royal Conservatoire, The Hague.
• 2. Royal Conservatoire Investigations Royal Conservatoire Investigations
• 1. Master Research Projects All research in KC

• From technique to expression: an interpretative journey through Ravel's Tzigane (2025) author(s): Carmen Guerra Limited publication. Only visible to members of the portal : KC Research Portal
  This research explores the interpretative journey of Maurice Ravel’s Tzigane, a highly virtuosic work for solo violin and piano composed in the early 20th century. Despite Ravel’s French origins, Tzigane is deeply influenced by Hungarian and Romani musical traditions, blending technical brilliance with expressive freedom. The study focuses on the process of developing a personal interpretation of the piece, balancing its technical demands with an authentic stylistic approach. Through a detailed analysis of violin technique, phrasing, and historical context, this project investigates how Tzigane challenges and expands the performer’s artistic identity. The research is structured as a self-discovery journey, documented through personal practice journals, audio recordings of individual study sessions, and lessons with professor Arisa Fujita. These materials provide insight into the evolution of technical mastery, expressive decision-making, and stylistic authenticity. Central themes include the negotiation between strict technical control and the spontaneous character inherent in Romani-influenced music, the adaptation of traditional violin techniques to Ravel’s idiomatic writing, and the role of personal artistic expression in interpreting canonical repertoire. By engaging with Tzigane both as a technical challenge and a medium for self-expression, this study aims to contribute to the broader discourse on interpretation in violin performance. The findings of this research culminate in the preparation for a final master’s recital, showcasing the progression of interpretative choices and their realization in performance. This project ultimately seeks to bridge the gap between technique and artistic identity, highlighting the transformative power of interpretative exploration
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• From Spectators to Co-Creators: How Active Participation Transforms Music Appreciation (2025) author(s): Gunda Leine Limited publication. Only visible to members of the portal : KC Research Portal
  This research explores the impact of audience participation on the appreciation and engagement of musical performances, with a focus on classical vocal music. Inspired by personal experiences of feeling more emotionally connected during interactive concerts, the study investigates methods to facilitate audience involvement. Drawing on existing literature and data, including Toelle and Sloboda’s claim that participatory practices can enhance accessibility and funding, the study underscores the role of interaction in reshaping perceptions of classical music. The research also engages with Christopher Small’s concept that music’s essence lies in participatory social actions and highlights Mats Johanson’s findings on the value of improvisation for performers and audiences alike. By addressing the research on participation in classical music, this study aims to identify effective methods of audience involvement. Additionally, the study examines data that has been personally gathered through creating concerts, surveying and analysing the response of the audience. The study investigates methods to facilitate audience participation and examines the audience engagement, emotional connection, performer’s role in setting the mood and mirroring, and the repertoire choice. The findings will provide actionable insights for musicians seeking to deepen connections with their audiences, bringing fresh energy to both their performances and the broader concert-going culture.
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• From Complexity to Simplicity: Cross-Genre Integration of Jazz and Pop, Exploring the Vibraphone's Role in Enhancing Accessibility and Audience Connection (2025) author(s): Antonin Jaccard Limited publication. Only visible to members of the portal : KC Research Portal
  This research explores the intersection of jazz and pop, not only by defining those terms but mostly by seeking where the bridge between the two genres can be found. This is a space where the complexity of the jazz language is mixed with pop structures, aiming to help me include those elements in my own practice and composition process. The first part is trying to find how we can extract elements from those genres through concrete examples. The section helps me understand the aesthetics and notions close to my heart in order to see how they could live together in one same music. On the other hand, the point is to see how jazz vibraphone can take a role in enhancing accessibility and audience connection. The second part of this research is focused on the practical application of those concepts, showing how I include them in my musician’s life, creating music that is both authentically rich and accessible to a broader audience.
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• First Steps in the Development of a Pictorial Method For the Initial Stages of Bassoon Teaching (2025) author(s): Esther Infanzón García Limited publication. Only visible to members of the portal : KC Research Portal
  We always learn to speak before we learn to write our mother tongue. Naturally, a child from an early age seeks to express himself by producing sounds, which leads me to ask myself: why don't we do the same with music?, why isn't more importance given to the natural process of musical expression itself than to the theoretical learning of music? Through the first steps of a pictorial method that I propose in this work, I intend to help change the way we take our first steps with music using my instrument, the bassoon. For this, I would take kodaly and other methods as examples of efficient music education.
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• Finding ease in uncertainty: tools for developing as an improviser (2025) author(s): Janire de Paz Rivas Limited publication. Only visible to members of the portal : KC Research Portal
  Working on improvisation or any similar technique was one of the scariest things I could think of before doing this research. Because of this reason, I found this the best moment to go against this boundary and take the opportunity to help myself and the people that might see themselves in the same situation. Even though during our musical education many of us take improvisation lessons at some point, the benefits of this experience can vary because of many factors, such as, performer’s background, ability to change certain things on the spot or active listening skills. Through this research I experimented with the elements that need to be developed in order to help this process. The Methodology used for this research is based on existing studies about improvisation, literature about this topic and a series of experiments. The theoretical framework provides a brief overview of the history of improvisation as well as an explanation of its basic principles and benefits. The practical framework collects data about the benefits via experiments with musicians of various levels, paying special attention to the progress during the process and offering possible solutions. The experiments are documented through videos, audios and conversations with the musicians, and presented as a report with conclusions. As a result of this research I found a way to feel more “comfortable in uncertainty”. All the tools I acquired helped me to change my mindset towards this practice, mainly by using free improvisation techniques.
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  Eye Tracking in Musical Performance and Practice (2025) author(s): Gonçalo Martins Limited publication. Only visible to members of the portal : KC Research Portal
  In musical performance, eye movements play a crucial role in coordinating visual attention, facilitating navigation between the score, conductor, and instrument setup. This research explores the role of fixations and saccades in percussion playing, focusing on how eye movement patterns influence accuracy, confidence, and efficiency in performance. While eye-tracking technology has been widely used in music reading studies, this project takes a practice-based approach, using video analysis to examine how eye movements evolve across different performance contexts. By analyzing recorded performances, this research investigates how the movement of the eyes create fluid musical ideas. This research explores how eye movements shape the flow of a performance, capturing moments of anticipation, reflection, and connection. The way the eyes move between instruments, the score, and the surrounding space creates a visual rhythm that intertwines with the music itself. This work is informed by a personal connection to vision studies—growing up in a family engaged in optometry and work with visually impaired individuals—which has shaped an interest in the intersection of vision and music-making. The findings not only contribute to a deeper understanding of embodied performance practice but also propose methods for enhancing visual awareness in percussion pedagogy, bridging scientific perspectives on eye movement with artistic exploration.
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