Contemporary music

In-depth engagement with contemporary music

The FHNW Master of Arts in Specialised Music Performance with a Contemporary Music Major offers students to engage with and specialise in this field. Students who already possess a high level of instrumental proficiency, as well as the relevant experience and knowledge benefit from a comprehensive, goal-oriented programme that focuses on the performance practice of contemporary music. As a result, they will have the necessary qualifications to pursue a career as a professional musician, either in a solo capacity or as part of a chamber music or larger music ensemble, and be equipped to compete/work at international level.

“zone expérimentale” – Contemporary Chamber Music Ensemble

In addition to basic practical and theoretical training, students of the FHNW Master of Arts in Specialised Music Performance with a Contemporary Music Major will work extensively on contemporary chamber music and with the ensemble “zone expérimentale”, both with their tutor and the STUDIO for Contemporary Music. Here, the student group works as a class, on a regular basis, together with their tutors and/or guests. They take part in workshops, class lessons, seminars, masterclasses and colloquia.

Support and guidance from qualified tutors

Besides their tutoring duties, the artistic directors of the programme advise students in designing their study programme and support them with their Master thesis. This programme is complemented by theoretical courses offered by the School of Music. Concert and performance projects are developed in cooperation with students from other disciplines such as Improvisation, Composition, and Audio Design to be realized as part of national and international festivals.

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.

Core curriculum

Major module (76 CP):
Tutoring in New Music
Instrument/voice
STUDIO for Contemporary Music
Composers’ Reading Workshop

Complementary courses

Practical module (36 CP):
Chamber music, new chamber music, ensembles
Concert and competition work

Theory/Music in Context module (4 CP):
Interpretationsforum, Colloquium 48
Theoretic and contextual events/activities

Elective courses

Personalised module (4 CP):
Courses/activities from the electives on offer

Detailed module description

Structure

In principle, the FHNW Master of Arts programme in Specialised Music Performance with a Contemporary Music Major follows on from an MA in Performance/Music Pedagogy with an Instrumental Major. In exceptional cases, applicants with a Bachelor degree or equivalent undergraduate qualification may be invited to sit the entrance examination.
Applicants must not only pass the entrance examination but also win a place on the programme (numbers are limited). Only applicants who have submitted the required registration documentation duly completed and on time will be invited to take the entrance examination.

General information about the entrance exam, aptitude test and exam dates can be found on the Entrance Exams page.

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, candidates must submit a video that meets the repertoire requirements (see below) at the time of registering for the aptitude test 2021 in their artistic major by 28 February 2021. The works and movements respectively may be recorded individually. The recordings must be current and in no event older than one year.

Generally speaking, the submitted videos replace the physical entrance exam on location. Should the jury remain undecided as to the candidate’s aptitude after viewing the recording, the candidate may exceptionally be invited to perform physically on location, in which case she/he may perform the identical repertoire as in the submitted video.

Admission criteria

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.

Entrance examination

Letter of motivation (d/e)
Submission of a contemporary repertoire and poss. own recordings of more difficult works that will not be performed in the audition
Programme of 45 min; at least three works from the 20^th and 21^st century repertoire (different stylistic directions) – at least one work must date from the last 20 years – as well as representative work from the classic/classical repertoire. The applicant is kindly requested to bring copies of the works for the examiners.