Master of Arts in Music Pedagogy - Early Music Instrument /Voice

Historically-informed study of music pedagogy

Once relegated to the cultural fringes, Early Music has been enjoying a sustained revival, as evidenced, among others, by its inclusion in the music pedagogy study programmes offered by music schools and universities.

The Schola Cantorum Basiliensis (SCB), together with the FHNW School of Music (HSM), offers a Master’s degree in Music Pedagogy with an Early Music specialization. Teaching methodology specific to Early Music as well as courses in the major subject take place at the SCB, while the HSM is responsible for the general music pedagogy courses. Alongside teacher training, the programme also nurtures the students’ own artistic development as a harmonious combination of these two aspects, one that is essential for a truly effective and fruitful pedagogical qualification. Students will also acquire a sound background in theoretical and practical subjects relevant to Early Music.

What sets certain major instruments (baroque bassoon, baroque oboe, recorder, harpsichord, voice, lute, organ, viola de gamba) apart from others is a current and ongoing demand for teachers of these instruments. Consequently, the SCB offers these majors as part of its regular MA in Music Pedagogy programme. Other instrumental majors that exist in a modern form (violin, cello, fortepiano, flute, trombone etc.) are only offered through the SCB under special conditions and generally require a previous Master's degree on the modern instrument.Such holders of a recognised Master’s degree may, in close consultation with the FHNW School of Music, tailor their Music Pedagogy studies to their chosen instrument. The relevant instrumental teaching methodology classes are dispensed by the HSM.

Please note that the SCB may not offer the MA programme in Music Pedagogy every year.

Overview

The MA programme in Music Pedagogy is geared towards students who wish to add teaching qualifications to a well-founded course of study as a practising musician. Essential prerequisites are an interest in teaching and a flair for communication, as well as conversational fluency in the German language.

The aim of this Master’s degree programme is to develop the independent artistic personality of instrumentalists and singers with excellent musical and technical ability, both as soloists and ensemble performers. It also imparts specific knowledge of music theory and history pertinent to Early Music, which will equip students to make independent and well-founded decisions about performance practice and aesthetics. This artistic and intellectual autonomy is necessary in order to succeed in a market which is dominated less by traditional institutional employers and more by an interest in the creativity and persuasiveness of individual musicians.

Holders of an MA in Music Pedagogy with an Early Music specialisation are equipped to share and teach their specialist knowledge and skills within music school and upper-secondary settings.

The MA in Music Pedagogy with an Early Music specialisation offered by the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis enables students to provide professional instrumental/singing tuition at music schools and at the upper-secondary level. Generally speaking, teaching positions are rare in this highly specialised field. The one notable exception is recorder teaching, which remains in demand among the amateur musician community and draws on a repertoire that extends beyond Early Music.

Core curriculum I (72 CP)

Major module

Major: Individual and group tuition
Major-specific courses/regulations

Core curriculum II (28 CP)

Teacher Training module

Teaching practicum with individual students
Music school practicum

Introduction to Music Pedagogy module

Foundations of pedagogy and psychology
Master thesis colloquium

Music Didactics module

Subject-specific didactics/teaching methodology
Music pedagogy electives

Complementary courses (8 CP)

Minor module

Thoroughbass
Improvisation
National playing styles / performance practice

Elective courses (12 CP)

Personalised module

Courses/activities from the electives on offer

Detailed module descriptions

Modulplan

To be admitted to the Master’s programme, applicants must hold a Bachelor degree in Music/Music and Movement or an equivalent qualification.

Applicants who have failed any part of their Bachelor degree programme may be provisionally admitted to the Master’s programme under the condition that they successfully resit the relevant exam(s) by the end of the first MA semester. In order to be accepted for study, enough billable ECTS credit points must be available to fulfil all requirements of the diploma programme. For the Master's degree the minimum is 30 ECTS credit points. Applicants must declare any ECTS credits they have acquired from a previous course of study that they had failed to complete.
The admission procedure requires applicants pass an aptitude test.
The admission procedure breaks down as follows:

Verification that the applicant meets all formal admission criteria
Admission to the aptitude test
Aptitude test (entrance exam)
Decision on admission.

Admission shall be granted for the academic year to which the aptitude test applies. This test may be retaken no more than once per degree programme/major, but no earlier than the next official aptitude test date.
Places on the degree programme are limited; a quota is set for first-year admissions. Based on the framework regulations governing student intake restrictions for Bachelor and Master’s degree programmes at the University of Applied Sciences and Arts (FHNW), the FHNW Academy of Music shall make its final selection based on the level and comparative ranking of the applicants' examination results.