Practice-led and application-oriented
The research conducted at the Basel Academy of Music, Klassik (kurz: HSM Basel, Klassik) originates in artistic practice and aims at artistic experience and its reflection. It often takes place through the medium of art itself. A central objective is to articulate, discuss, and apply knowledge grounded in artistic processes — so-called tacit knowledge — in practice. In collaboration with partners from a wide range of fields, we extend the process of knowledge creation beyond the boundaries of our own disciplinary understanding. This is based on a broad repertoire of methods (ranging from historical philology and empirical approaches to philosophical concept analysis and artistic research) and carried out in close cooperation with artistic and artistically-pedagogical practice.
Our research is guided by five research areas of focus, which are not strictly separated from one another but rather have overlaps and intersections. They form a dynamic model of complementary or intermediary competencies that reflects the diversity of artistic practices and hybrid knowledge at HSM Basel, Klassik. Research projects are not assigned to a single specific area but are situated in relation to multiple core competencies.
In-depth
Research areas
Our practice-led research activities reflect five fields of specialist expertise:
Guidelines for planning research projects available for download.
Research Project
Featured
H.E.I. Campus - an interactive Soundwalk
Vernissage
H.E.I. Campus - Soundwalk
Forschungsprojekt
H.E.I. Campus
Presented
Team
The research department consists of several permanent employees, supported by colleagues from teaching and the research council.
Head of Research Institut Klassik
Dr. Michael Kunkel
- Phone
- +41 61 264 57 35 (Direct)
- michael.kunkel@fhnw.ch
Research Staff
Responsible persons research areas
Other research staff
Research office
Former project team members
Thomas Resch
Wissenschaftliche Mitarbeit
Dr. Romed Aschwanden
Wissenschaftliche Mitarbeit SNF Spark-Projekt Alpine Netze
Hannes Barfuss
Wissenschaftliche Mitarbeit SNF Spark-Projekt Authenticity in Music Production
Dr. Ellen Fallowfield
Wissenschaftliche Mitarbeit BRIDGE Projekt Proof of Concept "The Multiphonic Possibilities of Cello Strings: from Theoretical Investigation to Musical Practice"
Clemens Fiechter
Wissenschaftliche Mitarbeit, Projekte OSPW 2.0 und Lasercoustics
Dr. Jan Gaździcki
Wissenschaftliche Mitarbeit BRIDGE Projekt Proof of Concept "The Tony Game - A Pioneering Method for the Acquisition of Music Reading Skills"
Clement Gester
Wissenschaftliche Mitarbeit Der Serpentino
Michel Godard
Wissenschaftliche Mitarbeit Der Serpentino
Dr. des. Anne-May Krüger
Wissenschaftliche Mitarbeit
Jaronas Scheurer
Wissenschaftliche Mitarbeit
Keitaro Takahashi
Wissenschaftliche Mitarbeit BRIDGE Projekt Proof of Concept "The Multiphonic Possibilities of Cello Strings: from Theoretical Investigation to Musical Practice"
Website
Research Council
Support for the core team
An internal and external panel of experts contributes its specialist knowledge to research tasks within the Research Council.
Internal Research Council
The internal research council is composed of researchers and research-oriented lecturers working at Institut Klassik. It evaluates project ideas and applications and is responsible for the strategic direction of research HSM Basel, Klassik.
- Prof. Uli Fussenegger (Leitung und Koordination Zeitgenössische Musik, Sonic Space Basel)
- Prof. Beat Hofstetter (Leitung Schulmusik, Weiterbildung)
- Prof. Annekatrin Klein (Studiengangsleitung MA Musikpädagogik instrumental/vokal)
- Prof. Andrea Neumann (Improvisation)
- Prof. Stephan Schmidt (Direktor Hochschule für Musik FHNW / Musik-Akademie Basel)
- Prof. Tobias Schabenberger (Interpretation/Performance)
- Prof. Alexandra van Gastel-Jud (Leitung Hochschule für Musik Basel FHNW, Institut Klassik)
External Research Council
The external research council serves as an advisory and quality assurance body for Research HSM Basel, Klassik. Its members, who are active in various countries and scientific cultures, help the research department to obtain a representative spectrum of opinions on research policy issues.
- Prof. Dr. Anne C. Shreffler (Harvard University, Music Department, Cambridge, MA)
- Dr. Thomas Schäfer (Direktor Internationales Musikinstitut Darmstadt)
- Prof. Dr. Silke Schmid (Pädagogische Hochschule Freiburg im Breisgau)
- Prof. Dr. Matthias Schmidt (Ordinarius Musikwissenschaftliches Seminar der Universität Basel)
- Prof. Daniel Weissberg (Hochschule der Künste Bern)
Lecture, Performance, Concert
Events
H.E.I. Campus - SoundwalkTemporäre Ausstellung
- Date
- 12.10.2026–14.12.2026, 13:00–18:15
- Place
- Musik-Akademie Basel
colloquium48Gender Balance Series 1
- Date
- 24.11.2026, 19:00–20:30
- Place
- Zi 6-301, Campus Musik-Akademie Basel
colloquium48Forum Musikpädagogik - Natalia Ardila-Mantilla
- Date
- 1.12.2026, 17:00–18:30
- Place
- Zi 6-301, Campus Musik-Akademie Basel
colloquium48Interpretationsforum: Produktion "Sombre"
- Date
- 1.12.2026, 19:00–20:30
- Place
- Zi 6-301, Campus Musik-Akademie Basel
Lecture Series Research Institut Klassik
Research on Tuesday
Veranstaltungskalender der Musik-Akademie Basel
Veranstaltungskalender der Musik-Akademie Basel
News
Publications & other News
Michel Roth: An Attempt at Essayism of Form
- Date
- 12.11.2026
- Institute
- Klassik
Ausschreibung Wettbewerb Liederzyklus Hermann Hesse
- Date
- 21.9.2026
- Institute
- Klassik
Competition call song cycle Hermann Hesse
- Date
- 21.9.2026
- Institute
- Klassik
Research Results
Website-Publications
Various research projects are documented on websites.
criticalgames.ch
Die Dokumentationswebseite des Festivals SPIEL! Games as Critical Practice des Projektes Aufs Spiel gesetzt
seilsender.ch
Alpine Seilbahnklänge vom Projekt Seilsender
irmat.ch
IRMAT steht für Interface Research for Musical Applications and Tools, einem Forschungsprojekt in Kooperation mit dem Elektronischen Studio Basel.
distantmusicking
A project of the seminar “In between”
real-world-audio.ch
Real World Audio ist eine innovative Technologie, die vielfältige Software-Anwendungen für Smartphones, automatische Museums- und Städteführer, Spiele und Projekte im Bereich der Medienkunst mit dem Schwerpunkt auf der Ausgabe von Ton und der realen Welt als Schauplatz ermöglicht.
dieterrothmusic.ch
Website mit umfangreichem Begleitmaterial zum Projekt Dieter Roth und die Musik.
Our Institute
Institut Klassik
Diversity in teaching and research is a hallmark of the Institut Klassik.
InstituteStudiesContinuing EducationContact
Address
Leonhardsstrasse 2
4051 Basel
Postal address
Hochschule für Musik Basel FHNW / Musik-Akademie Basel
Abteilung Forschung & Entwicklung Institut Klassik
Leonhardsstrasse 6
4009 Basel
Schweiz
Information and advice
Julia Kirchner
- Phone
- +41 61 264 57 89
- julia.kirchner@fhnw.ch