BA Jazz: Instrumental/Vocal or Composition

"Jazz is the freest way to make and play music" (George Gruntz). Jazz is the one genre of music that truly embodies an attitude to life which values freedom, communication, innovation and self-expression.

Students of Bachelor degree programme receive extensive practical training and acquire the foundations to develop their own unique and well-rounded identity as an artist. This study programme focuses on perfecting students’ instrumental/vocal proficiency while encouraging them to find their creative voice.
Students will hone their improvisation and ensemble-playing skills by working on seminal works from the jazz tradition. Students are also actively encouraged to compose and perform their own works. In addition, the programme comprises a range of compulsory and elective courses designed to equip students with the necessary skills and tools to perform at the highest artistic level.

A stimulating environment that affords me the space to develop as an artist.

Lorraine Dinkel, student

Overview

The Bachelor degree programme aims to produce versatile and multifaceted jazz musicians who are able to work independently and put the skills they have acquired into practice. Students will hone their musicianship skills, acquire a solid grounding in the history of jazz and music in general, and become well-versed in the basics of music theory and improvisation. They will also be able to to communicate and reflect critically on the subject of music.

Graduates will be equipped to develop and expand their existing means of artistic expression, launch and carry out their own projects, as well as play a constructive role in the projects of other creatives. Holders of a BA in Music with an instrumental/vocal Jazz major have the qualifications required for a wide range of work as a professional musician and for further study at Master’s level.

In order to be considered for entry to the Bachelor degree programme with an instrumental or vocal major, applicants must hold a school-leaving qualification (Swiss Baccalaureate, Swiss Professional Baccalaureate or equivalent); exceptions may be made for applicants with exceptional artistic talent.
Applications will not be considered from individuals who already hold an undergraduate music degree or similar qualification from a Swiss education provider.
Only applicants who have submitted the required registration documentation duly completed and on time will be invited to take the entrance examination. Applicants must also be sufficiently proficient in the German or English language from the outset.

Entrance examination

Guideline for the admission procedure 2021
The admission procedure Bachelor of Arts in Music Jazz at Academy of Music, University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland (HSM/FHNW) takes place in several stages:

Video dossier
A video must be provided in which at least two pieces of the repertoire prepared for the audition are presented with an ensemble and/or solo. Optionally, original compositions are welcome. The selection of recorded material should reflect interpretive and improvisational skills related to jazz vocabulary and exposure to various jazz genres.

Criteria for the creation of the videos

All excerpts and movements should be recorded completely in their original state and uncut (no editing).
We recommend using a stereo microphone and placing it carefully. If none is available, you can use the microphone of your camera, computer, or smartphone.
The video should be shot from a static perspective, your hands and face should be clearly visible.
Public recordings may be used provided they meet the above criteria (unedited).
The recordings should be as new as possible, but in any case, not older than one year. When producing new material, make sure that the COVID regulations that apply to you are consistently adhered to.
The individual pieces can be recorded separately.

Upload and transmission

To upload the video, please choose either the Vimeo (https://vimeo.com) or YouTube (https://youtube.com) platform.
Access to the video must be provided until the end of June of the application year.
A private link to the video must be sent to us by March 15 of the application year to aHNtQGZobncuY2g=.

Pre-selection
Based on the submitted video dossier, the jury decides about the admission to the further procedure. The date for the audition will be announced in case of a positive decision. Rejections are justified with a feedback from the jury.

Audition

Ensemble and/or solo performance (duration: 30 minutes)

The audition consists of three parts:

Performance of three prepared jazz-oriented pieces of different stylistic and rhythmic genres.
Performance of free choice: A original-composed piece of individual style or a cover song of your preferred music genre, a technically demanding etude, transcription or similar. The performance can be solo, with playback or with the provided accompanying ensemble (see below).
Sight-reading of a simple melody, improvisation on the changes and (for guitar, piano, or bass majors) accompanying over a chord progression or (for percussion majors) interpreting of a lead sheet.

The repertoire may include the same pieces that are used for the video dossier. Furthermore, A repertoire list should be prepared for the attention of the jury board with some (jazz) pieces you have mastered by heart so far.

Ensemble performances may be completed with the candidate's own rhythm section (the norm for online auditions) or with a rhythm section provided by the university. For the university’s rhythm section (piano, bass, drums) the repertoire must be chosen in such a way that it can be performed on sight from the sheet music provided by the candidate.

Selecting the audition mode
At the Institute Jazz of the HSM/FHNW there is the possibility to complete the audition procedure in attendance (on site) or online. We attach great importance to this and can ensure that both procedures are assessed equally. Allocation to the online procedure is made by application, which must be bindingly submitted with the submission of the dossiers by March 15 of the application year at the latest. Without a corresponding application, allocation to the face-to-face procedure takes place (subject to COVID measures and regulations then in force at that time).

Preparation for the online audition

If possible, the online audition should be completed with the candidate’s own ensemble (at least as a duo). The use of a suitable play along as well as solo performances are allowed.
We recommend the use of an external microphone and possibly an audio interface. For the online procedure we will send you a zoom link by email in good time.
Pay attention to the best possible conditions for a good transmission quality of the stream, for which we use the platform zoom. We recommend registering in advance at http://zoom.us and familiarizing yourself with the platform.

Examination in rhythm training, aural training, harmony
Those who have passed the audition will be admitted to this part of the admission procedure. The exam takes place exclusively in online mode.

Basics of harmony (oral/written):

Basics of harmony (oral / written):
Determining intervals
Determination of major, minor, and church modes
Harmonizing a melody
Analysis of a chord progression
Analyze and write chord symbols for three and four voice chords
Listening and analyzing cadences and typical chord progressions

EarTraining:

Listening and identifying intervals
Listen and identify tetrachords (tonal and free)
Singing a melody from a written sheet
Melody dictation
Singing and naming scales (Ionian, Dorian, Phrygian, Lydian, Mixolydian, Aeolian and Locrian)

Rhythm:

Singing / clapping binary and ternary exercises from a written sheet, in 4/4 and 3/4 time to 16th notes, 8th triplets and quadruplets
Rhythm dictation at the same level of difficulty

Guideline for the admission procedure 2021
The admission procedure Bachelor of Arts in Music Jazz with focus on composition at Academy of Music, University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland (HSM/FHNW) takes place in several stages:

Video and composition dossiers
A video must be provided in which at least two pieces of the repertoire prepared for the audition are presented with an ensemble and/or solo. Optionally, original compositions are welcome. The selection of recorded material should reflect interpretive and improvisational skills related to jazz vocabulary and exposure to various jazz genres.

In addition, at least two notated original compositions with a short written explanation of at least one of these compositions must be provided in PDF format along with the video link.