About us
A practice-oriented day school for aspiring musicians
At JazzPopStudio you make music — individually and in groups. We work with a personal approach, built around your individual development, so you can discover and develop your talent. There is no entrance exam: we assess your level, place you in the right combo and adjust theory to your prior knowledge. It is a strong preparation for the conservatory and for further music studies, taught by active professional musicians across our two locations.
What
JazzPopStudio is a practice-oriented day school for aspiring musicians. Making music is the centre of everything: you play on your own and you play in groups, every week.
Our approach is personal. We look at where you are as a player, what you want to become, and what you need to get there. That means your individual development leads the way — discovering your talent and then developing it, step by step, with people who do this for a living.
There is no entrance exam. Instead we carry out a level assessment. That assessment is not a filter, it is a placement tool: it lets us put you in the right combo and adjust the theory subjects to your prior knowledge, so that nobody sits in a class that is too easy or too far ahead.
Alongside instrument mastery and group playing, you build the theoretical and practical foundation you need for the professional field or for further study — which is why the training also works as a preparation for the conservatory and other music programs.
Lessons take place at two locations in Antwerp: JazzPopStudio (Oudstrijdersstraat 9, 2140 Antwerpen) — theory lessons · practice lessons; Trix (Noordersingel 28–30, 2140 Antwerpen) — practice lessons · jams.
For whom
Aspiring musicians who want to make music seriously and who want to develop their talent in a practice-oriented setting. English and Dutch are our working languages which make our school suitable for all nationalities The school stands for diversity and cultural differences that's what fuels music.
Because there is no entrance exam, you do not need to arrive at a fixed level. What matters is the ambition to play, to grow, and to work with others. The level assessment then makes sure you are placed correctly: the right combo for your playing, and theory that matches the knowledge you already have.
If your goal is the conservatory or another further music study, the training is designed to give you the foundation those programs expect — instrument mastery, ensemble experience, theory, and stage experience.
By whom
Our teachers are active professional musicians. They work in the field, each with their own style and their own artistic practice, and they bring that directly into the lessons, the combos and the jams.
That variety is deliberate: working with several professionals who each approach music differently is one of the fastest ways to find your own voice as a player.
Some of our teachers, not all — for current information about your instrument, please contact us.
Joanna Eyckerman
Coordinator / Jazz vocals / Solfège
Tom Peeters
Coordinator / Pop guitar / Combo
Maarten Schelkens
Pop drums / Rhythm
Jan Boudart
Jazz guitar / Harmony
Herman Pardon
Jazz drums / Combo
History
The JazzPopStudio Antwerp has a rich and distinctive history within the Flemish musical landscape. The school came to life in the early 1980s as a pioneer in jazz education and recently underwent a major transformation in September 2025: a relocation to Borgerhout and an official name change to JazzPopStudio VZW.
The Founding and Pioneer Years (1981 – 1982)
The foundation of the school was laid at the beginning of the 1980s.
The very beginning (1981): The school started as a summer workshop featuring American guest tutors. This proved to be an instant hit, creating the need for a permanent structure.
The official start (1982): Ondine Quackelbeen (a Belgian double bassist) founded the Jazzstudio together with Maarten Weyler. The immediate catalyst was a request from well-known musicians such as Hendrik Braeckman, Piet Verbist, and Erwin Vann, who needed a place to hone their jazz skills outside of traditional classical music conservatories.
First full-fledged jazz program: Consequently, the Jazzstudio became the very first full-time, private day-program for jazz music in Flanders. The school established itself in the De Vrièrestraat in the Antwerp South district (Het Zuid).
The Addition of Pop and Rock (c. 2005)
Initially, the non-subsidized private school focused exclusively on the language of jazz. Around 2005, about twenty years after its inception, the management decided to broaden its horizons. A full-fledged pop and rock department was added to the curriculum. From that moment on, students could explore both worlds to shape their own musical identity.
A Breeding Ground for Top Belgian Talent
Over the decades, the Jazzstudio grew into a highly prestigious institution. Because the school did not operate under strict, government-imposed curriculum standards, it could flexibly focus on pure practice and the unique talents of individual students. The list of well-known alumni who later broke through in the music world is therefore impressive:
- Angèle (international pop sensation)
- Admiral Freebee (rock artist Tom Van Laere)
- Kapitein Winokio (Winok Seresia)
- Frank Vaganée (jazz saxophonist and founder of the Brussels Jazz Orchestra)
The Great Turning Point: A Fresh Start in Borgerhout (2025)
After no less than 42 years, the curtain fell for the final time on the historic location in Antwerp South at the end of June 2025. Under the leadership of new director Joanna Eyckerman, the school embarked on a fresh start:
New name: The overarching organization was officially renamed JazzPopStudio VZW (formally established on May 1, 2025).
New locations: In September 2025, the school left the South district and settled into locations in Borgerhout, specifically in the Oudstrijdersstraat and within creative hubs such as the well-known concert venue Trix.
The JazzPopStudio Today
Today, the JazzPopStudio continues to position itself as a unique bridge between part-time arts education (DKO) and higher music conservatories. It is an intensive day school featuring a full-time program of 15 to 18 hours of classes per week across 30 academic weeks. The emphasis lies on harmony, solfège, ear training, arranging, songwriting, and weekly ensemble sessions.