A diverse and international community of lecturers and students awaits you at the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis. The bachelor’s degree programme is dedicated to a repertoire from the 16th to the end of the 19th century and its historical contexts. In the instrument/voice major, technical skills are honed and the practical and aesthetic principles of music are developed. The aim of the course is to achieve a high level of musical competence in solo and ensemble playing. The context of historical performance practice is explored through theory and complementary offerings.
Factsheet
- Degree
- Bachelor of Arts FHNW in Musik, Studienrichtung Alte Musik Renaissance-Romantik instrumental / vokal
- Study mode
- Full-time
- Learning environment
- Onsite
- ECTS points
- 180
- Duration
- 6 semesters
- Language
- level B1 in German is required
- Staying abroad
- Possible
- Application fee
- 200 CHF
- Semester fee
- 750 CHF (CH) | 1000 CHF (EU/EFTA) | 1250 CHF (Not-EU/Not-EFTA)
At a glance
- Basic work on playing techniques and performance practice of early music in solo and ensemble
- Knowledge of sources and notation as a basis for independent study of stylistic and aesthetic aspects of music
- Developing one’s own artistic personality and the ability to contextualise
Why study this?
As a rule, the Bachelor degree programme prepares students for continuing their education at graduate level (Master’s). However, the experience and skills acquired during this course of study are also transferable to other professions, such as music journalism, publishing, music management and instrument making.
This particular Bachelor degree programme does not have a teacher-training component. Students wishing to pursue a career as a music educator may apply for the special Master's degree programme in Music Pedagogy upon completion of the Bachelor's studies.
Career opportunities for Renaissance-Romantic music specialists include performance work in concert, festival, Early Music concert series and church settings. As expert ensemble musicians, holders of this BA are qualified to play with existing ensembles or establish their own ensemble. A number of graduates opt to pursue a career in academic research within their chosen field of specialisation, while others choose to share their experience and expertise in workshops and masterclasses.
This SCB Bachelor degree programme is aimed at highly talented instrumentalists and vocalists wishing to acquire an undergraduate qualification in the study and practice of music from the Early Modern, Baroque, Classical and Romantic eras. Students should be highly qualified and prepared to dedicate themselves to a course of study and training 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.
Structure and programme contents
The Bachelor of Arts degree in Early Music offered by the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis (SCB) allows students to specialise in one of two historical periods: medieval-Renaissance or Renaissance-Romantic. The structure of both study programmes is similar but the focus of their content differs. The Renaissance-Romantic programme centres on the study of music, instruments, performance practice and repertoires from the Baroque period and adjacent eras. Students acquire a high level of practical expertise as solo and ensemble performers, while theory-based and complementary subjects provide them with a thorough grounding in historical performance practice.
This degree programme focuses on the repertoire, instruments and performance practices of the 16th to 19th centuries. In addition to improving their mastery of period instruments and vocal techniques, students also benefit from a detailed study of repertoires and extensive exposure to historical improvisation practices. The programme also provides them with a sound understanding of the theory and history of music, which will in turn inform the development of their own musical practice. Thanks to its exceptionally talented teaching staff and students, the Baroque Department of the SCB offers an array of opportunities to gain ensemble-playing experience.
Modules and Reglements
The BA and MA degree 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 degree programme.
The detailed content and modalities of the individual subjects can be found in the module descriptions.
The study regulations come into force together with the study and examination regulations of the Basel Academy of Music FHNW and form the legal framework.
Structure
Module descriptions
Below please find the link with all the information on the module descriptions of several FHNW schools.
- 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.
Study Regulations
Lecturers
Schola Cantorum Basiliensis
Requirements, admission, entrance exam
We expect students to have good German language skills at the beginning of the studies. Students who are not German native speakers must present at least a B1 German language certificate (according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR)) at the beginning of the studies.
More Admission Criteria
Applicants must satisfy the standard admission criteria to a FHNW Bachelor degree programme. In other words, they must hold one of the following qualifications:
- a federally recognised academic Swiss baccalaureate (Matura);
- a federally recognised specialised Swiss baccalaureate in music;
- a federal vocational baccalaureate;
- a diploma from another recognised upper-secondary general education provider;
- proof of an equivalent general education qualification from another education provider.
Exceptions may be made for applicants who do not have an upper-secondary qualification but demonstrate exceptional musical talent.
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 bachelor's degree the minimum is 60 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 entrance exam.
The admission procedure breaks down as follows:
- Verification that the applicant meets all formal admission criteria
- Admission to the entrance exam
- Entrance exam
- Decision on admission.
Admission shall be granted for the academic year to which the entrance exam applies. This test may be retaken no more than once per degree programme/major, but no earlier than the next official entrance exam date.
Applicants who perform very well in the audition but who fail or barely pass the theoretical entrance examination (p. 54 “Aptitude Test”) may be admitted to the first year of the Bachelor programme, but will be required to meet a number of conditions during said academic year. Failure to do so will mean removal from the given degree programme.
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.
For further information on the admission criteria, please see the Study Course Regulations BA Early Music Medieval-Renaissance instrument/voice in German.
Entrance exam
The entrance exam is individual for each study programme direction.
Dates
Registration
You may apply from 15 December until 31 January.
The following documents must be handed in with your registration:
- A curriculum Vitae incl. motivational letter and passport photo
- school leaving qualification (Matura, Abitur, Baccalauréat, High School Diploma)
On-site
The on-site auditions will take place between mid-March and mid-April. The exact dates may be seen here in the beginning of January.
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 the beginning of May.
Procedure
The entrance exams consist of an on-site audition.
There will be a first round "by video" (details below) for the majors violin, recorder (renaissance-romantic) and voice (renaissance-romantic). Exams for all other majors will take place directly on-site.
Persons unable to take an on-site assessment for visa, financial or environmental (long distance travel) reasons may submit a request for an online entrance assessment (video presentation and live interview). This request must be sent to scb.hsm@fhnw.ch at the same time as the registration (by 31 January), stating the reasons, and must then be approved by the management.
First round: Video recordings for violin, recorder (renaissance-romantic) and voice (renaissance-romantic)
Video recordings must be handed in as part of the registration.
- 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 for the first round. - 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). - Fill in the list of works for the first round 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 six months.
- Submission
Submit the list of works with the rest of your application or send it via email to registration.hsm@fhnw.ch by 31 January.
Only applicants considered for the second round will be invited to an on-site audition.
On-site audition (second round)
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. Use the repertoire samples as a guide. The programme (may be identical to the one of the video) must be submitted together with the list of works for the entrance exam on-site. 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 triads (3/5, 3/6, 4/6): major, minor, diminished and augmented
- sing triads upwards and downwards from a given pitch
- sing and notate a simple tonal melody
- improvise 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)
Further information can be found here.
Organisational matters
Advising and information events
Contact
Prof. Christian Hilz
- Phone
- +41 61 264 57 57 (Central office)
- christian.hilz@fhnw.ch
Information events
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Registration
The next registration window is open from 15th December to 31th January.