With multiple artistic profiles in the unique environment of sonic space basel: here, composition, contemporary performance, open creation, audio design and new music theory are strategically pooled. Collaborations with the beacons of the international new music scene in the context of more than 50 public performances each year guarantee innovation, artistic excellence and a high level of networking opportunities. The work structure is modular, diverse and collaborative.
Factsheet
- Degree
- Master of Arts FHNW in Spezialisierter Musikalischer Performance, Studienrichtung Open Creation
- Study mode
- Full-time
- Learning environment
- Onsite
- ECTS points
- 120
- Duration
- 4 semesters
- Language
- B1 level in German 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
- Four main subject areas: improvisation, composition, contemporary performance and open art formats
- A master’s degree for creative students who want to position themselves in more than just one discipline
- Highly individualised curricula
Why study this?
The Open Creation Major prepares students for a career in analogue/digital and media music creation and performance which transcend geographical, stylistic and aesthetic boundaries. It equips them with the skills and knowledge they need to carve out a distinctive place within the analogue and/or digital music industry as highly professional and original creative performers, transnational artists, curators or festival organisers.
The Open Creation Major in the FHNW Master of Arts in Specialised Music Performance is aimed at student creatives who hold at least a Bachelor's degree (or similar qualification) in instrumental or vocal performance, composition, improvisation, audio design (or related electronic music studies), performance art, or another related field.
Study variant available
The combined master's programme – creative artistic focus and education in music pedagogy
MA Music Pedagogy | instrument/voice | Open Creation
Students who already hold a master's degree in Music Performance with an instrumental/vocal major have the possibility to combine in one Master of Arts in Music Pedagogy programme artistic, creativ specialization and pedagogical education in their own instrument. This dual profile considerably expands their career opportunities.
MA Music Pedagogy | instrument / voice | Open Creation
Performance Open Creation @Schlusskonzert sonic space basel (2025) Robin Michel: Disappear (2023) Ignat Khlobystin: Friendship Suite for Five Improvisers
Structure and programme contents
The concept behind this master's programme is to provide creative students who do not want to limit themselves to just one artistic discipline (keyword: composer-performer-improviser) with a platform within which they can substantially design and configure their individual curriculum in line with their artistic intentions. Thanks to the high degree of modularisation of the programme, the four main subject areas of improvisation, composition, contemporary performance and open art formats (electronics, media composition, sound art, open performance, installation, sonic art, etc.) can be combined individually and flexibly over the four semesters in collaboration with our tutors. This enables a very open-ended master's programme in which independent and collaborative work and artistic practice are of paramount importance.
The core curriculum is divided into three parts:
- Major A:
Improvisation, composition, contemporary performance or open art formats* - Major B:
Improvisation, composition, contemporary performance or open art formats* - Semester project/Master's project
Successful applicants choose their Major A subject as well as their lead tutor in consultation with the Master's programme director. It should be noted that students may not change this choice at any point during their studies. In contrast, they can switch from one Major B subject to another every semester; the chosen Major B subject must not be the same as the student's Major A subject. Teaching is provided by lecturers from sonic space basel and the FHNW School of Art and Design.
Each semester, students must develop and complete an approximately 25-minute, original project for public presentation (a project budget will be provided). In the final semester, students will present their 45-minute Master's project.
Subjects such as context, practice, reflection and communication are taught within the complementary part of the Open Creation Major. Students can choose from an extensive range of electives, which allow them not only to build on their knowledge and skills in their preferred areas of specialisation and applications, but also to supplement the core content of their studies.
* = Electronics, media composition, sound art, sonic arts, open performance, sonic installation, etc.
Specials
- Eduard Brunner Composition Prize: Every year, one of our students is awarded a composition prize worth CHF 5,000 as part of an internal sonic space basel competition.
- Annual artistic cooperation with a college/university outside Switzerland
Modules and Regelements
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
Major A: Improvisation
Structure MA SP Klassik Open Creation Hauptfach A Improvisation in German
Major A: Komposition
Structure MA SP Klassik Open Creation Hauptfach A Komposition in German
Major A: Contemporary Performance
Structure MA SP Klassik Open Creation Hauptfach A Contemporary Performance in German
Major A: Open Art Formats
Structure MA SP Klassik Open Creation Hauptfach A Open Art Formats in German
Major B: Improvisation
Structure MA SP Klassik Open Creation Hauptfach B Improvisation in German
Major B: Komposition
Structure MA SP Klassik Open Creation Hauptfach B Komposition in German
Major B: Contemporary Performance
Structure MA SP Klassik Open Creation Hauptfach B Contemporary Performance in German
Major B: Open Art Formats
Structure MA SP Klassik Open Creation Hauptfach B Open Art Formats 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.
Study Regulations
Lecturers
Requirements, admission, entrance exam
We recommend having sufficient German language skills.
Entrance exam
The entrance exam is individual for each study programme direction.
Dates
Registration
You may apply between 15th December and 1st March.
Along with the registration, it is mandatory to submit the following documents:
- The school leaving qualification
- the Bachelor Diploma
- the Master Diploma (if available)
For the first Round of the Entrance Exam
- Portfolio
- Project Proposal
On-Site
The live auditions will take place at the end of April. The exact dates may be seen here.
Announcement of the results
The results of the first round will be communicated by mail at the end of March.
The results of the second round will be communicated by mail in May.
Procedure
The entrance exam is split into two parts.
Procedure
Applicants must submit a portfolio and a project proposal when registering.
First Round: Portfolio/Project Proposal
A Portfolio that fully reflects the applicant's artistry and creative output: e.g. concerts/performances/improvisations (audio/video); music scores; analytical work; soundtracks; installations; documentation on earlier artistic projects.
Project proposal (max. project running time: 20-25 min) for a project they would like to execute as part of the Open Creation Major. The proposal should detail the artistic goals of the project, the implementation process and the resources required (performers, audio, visuals etc.). Please note that the proposal must be submitted in video format (approx. running time: 6-7 min).
Upload your video onto YouTube and insert the link to your list of works. Please upload the list of works or send it by mail to registration.hsm@fhnw.ch by 1st March.
Second Round: Online-Conversation
After reviewing the submitted portfolio, the jury will invite chosen applicants for an online interview (ca. 30 minutes) by 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.
sonic space basel - project partners
Basel Academy of Art and Design, 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.
Projects / Ensembles
At Hochschule für Musik Basel, students have the opportunity to participate in various project and ensemble programmes.
To the overview of the recurring offers.
Quicklinks
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
The next registration window is open from 15th December to 1st March.