Teaching, Masterclasses

Ramon always had a passion for teaching the next generation and started teaching professionally in 2005. He holds a position as main professor of percussion (focussing on mallets, chamber music and contemporary music) at the Codarts Conservatory in Rotterdam (since 2015).

He regularly leads master classes and clinics for marimba/percussion and chamber music. As well as composition workshops for mallets and ensemble playing. Ramon has been teaching at the Conservatory of Amsterdam and was the founder of Percussion & Friends in 2005.

As a jury member Ramon is frequently asked to join the juryteam in major competitions all over the world or in final exams of conservatories in Europe, like World Marimba Competition Stuttgart, Composing for percussion duo competition Trieste, World Harp Competition, Componist des Vaderlands and IPEA Shanghai.

Study Classical Percussion at Codarts

In the percussion department, the two main subject teachers Chris Leenders and Ramon Lormans are in charge of the weekly lessons in which you work at basic skills on orchestral instruments and marimba. Chamber music, solo and orchestral repertoire are regular elements within the study programme.

In the Master’s phase you create your own profile by constructing your own curriculum, which becomes more profound through research. You can optionally make crossovers with other disciplines at Codarts, for example world music and music theatre.

Why study Classical Percussion at Codarts?

We concern ourselves with the craft of classical percussion and with the tradition from which it stems. Of course you as a student take centre stage in this. Because harmonious collaboration among students and between students and teachers is of crucial importance for the development of our students, we really focus on this from the start until the end of the study programme.

We look beyond boundaries and are broadly and internationally oriented. With us you are taught by specialists, each of them experts in their own field in the present-day percussion practice. Our team of teachers is composed in such a manner that we can coach you in any personal ambition you may have.

We guarantee quality. You will be trained to become a professional musician and we challenge you to be the best musician you can be. In addition, you will be prepared to face all aspects of the national and international professional practice.

Main subject teachers

  • Chris Leenders - Section representative percussion, orchestral playing, timpani, snare drum, contemporary music, percussion ensemble

  • Ramon Lormans - Main subject teacher marimba, vibraphone, contemporary music, mallet-ensemble

Regular guest teachers

Masterclasses

Over the last 20 years Ramon has been conducting many masterclasses in many countries over the world in major European cities and in countries like China, Mexico and Japan.

Masterclass & Clinic Topics

  • marimba solo: contemporary 2-4-6 mallet technique, sound production, phrasing, articulation, register balance & voicing, method of movement, pianistic approach

  • interpretation of scores, performance techniques, stage presentation, how to make concert programs, adventurous programming

  • how to practice, building up repertoire, finding new music for your instrument, finding your own voice inside the percussion field

  • contemporary solo repertoire / arrangements, adaptations and transcriptions

  • chamber music: mallets, percussion and mixed ensembles/settings

  • workshops on minimal- and post-minimal music

  • workshops for composers on how to write for mallets / percussion

up: After masterclasses in Stavanger University Norway

up: Masterclass at Toho Gakuen University of music on the invitation of Keiko Abe

left: With Marta Klimasara after masterclasses at HfMDK Stuttgart