Music theory

Academic excellence and specialisation in the field of your choice

The FHNW Master of Arts in Specialised Music Performance with a Music Theory Major enables students to achieve academic excellence and a greater depth of specialisation in their chosen field. In addition to the obligatory principal subjects, students can adapt the study programme to their own requirements by choosing from a comprehensive range of elective courses, only some of which are in predetermined combinations (depending on the context). Certain electives are offered by partners of the Basel School of Music, such as the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis, the Paul Sacher Foundation and the University of Basel.

Transdisciplinary, independent and cross-class approach

The FHNW Master of Arts in Specialised Music Performance with a Music Theory Major also affords students the space for their own extensive work within large-scale projects, both on and off campus. In doing so, they engage to a significant degree in the overarching and transdisciplinary discourse between different classes. Consequently, the programme opens up a broad spectrum of career prospects that range from teaching music theory as a principal subject at university level to music journalism and research in music practice or theory.

Overview

Students of the FHNW Master of Arts in Specialised Music Performance with a Music Theory Major acquire the ability to receive music theory at the highest level, and to compently write and speak on the subject (e. g. academic teaching in the main subject). They also gain highly specialised theoretical knowledge of different styles of music from different eras, and develop an assured command of their compositional techniques. Students also build on their historical and systematic musicology knowledge.

As a rule, the FHNW Master of Arts in Specialised Music Performance with a Music Theory Major follows on from an MA in Music Pedagogy or an MA in Music Performance with a Music Theory Major. 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.

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.

Applicants must also be sufficiently proficient in the German language from the outset (B1 certificate).

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

The written and oral exams are the same as those for the Master of Arts in Music Pedagogy with a Music Theory Major. However, the standards expected of the applicants are much more exacting. The admission board may decide to accept certain applicants based on the quality of the portfolio they submitted.

Admission criteria

Excellent general skills in composition and/or music theory (cf. also the learning outcomes of the MA in Music Pedagogy with a Music Theory Major).
Potential to develop into an independently-minded, artistic personality capable of analysis and reflection.
List of work/or list of theoretical and analytical works and publications.
Particular aptitude for interdisciplinary work (literature, philosophy, historical-sociological context).
Particular aptitude for academic and artistic research-based work.