BA Music | Music Theory

Hochschule für Musik Basel

Institut Klassik | Study Music Theory in the cultural city of Basel in the border triangle of Switzerland, Germany and France! The Basel Academy of Music offers an inspiring, collaborative environment with a wide range of networking opportunities. Based on classical music theory, the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis and sonic space basel offer excellent specialisation options in the areas of early and new music.

  • Classical music theory, broad literary and repertoire knowledge, learning and reflecting on various composition techniques
  • Specialisation by choosing between two focus areas: Contemporary Music/Composition or Early Music/Historical Composition
  • Closely coordinated subjects and many elective/specialisation options

Steckbrief

ECTS-Punkte
180
Abschluss
Bachelor of Arts FHNW in Musik, Studienrichtung Musiktheorie
Studienbeginn
September
Dauer
6 semesters
Studienmodus
Vollzeit
Unterrichtssprache
Deutsch
(
B1 level required
)
Semestergebühr
750 CHF (CH) | 1000 CHF (EU/EFTA) | 1250 CHF (Not-EU/Not-EFTA)
Anmeldegebühr
200 CHF
Lernsetting
Präsenz
Auslandaufenthalt
möglich
individuell abzuklären
Ort
Campus Musik-Akademie Basel

Zukunftsaussichten

Learning outcomes

The FHNW Bachelor of Arts in Music with a Music Theory major lays the educational foundations for a career as a professional music theorist.
In addition to solid general music education knowledge and skills, students will be able to demonstrate the ability to analyse, as well as write and speak competently about the practice of music in general. They will also acquire a range of other skills that will qualify them to pursue a career in music. A FHNW Bachelor of Arts in Music constitutes a pathway to postgraduate study, e.g. a Master’s degree programme

Career prospects

The Bachelor of Arts in Music with a Music Theory major is not a professional qualification. Students must follow up their undergraduate studies with a Master’s degree programme in Music Pedagogy with a Music Theory major, Specialized Master in New Music Theory or another programme that leads to the necessary professional qualification.

Target audience

The FHNW Bachelor of Arts in Music with a Composition major is a degree programme aimed at students who wish to pursue a career as a professional music theorist.

Aufbau und Inhalte

The core aim of the FHNW Bachelor of Arts in Music with a Music Theory major is to provide students with broad-based skills in music theory, a comprehensive knowledge of the literature and repertoire, the capacity to engage reflectively with different compositional techniques and musical styles, and above all the ability to present artistic content in a practical, musical form and to competently express this in words.

The Music Theory major students can choose to specialise in one of two fields:

Contemporary music/composition is offered in conjunction with the Musicology Department of Basel University. Although the main focus is on 20th and 21st century music, the course also explores the historical and compositional fundamentals of earlier centuries.

Early music/ historical techniques of composition is offered in conjunction with the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis and the Musicology Department of Basel University. The course allows for a more in-depth engagement with the theory of early music. Students will take classes on one of the two courses of their major at the Schola Cantorum, as well as a number of additional courses, such as notation and partimento playing.

Modules and regulations

The BA and MA degree programs 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 program.
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: Contemporary music / Composition
Structure BA Klassik Music Theory Major: Contemporary music/Composition in German

Major: Early Music / Movement Theory
Structure BA Klassik Music Theory Major: Early Music/Movement Theory in German

Module descriptions

Below please find the link with all the information on the module descriptions of several FHNW universities.

  • At the top right, switch the language settings to English.
  • At the bottom right, 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 at the top left to call up a document from each overview and save it for yourself.
  • Course registrations are made via the intranet.
Study Regulations

Study Regulations BA Music

Vertiefungen

Keine Vertiefungen

International

Leitung und Dozierende

Prof. Roman Digion

Studiengangsleiter BA in Musik

Prof. Uli Fussenegger

Leitung und Koordination sonic space basel: Komposition, Musiktheorie und Audiodesign, Open Creation, Zeitgenössische Musik

Dozierende Musiktheorie

Teaching staff

Our internationally renowned teaching staff

to teaching staff

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Voraussetzungen, Zulassung, Eignungsabklärung

Admission criteria

In order to enter the FHNW Bachelor of Arts in Music programme with a Music theory major, specialized in contemporary music/composition, applicants must hold a school-leaving qualification (Baccalaureate, Professional Baccalaureate or equivalent) as well as they have to have passed the entrance exam and were offered a free place at the Academy (limited places).Applicants who have submitted all the necessary registration documents in time will be invited to the written exam by mail and the video meeting.
For further information on the admission criteria, please see the Study regulation of the Bachelor of Arts FHNW in Music.

Language skills

We expect students to have very good German language skills at the beginning of the studies. Students who are not German native speakers must present a B1 German language certificate according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) at the beginning of the studies. This certificate must be complete, i.e. all modules (reading, listening, writing, speaking) have been tested separately and passed at least at level B1 overall. Only certificates that have been certified with the ALTE-Q-Mark seal of approval (e.g. the B1 certificate of the Goethe-Institut or the telc certificate) are accepted.

Entrance exam

Entrance exam
The entrance exam is split in several parts.

Procedure
Written exam by mail (duration approx. 2.5 hours)

  • Dictation (fill-in-the-blanks) with linear and harmonical elements. Harmonizing a folklore piece (free piano movement) or a choral melody (four-part movement).
  • Pursuing the counterpoint of a two-part movement or development of a sequence of notes into a thematic shape.
  • Harmonical and formal analysis of a work written between 1700-1900.

Oral exam by video call (duration approx. 45 minutes)

  • Quick oral presentation (ca. 5-6 minutes) of an example of the submitted works or exercise in style.
  • Colloquium about applied techniques, pitches, rhythms, timbres, etc. after listening to a short movement from the 20th/21st century (specialised in contemporary music/composition) or before 1700 (specialised on Early music/historical techniques of composition).
  • Sight singing and spontaneously developing a major/minor melody, sight singing of an atonal melody and producing a rhythm after sight reading.
  • Choice of either playing a chorale in treble and bass clef or a simple basso continuo from the sheet.
  • Conversation with the jury.
Dates

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

Registration
You may apply between 15th December and 15th February.
Along with the registration, it is mandatory to submit the following documents:

  • A curriculum Vitae, a motivational letter/a short biography, the school leaving qualification.
  • Portfolio: At least three compositions (may be submitted optionally as MP3 and/or video in addition to the PDF)
    • A written analysis (pattern and extent of choice)
    • Optional: further exercises in stylistic composition, concepts, digital music programmes, projects, essays, documentation, music-theoretical/scientific research papers, etc.
  • A recording of two short, chosen works of the upper intermediate level which you play on the piano or another instrument

Upload your video onto YouTube and insert the link in the registration tool or send it by mail to registration.hsm@fhnw.ch by 15th February.

Announcement of the results
The results will be communicated by mail in May.

Organisatorisches

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 Contemporary Music, BA Music Theory Major, MA MP Music Theory, MA SP New Music Theory, MA SP Open Creation and Research.
We consider ourselves a laboratory, a communication tool and an information hub for contemporary music.

Partners

Schola Cantorum Basiliensis (early music/historical techniques of composition stream)

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

Files and Regulations

Beratung und Info-Anlässe

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Kontakt

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