The Contemporary Music Major offers students the opportunity to immerse themselves in the world of contemporary music performance and develop their individual artistry. The advanced nature of the curriculum requires excellent instrumental and/or vocal proficiency, as well as prior knowledge and experience of contemporary music performance. The in-depth, wide-ranging engagement with the subject coupled with a strong collaborative focus equips students to pursue a professional performance career, whether in a solo capacity or as part of a chamber music or larger music ensemble, locally, nationally and internationally.
Study and schedule Alongside their tutoring duties, the programme's artistic directors help students create their personalised study programme and support them at every stage of the Master's thesis process. They also advise students on the choice of lecturers for their individual classes, offered either within the School of Music or in other parts of Europe. As part of the Contemporary Music Major, students will also take theory, communication and marketing classes at the FHNW School of Music. They will work with sonic space basel to develop concert and performance projects, which will ultimately be staged at national and international festivals. Collaboration and interdisciplinarity are core components of the curriculum.
zone expérimentale – the contemporary chamber music ensemble In addition to basic practical and theoretical training, collaboration with the 'zone expérimentale' ensemble on contemporary chamber music is a central focus of the Contemporary Music Major. As well as working with tutors from around the world, students will regularly hone their contemporary collective practice at the Studio/LAB for Contemporary Music. They will also have the opportunity to attend workshops, seminars, masterclasses and colloquia hosted and given by their Contemporary Music Major tutors and/or guest lecturers.
sonic space basel is a Platform of Basel Academy of Music for composition (BA and MA and MA SP), open creation, contemporary music performance, audio design (BA and MA) and research. We see ourselves as a laboratory, communication tool and information hub for contemporary music.
Overview
The FHNW Master of Arts in Specialised Music Performance (MA SP) with a Contemporary Music Major is a consecutive graduate programme that in formal terms builds on the skills gained at Bachelor level. Due to the high degree of specialisation required, as a rule it follows on from an MA in Music Pedagogy or an MA in Music Performance. The core competencies acquired prior to this programme are here pursued to a level that matches the highest international standards; those skills are consolidated in the specific disciplines listed below so that exceptional standards may be achieved on the national and international concert stage and at competitions.
The FHNW Master of Arts in Specialised Music Performance (MA SP) with a Contemporary Music Major is aimed at musicians who wish to build on their comprehensive instrumental/vocal training by specialising in the field of the Contemporary Music, with a view to a career in this field.
The FHNW Master of Arts in Specialised Music Performance (MA SP) with a Contemporary Music Major equips students to pursue a career as a professional performer in a contemporary music ensemble or in the open music scene. It also provides them with the knowledge and skills to set up their own ensembles, design and curate concert series and other performance formats, and successfully market their ventures on both analogue and digital platforms.
Tutoring in New Music Instrument/voice Studio/LAB for Contemporary Music Composer-performer collaboration
Complementary courses (practice, theory, music in context) 40CP
Chamber music, new chamber music, ensembles Concert and competition work, projects with sonic space basel Interpretationsforum, Colloquium 48 Context-specific events and activities
Admission criteria In order to enter the FHNW Master of Arts in Specialized Musical Performance programme with a Contemporary Music Major, applicants must be awarded a Master in Music Performance with a instrumental/vocal or a Master in Music Pedagogy or equivalent as well as they have to have passed the entrance exam and were offered a free place at the Academy (limited places). Applicants who have submitted all the necessary registration documents in time will be invited to the online entrance exam. For further information on the admission criteria, please see the Studienreglement of the Master of Arts FHNW in Specialized Music Performance.
Excellent knowledge of the “classical/classic” repertoire on own instrument.
High instrumental proficiency.
Independent, artistic ability and high level of motivation to develop and hone an individual repertoire.
High level of motivation to engage with different forms of contemporary music and their aesthetic, technical and historical context.
Language Skills We recommend having sufficient German language skills.
Entrance exam The entrance exam is split into several parts.
Procedure Conversation (online, ca. 30 minutes) After reviewing the submitted portfolio, the jury will invite chosen applicants for an online interview.
Dates The entrance exam by the zoom meeting will take place at the end of April. The exact dates may be seen here.
Registration You may apply between 15th December and 15th February. Along with the registration, it is mandatory to submit the following documents:
A short biography, the school leaving qualification, the Bachelor Diploma
In case that the applicant already holds a Master Diploma, we also need a copy of that.
Wishlist with five chamber music works that you want to acquire during the study course
List of works with the works/movements/excerpts of the video
A video with a Programme of 30-40 minutes not less than three works of the 20th/21st century (various genres) of which at least one must be from the past 20 years
One representative work (or a movement/excerpt from a work) from the classic classical repertoire
Video requirements The single works/movements submitted must indispensably be recorded without any cuts. If applicants submit one straight video with the whole programme, the applicant must set marks after every work/movement so that it is possible for the jury to purposely skip within the video. Microphone: We recommend using a suitable stereo microphone and place it conveniently. If necessary, you may also use the microphone of a camera, computer, or smartphone. Please record the video from a fixed point of view. The hands and the face of the musician must be visible. Please upload the video onto YouTube and add the link in the registration tool.
Announcement of the results The results will be communicated by mail in May.
At Hochschule für Musik Basel, students have the opportunity to participate in various project and ensemble programmes. To the overview of the recurring offers.
