This specialised master’s degree programme at the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis aims to train students in musical excellence and thus prepare them for an international career on stage, in church and in the concert hall. The Schola Cantorum Basiliensis is a recognised centre for early music. With high-calibre lecturers and an inspiring and diverse community of students, it offers ideal conditions for studying music at the highest international level.
Factsheet
- Degree
- Master of Arts FHNW in Spezialisierter Musikalischer Performance, Studienrichtung Alte Musik historische Spielpraxis 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
- In-depth study of playing techniques and performance practice of early music as well as examination of historical sources
- Preparing paths to the professional fields of historical music practice
- Performing creatively and artistically convincingly as a soloist and as part of an ensemble and learning to convey the special aspects of early music
Why study this?
This Master’s programme is aimed especially at musicians who are at an advanced stage in music. This two-year programme focuses primarily on performance practice. The theory-based subjects essential to Early Music are offered either as an intensive combined course (ear training, historical composition techniques, and historical notation) or as individual subjects.
Holders of an MA in Specialised Music Performance 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. They are also qualified to share their expertise and experience in workshops and masterclasses.
Structure and programme contents
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 sources. 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.
The Master’s programme also places great importance on, and provides ample opportunity for, regular ensemble work.
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
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.
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 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.
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 MA Specialised Music Performance Early Music Historical performance practices 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 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 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 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)
Audition plus interview
Please prepare a programme of 15 to max. 20 minutes with pieces from at least three different stylistic fields. (Also) use repertoire samples the 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.
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.