Early Music Thoroughbass

Keeping engagement with Early Music and its myriad performance practices alive, raising public awareness of this specialist field and providing input to the dialogue between different forms of art and music thanks to:

• Expert musicianship and a qualification in ensemble/orchestra direction by means of thoroughbass accompaniment;
• Wide-ranging knowledge of historical performance practices and the ability to communicate this information clearly and effectively;
• A high degree of self-reflection, coupled with excellent social and leadership skills; familiarity with musicology studies as regards the development of creative and innovative programmes and concepts in the field of Early Music, including the preparation of high-quality music scores.

This programme is aimed primarily for gifted keyboard players (especially harpsichordists) who have an excellent basis in thoroughbass as well as the technical ability, theoretical knowledge and creative flair necessary to deal with this subject in a comprehensive way. The programme makes use of the unique competences and resources of the SCB, built up over the last decades and responsible for the reputation this seat of higher learning has gained as a centre for a historically informed and highly differentiated approach to playing thoroughbass. In addition to instruction in the Thoroughbass Major, there is a smaller unit of practical instrumental tuition to hone the students’ technical proficiency. An essential addition to the training in thoroughbass is a minor in ensemble direction, since the two fields are closely interconnected.

Graduates of this Master’s degree programme are qualified to pursue a career as a continuo player, coach and ensemble director, and to deliver stylistically diverse, artistically compelling and high-calibre performances in both concert and music mediating settings.

Core curriculum (84 CP)

Major module

• Thoroughbass
• National styles (lectures and practicum)
• Master thesis colloquium

Minor module

• Keyboard instrument/improvisation

Complementary courses (24 CP)

Music Theory module

• Theory-specific courses
• Performance practice

Teaching module

• Maestro al Cembalo
• Ensemble direction and coaching skills
• Ensembles
• Tutoring
• History of ensemble direction
• Work shadowing and assisting with vocal and orchestra projects

Elective courses (12 CP)

Personalised module

• Courses and events 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:

1. Verification that the applicant meets all formal admission criteria
2. Admission to the aptitude test
3. Aptitude test (entrance exam)
4. 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.

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

Special procedure for the aptitude test thoroughbass 2022

The aptitude test is divided into two parts: a music theory examination and a Major-specific audition. Both are 20 minutes long.

Theory examination (English)



The following information can be found on the Valuable information about your studies page:

• Study Regulationn
• Scholarships and Living Costs
• Studying in Switzerland
• Tuition fees
• Study guide
• Semester dates