Making music together is tremendous fun and very educational. You can do that with us in one of our many ensembles! There are ensembles for different instruments, levels and compositions.
If you take an instrumental/vocal year course with us, participation in ensemble(s) is free for everyone up to 21 years of age. From 21 years of age, a reduced one fee applies if you take an instrumental/vocal year course. See our Rates for more information on costs.
Participation is on the recommendation of your own teacher. So please inquire with him/her about the possibilities ear you.
Are you following with us (yet) no instrumental/vocal year course, then there is a cost for ensemble participation. Please see our Rates. If you would like to sign up for an ensemble, please send an email to info@platform-c.nu.
NOTES. Unfortunately, participation will not be possible in all cases. In such cases we will see if there are alternatives, so that you too can start playing together with us.
In addition to Passionato Strings, the Cello Group is led by Jeanny Beerkens. Platform C has a rich tradition in cello teaching and is a partner of Cello Biennale Amsterdam. The cello group includes cello students who have had lessons for several years and can further develop their musical drive and talent in the cello group.
In addition to orchestral playing, there is also room for quartet playing within Platform C's string section. Several times a season the line-up of this string academy, led by Docente Mariette Landheer, changes. The often young and talented string players work towards their closing concert. A beautiful conclusion to a period of deepening ensemble playing and thus musical development. Encore!
Just as Monday Blues is also this band led by lecturer Michiel van Stekelenburg. And also this band focuses on playing the most fun pop songs, suitable for the novice and slightly advanced bands. Again, at the beginning of the season, the bands are made up of students from Platform C. "Let the music play!'
Instructor Tim Brink supervises the musicians of this band, for whom it is often a first introduction to playing together in a band. In consultation and with each other choose the band members themselves the songs they want to rehearse. During the various pop nights, they show what they have to offer. 'We will rock you'!
The Monday Blues band is led by teacher Michiel Stekelenburg. This band usually consists of younger students and works with the best pop songs, past and present. Together they choose the repertoire and work towards the various performances throughout the year. As with the other bands, the team of teachers decides at the beginning of the season which students will participate/selected to join the band.
For those students who already have the necessary band experience there is Big Time. This band, led by Örjan Graafmans, dives into both the challenging jazz/fusion repertoire, as the more richly arranged pop music. It's a joy every time how they manage to get the audience excited with their not-quite-ordinary pop and jazz repertoire.
The harp ensemble led by Lotje Meijer is exclusively for harpists. If you are already somewhat advanced on this beautiful instrument, you will be able to participate in the group lesson. A variety of pre-performance opportunities are being worked toward, both within Platform C and beyond. The harp ensemble is for students ages 9 and up.
The advanced students of pop/jazz department are eligible to participate in Traffic Jazz. Zangers and singers, as well as various soloists give color to this band. Always with repertoire that challenges and stimulates both musicians and audience. Teacher Theo Boddeke signs for coaching and mentoring. For students as young as 21 years old.
One of six pop bands in the Music Department. With the addition of violinists and cellists, it is a true crossover band. Both students from the department pop/jazz as of the department classic participate, a kind of "mini-metropole Orchestra' of Platform C. All this under the inspiring leadership of lecturer Theo Boddeke. For students 13 to 18 years old.
Can you already play your instrument quite well and are not older than 14? Then the mini big band under the direction of Pim Wittenberms probably something for you. This band is intended for brass players, including saxophone, trumpet and trombone. However, clarinets are also welcome. It is the springboard for participants to 'PeeWee's Problem. 'It don't mean a thing, if it ain't got that swing!'
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Do you play harp and would like to play together (more)? This is possible, and it can be done without having to transport your harp to the Town Square each time.
Especially for adults, there is a harp ensemble led by Lotje Meijer; the harps are waiting for you in Platform C. Do you have at least 2 years of experience? Welcome! Join us and experience the joy of playing together during the short course.
> More information and registration
Accordion Ensemble 2 was created for beginning students. You play simple melodies or a bass line. Not difficult at all, but incredibly fun to do. In this ensemble you perform several times a year. For students from 12 to 17 years old.
Accordion Ensemble 1 was created for advanced students. You will be challenged to technically and rhythmically forge some more difficult accordion parts into a whole. This ensemble performs regularly and even participates in exchange programs of performances at home and abroad! For students from 17 to 35 years old.
After only one year of lessons on flute, clarinet, saxophone or trumpet, you can join Tegenwind. Tailor-made arrangements of mainly popular melodies ensure that everyone can play along. Led by Pieter Slijkoord. For students from 8 to 11 years old.
This is a mixed wind ensemble, in it you play after 2 or 3 years of lessons, age about 9 to 14. We play various styles, from musical and film to klezmer and classical. Led by Irma Bouwmeester.
If, after a career in Counterwind, you've got quite the taste and want to move on into pop with clarinet or saxophone, James Pink & the Panther Bond is the next step. The ensemble performs regularly at pre-recitals and pop nights. Led by Joao Driessen. For students from 13 to 17 years old.
