Personal guidance
Full attention for every participant
Innovative materials
See improvisation from a completely new perspective
Expert
More than 25 years of experience guiding musicians
Registered course
The course meets CRKBO quality standards
Why improvise?
Many people want to learn to make music effortlessly. And that makes perfect sense: effortless music-making is wonderful! It's a joy to sit down at your instrument and lose yourself completely. To feel as though you've been given wings. So that when someone asks you: 'improvise something', you can calmly take your place at your instrument and play something that both they and you enjoy! All of that is incredibly rewarding.
You can improvise too
Improvising is wonderful to do. Perhaps you're thinking: 'Nice, but unfortunately, I can't do that.' Then I have good news for you. Everyone can learn to improvise!
Many people's improvisation talent is dormant. Simply because you've never explored that area within yourself. Perhaps because your music teacher never paid attention to improvisation? No worries! It's never too late to start improvising. Your talent may still be sleeping, but it's there!
Who is it for?
The Free Your Music year course is intended for anyone who plays an instrument at a somewhat advanced level (and is therefore no longer a complete beginner), and who cannot or hardly can improvise -- but who longs to do so.
What will you learn?
1. Improvisation In this year course you learn to improvise. You'll discover how wonderful it is to improvise. You'll also learn to express yourself freely on your instrument in your own unique style.
2. Harmony You'll master the basics of harmony theory and learn to apply them in your improvisations. This will make your improvisations sound even better!
3. Mindset The mental side is also addressed: being in the moment, playing from the heart, self-confidence and courage.
Structure of the year course
- Five full-day group sessions (approximately six hours of course time, plus roughly one hour lunch break with a served lunch)
- Three course books
- One year of free access to all my video courses
- Tips and inspiration assignments for home practice
Course books
- FREE YOUR MUSIC: The Seven Facets of Improvisation (= core textbook of the course)
- The Fifth Factor: A practical approach to harmony (= supporting textbook for the course)
- Tonediving: Effortless music-making from your heart in just 30 seconds a day (= additional book for the course)
Testimonials
What I found with you is of inestimable value to me. A door has opened to a world that means so much to me.
You are a fantastic teacher, with so much love for your craft and for music: very inspiring. I think the way you give feedback is really great.
I've learned an incredible amount: the joy of playing, tonediving, and trusting what comes (learning to let go). I now play much more beautiful sounds than before the year course. I admire your teaching approach: always positive feedback, always zooming in on what I/we can handle. What gifts you've given us. A thousand thanks!
Dear Robijn, thank you so much for your attentive, constructive and inspiring workshops! I always went there with pleasure and came home inspired. Beautiful how you always manage to lower the threshold when you notice something is complicated. Also great: the positive, constructive approach.
The year course has enormously stimulated me to discover my own musicality and to trust it when improvising. As a result, I also started playing more beautifully and with more attention in non-improvisation music. I enjoy my instrument and the music I make with it so much more. Very enjoyable and stimulating. Robijn, thank you so much!
Very enjoyable and inspiring to increasingly hear and understand the wondrous language of music together -- playing, making music, tonediving.
A fantastic course. From the very first meeting you created a safe atmosphere, which led to a wonderful learning environment. Through the course I found my way to my own music.
I used to think: 'I can't improvise, that's far too scary for me!' But in this course I didn't feel scared or insecure for a single moment, the setting was completely safe. I learned that I can improvise, and that it can also be small, that that's fine too. And: that there are so many possibilities!
Very impressive how you see exactly what everyone personally needs to be able to progress. I found the tonediving very surprising, fun, mindfulness-like, enjoyable and interesting. I'm very happy with this course.
Robijn is very inspiring, with great wisdom and enormous enthusiasm! The course also had a therapeutic effect on me: it brought me into contact with my own musical source, which is always there. A gift!
What does the year course cost?
Tuition
The cost of the Free Your Music year course is EUR 975. This covers the five group course days (including lunch), the three course books, and the tips and inspiration assignments for home practice. Plus one year of free access to all my video courses. The Improvisation Academy is registered with the CRKBO and is therefore exempt from VAT.
Course books
The three course books Free Your Music, The Fifth Factor and Tonediving are included in the cost of the year course. If you already own these books, you can receive a discount of EUR 25 per book on the year course.
Discount?
If you really want to take the year course but cannot afford the cost, please contact us. If the year course is your dream, we believe that cost should not be an obstacle to realizing your dream!
More information and registration
Does the year course appeal to you and would you like to sign up? Click here.
If you're thinking: 'A year course like this might be something for me, but I'm not sure, I still have some questions,' please email your questions to robijntilanus@gmail.com. Always include your phone number in your email: Robijn may call you back or leave a message, if she feels that's the best way to respond.
Sign upFAQ
You can participate with any instrument. No instruments are excluded. Singers are also welcome.
The year course takes place in the barn of our farmhouse. Address: Dorpsstraat 39, Uffelte, South-West Drenthe, The Netherlands (near Meppel). A hundred meters from the Holtingerveld, a beautiful nature reserve with forest, heather, sand drifts, small pools and two dolmens.
The course days are held on weekdays from 10:30 AM to 5:30 PM. Halfway through the course day there is roughly a one-hour break, during which lunch is served.
The number of students is a minimum of four and a maximum of eight.
A new year course starts once or twice a year: usually in September or January, depending on my schedule and other projects.
If you're coming from far away and can't make the trip in the morning, you're welcome to stay the night before. Expect basic comfort, not a luxury hotel. We ask you to bring your own bottom sheet (or sleeping bag liner), pillowcase and duvet cover. We provide duvets, blankets and a bed. If you prefer camping, that's also possible: there's plenty of room on our grounds for your tent or camper. You can also choose to book a B&B or small hotel nearby if you'd like more comfort.
Absolutely! Please let us know your dietary requirements well in advance by email.
Uffelte is located in the south-west corner of Drenthe. From the Randstad it's roughly an hour and a half by car, depending on your starting point. If you come by train, go to Meppel station. From there take bus 28 towards Dwingeloo. After about fifteen minutes get off at the Anserweg stop in Uffelte (Note: do NOT take the Dorpsstraat stop in Uffelte, as it's much further to walk. Also do NOT take the Dorpsstraat stop in Havelte, as that's the wrong village). From the Anserweg stop it's about a ten-minute walk to Dorpsstraat 39.