MA Specialized Music Performance | Early Music Historical Performance Practice Renaissance – Romantic instrument/voice

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 to pass an aptitude test.

The admission procedure breaks down as follows:

1. Verification that the applicant meets all formal admission criteria
2. Admission to the aptitude test
3. Aptitude test (entrance exam)
4. Decision on admission.

Admission shall be granted for the academic year to which the aptitude test applies. This test may be retaken no more than once per degree programme/major, but no earlier than the next official aptitude test 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 Regulation MA Specialized Music Performance Early Music Historical performance practices Renaissance–Romantic instrument/voice in German

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 application (by 31 January), stating the reasons, and must then be approved by the management.

First round: Video recordings (only for violin, recorder (renaissance-romantic) and voice (renaissance-romantic))
Video recordings must be handed in as part of the application.

• 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 five months.
• Submit the list of works with the rest of your application 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.