MA Music and Scene in Transformation

Hochschule für Musik Basel

Do you want to combine music, performance and theatre? Do you want to implement your own artistic and scenic projects? Are you curious about collaborative ways of working? Then our unique transdisciplinary degree programme will open up exciting prospects.

  • Musicians, composers, performers, designers, visual artists, choreographers, dancers, directors, scenographers, set designers: different disciplines come together
  • Music as an experimental practice: anchored across genres in early music, jazz and contemporary music
  • Creation and collaboration in the development of unconventional, scenic-performative projects

Steckbrief

ECTS-Punkte
120
Abschluss
Master of Arts FHNW in Musik und Szene in Transformation
Studienbeginn
September
Dauer
4 semesters
Studienmodus
Vollzeit
Unterrichtssprache
Deutsch
Englisch
(
)
Semestergebühr
750 CHF (CH) | 1000 CHF (EU/EFTA) | 1250 CHF (Not-EU/Not-EFTA)
Anmeldegebühr
200 CHF
Lernsetting
Präsenz
Auslandaufenthalt
möglich
individuell abzuklären
Ort
Studio Stage Letzi

Zukunftsaussichten

Impressions of the study places

Learning outcomes

The Music and Scene in Transformation (MuST) major enables you to forge a unique profile as a musician and creative performer. You will expand and deepen your existing knowledge and skills in relation to stage performance practices and the creation and realization of artistic projects for the stage. You will gain a greater understanding of performative discourse and aesthetics, and familiarize yourself with areas of expertise that are central to your artistic practice (directing, dramaturgy, set design, stagecraft and artistic self-curatorship/management). You will acquire experience of interdisciplinary work, network with partner institutions, and try out a variety of roles within different creative work processes (e.g. leading artistic projects and collective forms of work). Your choice of specialization – Historical Perspectives, Contemporary Approaches, Freestyle – will further develop and hone your expert knowledge and skills both in depth and width.

Career prospects

Graduates of the MA MuST have the necessary knowledge and skills in musical and performative creation, as well as practical experience of fulfilling a wide range of artistic roles (member of an artistic collective, artistic director, performer in contexts with divided responsibilities). MuST graduates are highly flexible and can be employed in a variety of positions within their chosen area of expertise. Potential employment opportunities include theaters, opera houses, concert halls, orchestras, festivals, theater companies, ensembles and the independent arts scene.

Target audience

Do you move between different artistic disciplines? Do you want to combine music, performance and theater? Are you curious about collaborative forms of work and want to realize your own artistic projects?

As an inter-institutional programme (Institut Klassik, Schola Cantorum Basiliensis, Institut Jazz), the MA Music and Scene in Transformation is aimed at outstanding musicians (instrumental/vocal) and composers of all relevant genres who wish to further develop their performative and scenic-conceptual skills based on their musical discipline. In addition, the programme is aimed at students who have equivalent qualifications in scenic and performative fields of study, are interested in transformation processes and have a compelling portfolio. These include, for example: dance, directing, choreography, acting, applied theatre studies, music curation, mediation/education, architecture, philosophy, visual arts, experimental design (process design), urbanism or sound design, arrangement, improvisation, electroacoustics, popular music and experimental pop. This makes the programme ideal for creative musicians and composers who are interested in interdisciplinary work and whose professional goals are primarily focused on realising their own musical and theatrical projects. It is also suitable for designers, artists, theatre professionals, urbanists, sound artists, dancers or directors who see their work focusing on scenic and performative projects. Students in the MA MuST programme are expected to demonstrate a high degree of independence.

Applications can be submitted by individuals or existing ensembles.

Interweaving bodies – an artistic-scenic Project

Aufbau und Inhalte

Transdisciplinary Master's program

In our master's programme, students from different artistic disciplines work together. With its unique anchoring in early music performance practice (Schola Cantorum Basiliensis), jazz and contemporary music (sonic space basel), the master's programme breaks down disciplinary and genre boundaries. Studio spaces and a rehearsal stage are available for the development and performance of new formats.

Creation and Collaboration

Creation and collaboration are at the heart of this degree program: you will learn to develop, rehearse and perform in trans- and interdisciplinary formats. Here, music is understood as an experimental practice that transcends epochal boundaries, and scenic work and performances as an overarching art form. You will actively shape your studies and receive individual support from renowned mentors from the worlds of jazz, early music and contemporary music. You can expect this and more.

  • You work on transdisciplinary and interdisciplinary projects in music, performance and theatre
  • You get contacts with local and international institutions, festivals and venues.
  • You reflect on unconventional concert formats and venues and implement corresponding projects
  • You will benefit from networking with the Basel School of Design and Art and other FHNW degree programmes
  • You benefit from a rehearsal stage and a studio room
  • You will get to know Basel's international yet intimate art, music and theatre scene
  • You will receive support in realising your individual artistic vision
  • You can start your own transdisciplinary ensemble
  • You will receive support in starting your own business in the contemporary music, theatre and art scene

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

The MuST curriculum focuses on the students' individual and practical development: In addition to the study mentor (main mentor), who accompanies the students for the entire duration of their studies, they receive specific content-related input from project mentors who change every semester. The 4-6 projects taking place in semesters II and III are carried out by choreographers, directors, theater companies and performers with a wide variety of artistic styles and thus give the students an insight into different aesthetic practices. In addition, projects conceived by students on their own initiative are supported. Together with a diverse range of courses in the areas of performance/movement, sound and stage/technology as well as discursive and reflective courses, this results in a curriculum that offers comprehensive preparation and support for students' own musical and scenic creations.


