Laying the foundations for a career in wind orchestra conducting
Key data
Degree
Master of Arts FHNW in Spezialisierter Musikalischer Performance, Studienrichtung Blasorchesterdirektion
ECTS points
120
Start of semester
Beginning of September
Studying mode
Full time
Duration
4 semesters
Teaching language
German/English
Place
Campus Musik-Akademie Basel
Stay abroad
Possible, not curricular
Application fee
200 CHF
Semester fee
700 CHF for Swiss citizens and students with legal place of residence in Switzerland | 1000 CHF for students from EU-/EFTA-countries | 1250 CHF for students from third countries
The FHNW Master of Arts in Specialised Music Performance Wind Orchestra Conducting is aimed at students with a Bachelor or Master’s degree in Music who wish to pursue a career as a wind orchestra, wind ensemble or brass band conductor. To be eligible for this graduate programme, prospective students must have previous instrument training. The programme prepares students for the challenging role of leading wind orchestras, both professional and amateur. Students acquire a comprehensive grounding in the art of conducting and its related disciplines, with a particular focus on honing their ability to communicate with clarity and precision to the performers their interpretation of the score.
Acquiring the art of musical leadership
When learning to conduct, hands-on training with an orchestra is an imperative. The FHNW Master of Arts in Specialised Music Performance with a Wind Orchestra Conducting Minor provides students with thorough instruction in the psychologically and technically challenging art of musical leadership, and opens up many different and exciting career opportunities to them in the fields of musical performance and education.
Overview
The FHNW Master of Arts in Specialised Music Performance Wind Orchestra Conducting builds on the knowledge students have already acquired in their previous music pedagogy or music performance studies at Master’s level. Students will leverage their existing instrumental proficiency and experience of ensemble work to expand their conducting repertoire and hone their instrument-playing and score-reading abilities.
The FHNW Master of Arts in Specialised Music Performance with a Wind Orchestra Conducting is aimed at students who hold a Bachelor degree in Music and who wish to specialise in wind orchestra conducting.
Holders of a FHNW Master of Arts in Specialised Music Performance with a Wind Orchestra Conducting are qualified to lead wind orchestras, brass bands and wind ensembles, whether amateur, semi-professional or professional.
Core curriculum
Main subject module (95 CP):
Conducting, score reading, analysis Wind band music repertoire, rehearsal techniques, history of wind music Orchestration Score playing Supervision conducting practice External conducting courses
Complementary courses
Practical module (12 CP): Own orchestra
Theory/context module Contextual events
Elective courses
Personalised module (10 CP): Minor or courses/activities chosen from the electives on offer
Admission criteria In order to enter the FHNW Master of Arts in Specialized Musical Performance programme with a Wind Orchestra Conducting Major, applicants must be awarded a Bachelor in Music/Music and Movement 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 and have passed the first round of the entrance exam will be invited to play a live audition. For further information on the admission criteria, please see the Studienreglement of the Master of Arts FHNW in Specialized Music Performance.
Required skills
Basic knowledge of conducting and rehearsal techniques
Piano and score-playing proficiency
Ability to analyse a score for a wind orchestra
Knowledge of the seminal works in the wind orchestra repertoire
Language Skills We recommend having sufficient German language skills.
Entrance exam The entrance exam is split into several parts.
Procedure Duration: 40 Minutes Analysis of a wind orchestra work of applicant’s choosing (approx. 20 mins) Conducting of a score Score-playing of a simple wind orchestra work Discussion on the seminal works from the wind orchestra repertoire
Dates The live auditions 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 curriculum vitae, a motivational letter, the school leaving qualification, the Bachelor Diploma. In case that the applicant already holds a Master Diploma, we also need a copy of that.
Announcement of the results The results will be communicated by mail in May.
