This degree programme imparts a broad understanding of the stylistic and aesthetic aspects of music, enabling students to engage in-depth with historical sources and theory, as well as a reflective playing and singing techniques: the essential skills needed not only to preserve historically informed performance practice, but also to convey it in a lively and contemporary way. The programme builds on a bachelor’s degree from the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis or a comparable BA and offers an alternative curriculum for university graduates from other music programmes.
Factsheet
- Degree
- Master of Arts FHNW in Musikalischer Performance, Studienrichtung Alte Musik Renaissance-Romantik instrumental/ vokal
- Study mode
- Full-time
- Learning environment
- Onsite
- ECTS points
- 120
- Duration
- 4 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
- Specialising in playing techniques and performance practice of early music
- Examining historical sources and theory
- Specialising in stylistic and aesthetic aspects and conveying them creatively in performances
- Performing as a soloist and as part of an ensemble in an artistically convincing manner
Why study this?
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.
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.
Structure and programme contents
Consolidation of instrumental/vocal proficiency and fluency
The Master of Arts in Music 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.
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.
Modules and regulations
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.
Structures
Variant for BA degree with focus Early Music
Structure MA Early Music Music Performance Renaissance–Romantic instrument/voice* in German
Minor Improvisation
Structure Minor Early Music Improvisation in German
Minor Renaissance-Studien
Structure Minor Early Music Renaissance-Studien in German
Minor Zweitinstrument/Gesang
Structure Minor Early Music Zweitinstrument/Voice in German
Minor Musikalischer Satz und Geschichte
Structure to be asked from Student Administration
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.
Admission criteria
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 entrance exam. It 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 aptitude test applies. This test may be retaken no more than once per degree programme/major, but no earlier than the next official entrance exam 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 Basel 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 MA Early Music Musical Performance Renaissance-Romantic 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
- school leaving qualification (Matura, Abitur, Baccalauréat, High School-Diploma)
- Bachelor Diploma
- Second Master students: Master 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/invitations for entrance exam on-site will be communicated by email by the end of February.
The results of the on-site entrance exam 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 exam for visa, financial or environmental (long distance travel) reasons may submit a request for an online entrance exam (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 (only 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 the 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). - Add the corresponding direct link from YouTube per work in the list of works for the first round.
- 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 registration or send it via mail 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)
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) 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 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
Further information can be found here.
Minor
For a Minor second instrument, the requirements are generally the same as for the main subject (for violin, recorder (renaissance-romantic) and voice (renaissance-romantic), see above) but with the following changes:
- Please prepare two pieces of music from the requested repertoire for main subject.
- These should have together a duration of 10 minutes.
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.
Organisational matters
Advising and information events
Contact
Prof. C. Federico Sepúlveda
- Phone
- +41 61 261 57 57
Information events
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Registration
The next registration window is open from 15th December to 31th January.