In 2023, Zurich University of the Arts (ZHdK) joined METRIC (Modernizing European Higher Music Education through Improvisation), a cooperative network of several leading European conservatories and the AEC (Association Européenne des Conservatoires). The aim of the programme is to further the modernisation of higher music education through intensive international cooperation in the field of improvisation. Through a continuous process of mutual enrichment, METRIC wants to support the development and improvement of improvisation teaching, performance and research. In joining the network, ZHdK’s Department of Music has deepened cooperation with 17 leading European conservatories, through students and staff exchange and the participation in METRIC-Intensive Programmes. 

In February 2024, two students and a teacher from ZHdK’s Department of Music participated in the fifth edition of METRIC’s Intensive Programme at the Koninklijk Conservatorium Antwerpen. ZHdK contributed with a workshop titled ‘Individuality and Collectivity: Dual Dimensions in Musical Improvisation’ during the five-day programme, which consisted of workshops as well as masterclasses on improvisation. In addition, an exchange of lecturers between the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre in Tallin and ZHdK was also initiated in the framework of METRIC. Participating in METRIC has enabled the exchange of ideas and exploration of diverse approaches to teaching and practising improvisation in the European context.

In 2023, ZHdK’s Jazz and Pop profile introduced a new Online Mentoring Studio, enabling remote teaching that connects students with world-class instructors from anywhere in the world. The studio enhances the learning experience for Jazz and Pop students in Zurich, providing them with a flexible study environment and broad professional networking opportunities.

This innovative approach bridges the gap between in-person teaching periods and offers students continuous guidance throughout the semester. Renowned Santiago de Cuba-born pianist David Virelles, a tenured piano professor at ZHdK, and world-famous vocalist Theo Bleckmann, Head of the Vocal Department, both utilise the Online Mentoring Studio to extend their expertise beyond their two-week teaching sessions at the start and end of each semester. They guide students through compositional processes, instrumental mastery, and artistic development, ensuring ongoing support during the 8-9 weeks between their in-person residencies.

With the new Online Mentoring Studio, the Toni-Areal campus effectively spans from Zurich to New York, creating an interconnected platform for artistic growth. Through this dynamic approach, students benefit from continuous, high-level mentorship, ensuring optimal conditions for their professional development.

More international initiatives by the Department of Music can be found here.