Structure Specialisation Contemporary Approaches in German
Structure Specialisation Freestyle in German
Structure Specialisation Historical Perspectives 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 Regulation of the Master of Arts FHNW in Music and Scene in Transformation in German

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Voraussetzungen, Zulassung, Eignungsabklärung

Admission criteria

The Master's program Music and Scene in Transformation (MuST) is open to students who have completed a Bachelor's degree (instrumental, vocal or composition) or equivalent (relevant degrees include BA degrees in dance, performance, design and process design, directing, choreography, acting, applied theatre studies, mediation/education, architecture, philosophy, fine arts, urban studies, etc.), have passed the entrance exam and were offered a place at the Academy (limited places). Admission “sur dossier” is possible.
Applicants who have submitted all the necessary registration documents on time and have passed the first round of the entrance exam will be invited for a live audition/performance/workshop.
For further admission criteria, see the Study Regulations Master of Arts FHNW in Musik and Szene in Transformation (in German).

Both individual applications and group applications (interdisciplinary collectives, ensembles, etc.) are possible for the Master's programme in Music and Scene in Transformation.

Required skills

  • Highest level of competence in the field of your initial artistic discipline
  • Strong interest in and, depending on the profile, already clearly developed competencies in interdisciplinary, musical-scenic and/or physical-performative work
  • The ability to learn independently and work freely on projects
  • Strong interest in trans- and interdisciplinary forms of teaching and learning

Language Skills

A good level of proficiency in English is required. Sufficient knowledge of German is recommended, but not a prerequisite.

Entrance exam

The entrance exam is split into the first round, which is held “by video”, and a second round, in the form of a live audition/performance/workshop.

Procedure
First Round: Video Recordings
With their application, applicants submit several video recordings:

  • motivation video or letter of motivation
    A short video describing your motivation for applying is requested (1–3 min.). Alternatively, you may send us a brief letter of motivation.
  • performance video
    A performance video with musical-scenic/musical-theatrical performances (solo and/or ensemble) of approx. 20–30 minutes in length must be submitted, which is representative of your current musical and scenic-performative abilities. We expressly welcome your own project ideas, performances and projects that have been developed as part of an artistic collective. If applicable, please explain your role in the group work.
    Applicants with other artistic backgrounds should submit video documentation of projects in which they played a central artistic and creative role.
  • Project Proposal
    Outline a project (length max. 20-25 minutes) which the applicants would like to realize as part of the MuST program. The project description should include the artistic goals of the project, the type of realization and the resources required (performers, sound, visuals, etc.).
  • Portfolio
    A portfolio about the individual, artistical level of the applicant´s skills: concerts, performances, improvisations (audio/video), scores, scoring, installations, documentations of past projects, etc.

Upload your videos onto YouTube and add the link in the registration tool.

Specifications for the video recordings
Applicants must submit a performance-video when registering.

Video requirements
If a continuous file with several performances is submitted, markings must be inserted between them to make it easier for the examination committee to select individual performances. Upload the video to YouTube, Vimeo or similar platform and add the link to your application.

>>>Alternatively or additionally, a portfolio can be submitted (images, projects, concert installations, concepts, digital formats, videos, homepages, political projects, educational formats, publications, posters, e-portfolios, publications of other kinds, etc....)

Second round: on-site workshop, audition/performance, interview
After reviewing the application documents, the applicants selected by the evaluation committee are invited to a joint intensive workshop.

At the center of the entrance exam is a workshop format in which all applicants participate. It is important to us not to create a competitive situation for a few study places, but rather to promote cooperation within the group, joint exchange, collaborative forms of work and the quality of the individual project plans that are presented in the group. In addition, there is a practical examination (audition, performance) and an interview (discussion of the submitted performance concept, theoretical knowledge, interview). In addition to the musical and scenic quality of your application, what counts for us is your curiosity towards other artistic positions, the joint reflection on transformation processes and performance concepts and the willingness to work collaboratively.
Please reserve the entire two days for the selection process.
In justified exceptional cases, the Commission may hear individual applicants online.

Dates

Registration
You may apply between 15th December and 1st March.
Along with the registration, it is mandatory to submit the following documents:

  • A short curriculum vitae
  • Diplomas (school leaving diploma, Bachelor, Master, etc.)
  • A motivation video or letter of motivation
  • Performance video
  • Project Proposal
  • Portfolio

Mentors
Please state your first mentor

Specialisation
You may choose between

  • Historical Perspectives
  • Contemporary Approaches
  • Freestyle
  • Other art form/ artistic discipline

On-site
The entrance exam in Basel will take place in the middle of April. The exact dates may be seen here

Announcement of the results
The results of the first round will be announced by email in March.
The results of the second round will be announced by email in May.

Organisatorisches

Studio Space and Rehearsal Stage

A studio space is available for the development of new concert and performance forms and a rehearsal stage set up especially for this master program.

Info

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Quicklinks

Files and Regulations

Beratung und Info-Anlässe

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Kontakt

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