MA Music Performance | Jazz Producing/Performance

Basel Academy of Music

Develop your artistic profile – as a performer, producer or composer. The Master Jazz program offers the space to deepen your musical practice, pursue individual artistic interests and realise your own projects. Within an international environment, students develop their own musical language while engaging with diverse artistic perspectives and contemporary musical contexts. The facilities of Jazzcampus Basel and the exchange within its community create an environment for creative collaboration, reflection and artistic development.

At the heart of the program are musical craftsmanship, creative originality and contextual reflection. Students continue to develop their individual musical voice while shaping their own artistic positions within the landscape of contemporary musical practice.

Factsheet

Degree: Master of Arts FHNW in Music Performance, Studienrichtung Jazz Producing/Performance
Study mode: Full-time
Learning mode: Onsite
ECTS credits: 120
Next start: 13.9.2027
Duration: 4 semesters
Teaching language: German, English
Stay abroad: Possible
Application fee: 200 CHF
Semester fee: 750 CHF (CH) | 1000 CHF (EU/EFTA) | 1250 CHF (Not-EU/Not-EFTA)

At a glance

Flexible, project-based curriculum with individual specialisations in performance, composition and production
Individual mentoring by internationally active faculty members
Work in professionally equipped studios and in exchange with students from other disciplines
Regular projects, masterclasses and collaborations
A wide range of elective courses offered across all institutes of the Basel Academy of Music

Why study this?

Developing a well-rounded and versatile artistic identity requires an ability to work effectively and constructively with other musicians, writers, arrangers and other creatives in a variety of different musical settings and styles. A thorough musical, technical and cultural knowledge makes it possible to quickly grasp the set-up and running of the entire production process, whether live or studio-based. It also provides artists with the ability to turn their artistic/creative ideas into music and do so in a technologically complex environment.

Students also increase their awareness of how the cultural context informs the creative process in music, acquire the ability to develop a personal vision of current and new music, and accumulate comprehensive practical and theoretical knowledge of various traditionally defined music styles.

Graduates of this program actively shape today’s music scene. As independent artists, they contribute to diverse contexts, develop their own projects and realize them professionally. The degree also opens the path to further studies.

This programme is aimed at advanced instrumentalists, vocalists, composers, or producers who hold a Bachelor’s degree in music, an equivalent qualification, or equivalent professional experience.

Programme goal

Thanks to its open, modular structure and flexible weighting of study units, students define their individual goals and work in a project-oriented way. At the core of the programme is a main subject combination in three areas:

Performance
Composition
Production

One of these is chosen as the primary focus, while the other two serve as complementary areas that broaden and integrate the artistic development.
Artistic Research connects artistic practice with reflective inquiry. Students develop and examine their own artistic questions, document their process and place their work in professional and societal contexts.
The programme is complemented by electives and ensemble participation.
For graduation, students present a portfolio of compositions, professional productions or a live performance.

Sophia Göken

What I particularly value about the Jazzcampus is its openness and the exchange with people from a wide range of musical and artistic disciplines. This quickly leads to new collaborations, for example with musicians from the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis or students from the Institute Contemporary Design Practices (Fashion Design) at the Basel Academy of Art and Design FHNW. These collaborations continually enrich my own artistic practice. At the same time, it is a great privilege to study on a campus with such excellent facilities and access to so many opportunities, from the rehearsal rooms and studios to the concerts at the bird’s eye jazz club. You quickly become part of Basel’s music scene and meet people you continue to collaborate with beyond your studies. It’s all about the community we’re creating together.

Structure and programme contents

Core subject: concept and content

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.

Structure

Module descriptions

Study Regulations

Lecturers

Requirements, admission, entrance exam

Applicants are eligible for the MA in Music Performance Jazz (Producing/Performance) if they hold a Bachelor’s degree in Music (Jazz profile) or an equivalent qualification, have passed the entrance exam, and have been awarded a study place (limited number).
For full admission criteria, please consult the Study Course Regulations of MA Music Performance Jazz Producing/Performance (in German).

Applicants who submit complete registration materials on time will be invited to the entrance exam.

Good basic knowledge of English is required at the start of the program. These skills will be assessed during the admission process.

General Registration Procedure All about Studying in Basel

Entrance exam

The entrance exam is individual for each study programme direction.

Please note:
Applicants apply for one major and one complementary subject. The second complementary subject, which may be taken individually or in a group, is not part of the entrance exam and does not require registration materials.

Focus on musical performance

Focus on composition

Focus on music production

Organisational matters

Quicklinks

Files and Regulations

Music library "Vera Oeri-Bibliothek"

Advising and information events

Contact

Student Administration Academy of Music, Jazz

Phone: +41 61 333 13 13
E-Mail: jazz.hsm@fhnw.ch

Prof. Patrik Zosso

Head of the Management Board Institut Jazz, Head of MA Musical Performance Producing/Performance

Phone: +41 61 333 13 13 (Central office)
E-Mail: patrik.zosso@fhnw.ch

Information events

Registration

The registration window is open between 15th December and 15th February.

MA Music Performance | Jazz Producing/Performance

Date: 13.9.2027
Duration: 4 Semester
Place: Jazzcampus Basel

MA Music Performance | Jazz Producing/Performance, Basel Academy of Music

Factsheet

At a glance

Why study this?

Structure and programme contents

Modules and regulations

Lecturers

Daniel Dettwiler

Patrik Zosso

Institut Jazz

Requirements, admission, entrance exam

Entrance exam

Organisational matters

Advising and information events

Contact

Information events

Registration

MA Music Performance | Jazz Producing/Performance

MA Music Performance | Jazz Producing/Performance