Early Music Renaissance - Romantic instrument/voice

Key data

Degree: Master of Arts FHNW in Musikalischer Performance - Studienrichtung Alte Musik Renaissance-Romantik instrumental/ vokal
ECTS points: 120
Start of semester: in autumn
Duration: 4 semesters
Teaching language: German
Place: Campus Musik-Akademie Basel
Application fee: 200 CHF
Semester fee: 800 CHF for Swiss citizens and foreigners with legal place of residence in Switzerland | 1000 CHF for students from EU-/EFTA-countries | 1250 CHF for students from third countries

Consolidation of instrumental/vocal proficiency and fluency

The Master of Arts in Musical Performance focuses on the intensive engagement with Early Music playing techniques and performance practices, coupled with an in-depth examination of historical source material. As a result, students advance their understanding of the stylistic and aesthetic aspects of music and the need to creatively convey these qualities in contemporary performances.

Course description

This MA builds on the knowledge and skills acquired from the SCB’s Bachelor programme with an instrumental/vocal major. Students who hold a BA in Music from a different music education study programme will follow a special curriculum that comprises key theory-based subjects included in the specialised study programmes offered by the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis.

Achieving the highest level of proficiency as an instrumental/vocal soloist is an important goal of this Master’s programme. Given that ensemble playing is integral to Early Music, the study programme also focuses on nurturing excellent ensemble musicianship. A Master’s thesis provides proof of the candidate’s capacity to deal with a subject in a scholarly and reflective manner.

Overview

The aim of this Master’s programme is to 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 defined less by traditional institutional employers and more by an interest in the creativity and persuasiveness of individual musicians.

This Master’s programme is aimed at students (instrumental/vocal) who are highly qualified and prepared to dedicate themselves to a course of study in historical performance practice that meets the highest artistic standards.
Prerequisites are: talent, high level of ability (voice/instrument) as well as potential for further artistic development, experience in Early Music and an interest in the historical foundations underpinning its practice.

Holders of an MA in Music Performance with a specialisation in Early Music are qualified to pursue a career as a soloist and/or as an ensemble musician, delivering performances that are stylistically appropriate, artistically compelling and of the highest calibre.

Graduates share their expertise and experience in workshops and masterclasses, and have the necessary skills and knowledge to contribute to academic research on historical performance practice in their chosen fields.

Core curriculum (88 CP)

Major module

Major subject: individual and group tuition
Major-specific courses/regulations

Minor module

Introduction to thoroughbass and counterpoint
Practical minor subjects

Complementary courses (12 CP)

Music Theory module, foundation level

Ear training R-R (dictation and seminar)
Historical composition techniques R-R (seminars)
Notation R‐R (basis seminar)

Music Theory module, advanced level

Theory seminars
Master thesis colloquium

Elective courses (20 CP)

Personalised module

Minor or courses/activities chosen 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 to 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.

The entrance exams consist of a first round "by video" and a second round with on-site auditions.

First round/Video recordings

Video recordings must be handed in as part of the application.

Content: Please prepare 3 pieces that present a selection of different stylistic fields. Use the repertoire samples as a guide. Applicants must perform on period instruments or replicas thereof in the entrance exams. List the information on your “list of works”.
Form: three separate uncut videos of music (one per piece)
Total length of the videos together: 15 – max. 20 minutes.
Date: The recordings should usually be new and prepared for the entrance exams. Published videos only uncut and not older than six months.
(Continuo-)Accompaniment: is requested. You can work with people from your own setting.

Technical requirements:

Camera Position: Please record the video from a fixed point of view, ideally using a tripod. The hands and the face of the candidate / musician plus the instrument must be visible.
Audio: We recommend using a separate stereo microphone and placing it properly (If necessary, you may also use the microphone of a camera, computer, or smartphone).

Transmission:

Video Platform: Please upload your three videos unlisted to Youtube. (exception: candidates from China may use a corresponding alternative platform).
Create a “list of works” with the information on the pieces played including the corresponding Youtube links.
Please also enter the Youtube links in the registration tool.
Please ensure that the videos are accessible for four months.
Submit the list of works with the rest of your application or send it via email to cmVnaXN0cmF0aW9uLmhzbUBmaG53LmNo by 31 January.

Only applicants considered for the second round will be invited to an on-site audition.

Second round/on-site audition

Please also refer to the document Eignungsabklärung

Audition plus interview: Please prepare a programme of 15 to max. 20 minutes with pieces from at least three different stylistic fields. Also use the repertoire samples as a guide. The programme may be identical to the one of the video. The candidate may choose the first piece. Then, the jury will decide which works to play and is allowed to interrupt the audition at any time. Afterwards, there will be a short conversation about the study objectives and contents as well as the applicant´s prior education, experience and career goals, the preferred professor, etc.

The general section of the entrance exam (theory) and proof of proficiency on a keyboard instrument take place on the same day, usually before or after the on-site audition for the main subject (duration: 20 min.).

sing and identify intervals played on the harpsichord (closed and open position)
active singing of intervals above or below a given pitch
sing and identify seventh chords (7, 5/6, 3/4/6, 2/4/6)
Dictation: sing and notate a two-voice setting (soprano and bass)
identify the chords (preferably figured bass; modern harmony also acceptable)
Improvisation: sing a continuation of the dictated melody
Sight-sing a melody of medium difficulty from the 17th or 18th century, notated in treble or bass clef
Performance of a prepared, short piece of your choice on the harpsichord (not required for those with major keyboard or plucked instruments)
Tonality and mode issues

Minor

For a Minor second instrument, the requirements are generally the same as for the main subject but with the following changes:

Please prepare two separate uncut videos of music from the requested repertoire for main subject
The videos should last about 10 minutes in total.
The Minor exam takes place together with the examinations for the main subjects. Please keep the corresponding date (see list of entrance exams per main subject) free in any case.

The entrance examinations for the Minor in improvisation will take place at the same date as the exam for improvisation as a main subject.

Date

The on-site auditions will take place between mid-March and mid-April. The exact dates may be seen here after the beginning of January.

Registration

You may apply from 15 December 22 until 31 January.

The following documents must be handed in with your application: Curriculum Vitae including motivational letter, school leaving qualification (Matura, Abitur, Baccalauréat, High School-Diploma) and Bachelor Diploma. If the applicant already holds a Master Diploma, please include.

Further information can be found here.

Announcement of the results

The results of the first round will be communicated by email by the end of February.
The results of the second round will be communicated by email in May.