The Head Group is the cream of the crop. In this ensemble you play an extensive repertoire, from early music to contemporary. Sometimes with soprano, alto, tenor and bass, other times with only low instruments. You have practiced, worked hard and achieved results. A position in the leading group is your reward. Led by Dodó Kis. For students 10 to 13 years old.
In this ensemble you will learn to play simple pieces of music together with more than 20 guitarists. Sometimes brightened up by some recorders or flutes, sometimes by percussion instruments such as xylophone, tambourine or castanets. A musical feast of the purest water. Led by master of ceremonies Marcus de Jong. For students from 8 to 10 years old.
In Guitar Ensemble 2, the bar is raised a little higher. The arrangements are more difficult, you have to focus more on technique and the rhythms are more complicated. There will be beautiful music on your desk: classical, but also exciting Spanish music and pop music. Sometimes other instruments play along. Led by Mirjam Cuijpers. For students from 8 to 16 years old.
In this ensemble, you will be ready for third gear. Serious pieces from the guitar repertoire will be studied. In addition, you will throw yourself into beautiful arrangements of folk music. A sound that will give you chills. Sometimes other instruments play along so that the timbre is varied. Led by Martin Lichters. For students from 11 years old.
The piano section counts the highly number of students within the Music Department of Platform C. Exclusively for these students, there are five piano ensembles. Each year the piano teachers put together these ensembles, which include up to eight pianists can participate in. Your can the ensembles admire and listen during the diversee ensemble nights.
Thundering fast playing together
After a year of violin or cello lessons, children between the ages of 6 and 10 can play in De Donderstokken - simply the most fun orchestra in Amstelveen! You will discover how much fun it is to make music together, by singing and imitating many songs with simple rhythms. This way you learn to play your instrument twice as fast. It soon feels like being in a real orchestra. The conductor is Leonie Stevens.
If you have been playing your instrument for two or three years, you may be ready for new adventure. Then this is your chance! You will play with 40 string players: violins, cellos and often double basses. You will build up more and more experience. Exciting? Yes, because the orchestra performs regularly! The conductor is Ryuko Reid. For students 7 to 10 years old.
If you have been taking lessons for a little while, you are a firm believer in the Second String Orchestra. Conductor Lizette Bertelsmann- van Rooij knows better than anyone else what you and the other students can do. Lizette brings out the best in you. Everyone gets the chance to shine once in this orchestra, which performs several times a year during theme evenings or ensemble concerts. For students from 8 to 12 years old.
This orchestra plays its own pieces and arrangements by the conductor and classical pieces from the repertoire for string orchestra. Beautifully pure and rhythmically well performed. Of course there are performances before an audience at ensemble concerts at the school or in a church. You have already learned a lot in the other orchestras and will now continue to build on repertoire, bowing technique, sound and vibrato. We will do this with pieces for string orchestra from the classical repertoire. Occasionally we will also play pieces by heart! Passionata Strings is conducted by Jeanny Beerkens. For students from 12 to 15 years old.
The Folk Music Ensemble consists of advanced instrumentalists playing folk music from around the world. From Latin American folk music to Yiddish Klezmer music, from Irish Jigs & Reels to Eastern European Balkan music. The ensemble features recorders, flutes, clarinets, sometimes oboe and tin whistle, violins, accordions, guitars and bass. The ensemble is under the direction of Robert Baas. For students 12 years old and up.
If you are by now a solidly seasoned saxophonist, trumpet player or pianist and you say Swing Is the Thing, then you are up for Big Band "PeeWee's Problem. You'll play a repertoire of alternating jazz to Latin, with a touch of ska here, a dash of pop there. If there is a need for vocals or extra instruments, they are pulled out of the closet somewhere. So what's the problem? There isn't. Big Band "PeeWee's Problem" had more than 50 performances in two years under the direction of Pim Wittenberns! Who? Ah, PW. For students as young as 15 years old.
After about three years of lessons, you may be invited to join the Percussion Group. You will become familiar with various percussion instruments and perform numerous rhythmic numbers with them. Absolute highlights are your performances during pop nights and concerts, where you should not be surprised when the whole hall swings along! Tim Brink is leader of the percussion group. For students from 15 years old.
At the end of the afternoon, you are welcome to sing with peers in Children's Choir Orion. We sing fun, swinging, funny, beautiful, fat and special songs. Very relaxing and incredibly fun. Singing together simply makes you very happy! Kinderkoor Orion is for children from 6 - 12 years old and is directed by Laetitia Leemans.
> Learn more and register.
On Mondays after school you can sing with peers in the Zonnestein Choir. We sing fun, swinging, funny, beautiful, fat and special songs. Very relaxing and fun. Singing together just makes you very happy. The Zonnesteinkoor is for children between 6 and 12 years old. Teacher: Suzanne Havenga.
> More information and registration.
Platform C's Adult Project Orchestra stands for learning together in a relaxed and fun atmosphere. Started in the 2013-2014 course year, the orchestra offers adult students in general with at least three years of lessons the opportunity to play together in an orchestra. Each course year is worked in three different blocks of nine weeks. Each block has its own theme. The Project Orchestra is conducted by Irma Bouwmeester and Robert Baas.
> More information and registration.
