Free improvisation has become a core competence in various music genres and has thus arrived at the centre of the creative music scene. Expand your improvisational skills and actively participate in artistic and performative projects on and off campus as part of sonic space basel. Benefit from an environment of performers, composers, electronic musicians and improvisers.
Factsheet
- Degree
- Certificate of Advanced Studies FHNW in Freie Improvisation/Improvisierte Kammermusik
- Learning environment
- Onsite
- ECTS points
- 12
- Next start
- 14.9.2026
- Duration
- 2 semesters
- Venues
- Basel: Campus Musik-Akademie
- Fee
- CHF 5'900.-, examination fee: CHF 350.-, registration fee 200.-
At a glance
- Deepening improvisational skills and expanding the aesthetic artistic spectrum with free music
- Actively participate in musical projects on and off the MAB campus and realise your own projects.
- Individual specialisations in workshops and countless modules enable targeted personal development.
- Benefit from the sonic space basel network and collaborative creation
Aims and benefits
This course enables musicians with improvisation experience to expand and deepen their skills. This is tested and implemented in independent projects with musicians from sonic space basel.
Target audience
Who is the CAS Free Improvisation/Improvised Chamber Music course aimed at?
The CAS Free Improvisation/Improvised Chamber Music is aimed at qualified musicians with experience in free improvised music.
ELLLIPSIS
Concert Trailer at Neubad Luzern
Structure and programme contents
The CAS/DAS-programmes at the Basel Academy of Music are based on modules.
The legally binding structure provides an initial guide to the content and weighting of the subjects on the continuing education. Several modules correspond to those in the degree programme.
The detailed content and modalities of the individual subjects can be found in the module descriptions.
The continuing education regulations form the legal framework.
Structure
The continuing education programme is structured as follows over two semesters:
Certificate of Advanced Studies FHNW in Freie Improvisation/Improvisierte Kammermusik (12 CP)
Course | Credit Points |
|---|---|
Group lessons in free improvisation: | 5 CP |
LAB/hearing analysis/Deep listening 4x50 minutes | 1 CP |
Independent trial work in groups between teaching blocks | 4 CP |
Workshop Improvisation of your choice | 1 CP |
elective courses | 1 CP |
In detail per semester:
Structure CAS Free Improvisation/Improvised Chamber Music in German
Module descriptions
Below please find the link with all the information on the module descriptions of several FHNW universities.
- Switch the language settings to English.
- Filter by semester, Hochschule für Musik Basel FHNW, the desired degree programme or other criteria to display the relevant module information.
- Use the PDF button to call up a document from each overview and save it for yourself.
- Course registrations are made via the intranet.
Continuing Education Regulations
Lecturers
Yaron Deutsch
Andrea Neumann
Open Creation
Guests
Institut Klassik
Requirements, admission, entrance exam
Admission criteria
In order to enter the FHNW CAS in Free Improvisation/Improvised Chamber Music, applicants must be awarded a Diploma in Music with an artistic focus or equivalent, written a motivational letter as well as they have to have passed the entrance exam and were offered a free place at the Academy (limited places).
- Diploma with an artistic focus (or equivalent, verifiable skills)
- Written statement explaining the reasons for choosing the CAS (motivational letter)
- Successful admission interview with the head of programme
- Available study places
Entrance exam
The entrance exam is individual for each programme.
Dates
Registration
You may apply until 31st May.
Along with the registration, it is mandatory to submit the following documents:
- a motivational letter
- Bachelor or Master diploma
Announcement of the results
The results of the entrance exam will be communicated by mail.
Procedure
The entrance exam consists of one round via Zoom/online.
First round: Online Interview
After reviewing the registration documents, the continuing education applicants selected by the evaluation committee will be invited to an interview (approx. 30 minutes) via video conference/Zoom.
Organisational matters
sonic space basel
sonic space basel is a platform of Basel Academy of Music for Audio Design (BA and MA), Composition (BA and MA and MA SP), MA SP Creative Interpretation in New Music, Music Theory (BA and MA MP), MA SP New Music Theory, MA SP Open Creation, Continuing Education and Research.
We consider ourselves a laboratory, a communication tool and an information hub for contemporary music.
Cooperations of sonic space basel
Hochschule für Gestaltung und Kunst FHNW, Donaueschinger Musiktage, Festival ZeitRäume, Museum Tinguely, Darmstädter Ferienkurse, Gare Du Nord, Haus der elektronischen Künste, Theater Basel, Ensembleakademie ‘impuls’, Paul Sacher Stiftung, Basel Sinfonietta, etc.
Evidence of academic achievement
Recital in any instrumentation (30 minutes) at the end of the second semester.
Degree
Certificate of Advanced Studies FHNW in Freie Improvisation/Improvisierte Kammermusik (12 CP)
Fees
CAS | CHF 5'900.- (per semester CHF 2950.-) |
Registration | CHF 200.- |
Examination | CHF 350.- |
Advising and information events
Contact
Student Administration Academy of Music, Klassik
- Phone
- +41 61 264 57 32 (Direct)
- klassik.hsm@fhnw.ch
Prof. Uli Fussenegger
- Phone
- +41 61 264 56 19
- uli.fussenegger@fhnw.ch
Information events
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Registration
Final application date 31.05. for education starting in the current year
After consultation with the head of programme, it is also possible to begin the programme in the spring semester. Please contact the student administration.
CAS Free Improvisation/ Improvised Chamber MusicStart per autumn semester
- Date
- 14.9.2026
- Date
- Rolling intake possible
- Duration
- 2 semesters
- Place
- Campus Musik-Akademie Basel
- Final application date
- 31.5.2026