Music and Research

Make research a central feature of your artistic practice

Key data

Degree: Master of Arts FHNW in Spezialisierter Musikalischer Performance, Music and Research
ECTS points: 120
Start of semester: Beginning of September
Studying mode: Full time
Duration: 4 semesters
Teaching language: German/English
Place: Campus Musik-Akademie Basel
Stay abroad: Possible, not curricular
Application fee: 200 CHF
Semester fee: 700 CHF (CH) | 1000 CHF (EU/EFTA) | 1250 CHF (Not-EU/Not-EFTA) More Fees

The master program is aimed at students who have a high level of competence as instrumentalists/vocalists or composers and music theorists for whom research is a central part of their artistic profile. The core of the program is an artistic-academic research project, which the students develop based on questions which emerge from their artistic practice. The project is supervised by two mentors from the broad spectrum of lecturers at the Academy of Music Basel including the institutes of Classical Music, Jazz and the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis. The project is supported further with courses that impart knowledge and skills in the areas of artistic-academic research methods, musicology, academic writing, music aesthetics, and research management. The double mentorship (artistic and academic) as well as the access to artistic courses and projects enables the students to pursue both their artistic and their academic development. To this end, internships in the school’s research departments or partner institutions (such as the Department of Musicology at the University of Basel or the Paul Sacher Foundation) give students an in-depth insight into research practice. The curriculum is compiled according to the requirements and objectives of their respective projects, thus enabling targeted and individual support. Additionally, research funds can also be applied for via a project fund.

The MA SP Music and Research is conducted inter-institutionally (HSM in collaboration with the Department of Musicology at the University of Basel among others) and is suitable for students interested in pursuing a doctorate (artistic-scientific doctorate or Dr. phil.).

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Overview

The Specialised Master of Arts in Music and Research is an innovative programme that allows students to forge their own distinct identity as an artist through a combined and detailed focus on musical practice and music research. Programme graduates have the necessary skills and expertise to plan and conduct their own artistic-scientific research projects and communicate to audiences of all kinds. Thanks to their outstanding musicianship and critically reflective approach, programme graduates are ideally placed to play a leading role in shaping and advancing the fields of musical practice and music research.

The MA SP Music and Research is aimed at highly gifted musicians, composers and music theorists who regard research as an integral part of their artistic practice and wish to combine both activities in a more informed and scientific manner. It is equally suited to students who wish to embark on a doctoral programme (artistic-scientific or Dr. phil.) at a later stage. Independent work and self-directed study are a major component of this Master's programme.

There is an array of career options available to graduates of the MA SP Music and Research programme. You can carve out a role for yourself in the international creative music industry and re-energise it by bringing fresh ideas on board. Depending on your particular area of expertise, you will have the skills to open up hybrid creative spaces for musical practice and academic research, which in turn could serve as a stepping stone to other careers. Your abilities as an artist-educator/artist-researcher also make you ideally suited to positions in conservatories of music and within key parts of the music scene (e.g. festival direction, advisory committees, ensemble direction, funding bodies, etc.).

Core curriculum A

Module Hauptfach (88 CP)
Forschungsprojekt mit künstlerisch-wissenschaftlichem Mentorat
Forschungskolloquium

Core curriculum B

Module Methoden, Kontext und Diskurse (8 CP)
Künstlerische und wissenschaftliche Forschungsmethoden I + II
Fokus Musikwissenschaft
Musikästhetik I + II
Dealing with Sources

Module Forschungspraxis (14 CP)
Praktikum/Hospitation
Wissenschaftliches Schreiben und Präsentieren I-IV (P) Forschungs- und Projektmanagement I + II
Skript und Prozess I + II
Interdisciplinary Acts
Musik kuratieren

Elective courses

Personalised module (10 CP):
Courses/activities from the electives on offer

Detailed Module Description
Structure

Admission criteria
The Master's programme in Specialised Musical Performance Music and Research is open to students who have successfully completed a Bachelor's programme (major in instrumental/vocal or composition/music theory), have passed the entrance exam and have been offered a place (numbers are limited). Candidates who have submitted the necessary application documents in full and on time will be invited to take the entrance exam. For further admission criteria, please consult the Study regulations of the Master of Arts FHNW in Specialized Music Performance (in German).

Admission to this programme is highly competitive. Applicants therefore must demonstrate outstanding artistic and research skills and, ideally, have completed an MA in Musical Performances or in Composition/Music Theory. In exceptional cases, a Bachelor's degree or similar undergraduate qualification may suffice.

Eligibility conditions

Highest level of expertise in original discipline (instrumental/vocal, composition/music theory)
Demonstrated interest in research and, depending on area of specialisation and research project, advanced research skills

Language requirements
Applicants must be sufficiently proficient in the German language prior to admission.

Admission procedure
Admission to the programme is a multi-step procedure.

Procedure
First Round
Applicants with a music performance (instrumental/vocal) major
Submission of a (instrumental/vocal) performance recorded on video. It should be 8-10 minutes long and clearly reference the chosen research project.

Applicants with a music composition major
In addition to the required application documentation:
- a list of works
- a minimum of three compositions as PDF files (submission in MP3 and/or video format is optional)

Applicants with a music theory major
Submission of 1-3 written works, compositions/exercises in stylistic composition (where appropriate) and a list of further works/analyses/presentations, together with the required application documentation.

The video must be uploaded onto YouTube and the relevant link/documents provided in the application.

Second round: interview and audition
Applicants with a music performance (instrumental/vocal) major
Following a review of the application documents, the admissions committee will invite the applicant for an interview (20 min.) and audition (20 min.). The audition repertoire should consist of 3-4 different compositions, 2 of which should be clearly related to the chosen research project.

Applicants with a composition/music theory major
Following a review of the application documents, the admissions committee will invite the applicant for an interview (20 min.) and an oral examination of their portfolio (20 min.).

Dates
The entrance exam by mail and the zoom meeting will take place at the mid of April. The exact dates may be seen here.

Submission dates
Applications may be submitted from 15 December to 15 February. The application must include the following documents

a brief curriculum vitae
an official transcript of the BA degree or most recent degree, incl. a copy of the final dissertation/thesis
a personal statement (letter of motivation)
research paper outline (2-3 A4 pages)

Announcement of results
The results of the first round will be communicated by email at the end of March.
If a second round is held, the results will be communicated by email in May.