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BA Jazz

BA Jazz: Instrumental/Vocal or Composition

“I used to think, How could jazz musicians pick notes out of thin air? I had no idea of the knowledge it took. It was like magic to me at the time.” Calvin Hill in Paul F. Berliner’s outstanding book Thinking In Jazz – The Infinite Art of Improvisation

Key data

Degree: Bachelor of Arts FHNW in Music, Jazz
Study mode: Full time
ECTS points: 180
Start of semester: Beginning of September
Duration: 6 semesters
Teaching language: German, English
Place: Jazzcampus
Stay abroad: No
Application fee: 200 CHF
Semester fee: 700 CHF (CH) | 1000 CHF (EU/EFTA) | 1250 CHF (Not-EU/Not-EFTA) More Fees

The application for a Bachelor's degree programme beginning in the fall semester 2025/26 is open between December 15, 2024 and February 15, 2025.

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Students of Bachelor degree programme receive extensive practical training and acquire the foundations to develop their own unique and well-rounded identity as an artist. This study programme focuses on perfecting students’ instrumental/vocal proficiency while encouraging them to find their creative voice.
Students will hone their improvisation and ensemble-playing skills by working on seminal works from the jazz tradition. Students are also actively encouraged to compose and perform their own works. In addition, the programme comprises a range of compulsory and elective courses designed to equip students with the necessary skills and tools to perform at the highest artistic level.

A stimulating environment that provided me with the space to develop as an artist.

Lorraine Dinkel, alumna

Admission procedure

Guideline for the admission procedure
The admission procedure of the Academy of Music/FHNW for the Bachelor of Arts in Music Jazz with main subject instrument or vocals takes place in several phases:

Preselection: Video-DossierPreselection: Video-Dossier
An audiovisual (video/sound) recording of three pieces accompanied by an ensemble must be submitted. As an option, personal compositions by the applicants can be included in the repertoire. The selection of the recorded music should highlight both the interpretative and improvisational skills and show familiarity and affinity with jazz as well as possibly with related musical genres.

Criteria for the creation of the videos

All excerpts should be recorded in their entirety, in their original state and uncut.
We recommend using a stereo microphone and placing it in the best possible position. If none is available, the microphone of a camera, computer or smartphone can also be used.
The video should be shot from a static perspective, hands and face should be clearly visible.
Public recordings can be used as long as they meet the above criteria and have not been edited.
The recordings should be recent and in no case older than one year.
The individual pieces can be recorded separately.

Upload and transmission

To upload the video, please choose either the Vimeo (https://vimeo.com) or YouTube (https://youtube.com) platform.
Access to the video must be provided until the end of June of the application year.
The links to the videos (instrumental/vocal performances) are submitted at the same time as the application by15 February at the latest.

Preselection
Based on the submitted portfolio, a committee decides on the admission to the second round. If the decision is positive, the date of the second round (=live audition) will be announced.

Audition
Ensemble and/or solo performance (duration: 30 minutes)

The audition consists of three parts:

Performance of up to three prepared jazz-oriented pieces of different styles and rhythmic feels (the committee selects)
Performance of free choice: A personal composition of the applicant / a composition of free choice / a technically demanding etude or transcription or similar. The performance can be unaccompanied or with the accompanying band organized by the university (see below).
Sheet reading of a simple melody and improvisation over given harmonic sequences and (for guitar, piano or bass majors) accompaniment over a ciphered chord progression or (for percussion majors) interpretation of a submitted lead sheet.

Pieces that have already been submitted for the preselection (video dossier) may also be performed at the audition.

At the audition, the candidate must submit an extensive list of the (jazz) pieces he/she has performed so far and can preferable play by memory (without sheet music).

Ensemble performances can be completed with the candidate's own rhythm section (always the case for online auditions) or with a rhythm section organized by the university. If the performance is with a rhythm section (piano or guitar, bass, drums) organized by the university, the repertoire must be selected in such a way that it can be accompanied without prior rehearsal based on the sheet music provided by the candidate.

Audition mode
The second round (live performance=audition) takes places in presence on site. Upon request, the audition can take place in an online mode. The request has to be made upon the application. Once granted, the choice is binding. Without a specific request, the audition will be scheduled to take place on site.

Specific requirements for the online audition:

If possible, the online audition should be completed with an independently organized ensemble (at least in duo). If possible, the online audition should be completed with an independently organized ensemble (at least in duo).
Care must be taken to ensure the best possible conditions for good transmission quality of the stream, for which we use the ZOOM platform. We recommend registering on http://zoom.us beforehand and familiarizing yourself with the platform.

Analytical examination (theory)
Candidates who are invited to the second round will also be invited to the theory examination before the audition. This part of the examination takes place exclusively in live-online mode.

Basics of Harmony:

Recognizing intervals
Recognizing major, minor, and so-called church modes
Harmonizing a melody
Analyzing of a chord progression
Analyzing and ciphering three- and four-part chords
Listening to and analyzing cadences and typical harmonic progressions

EarTraining:

Listening to and identifying intervals
Listening to and identifying tetrada (tonal and free)
Singing a melody at sight
Melodic dictation
Singing and naming church scales (so-called modes of the major scale)

Rhythm:

Singing / clapping binary and ternary exercises from the page, in 4/4 and 3/4 time up to 16th notes, 8th note triplets and quarter notes
Rhythm dictation at the same level of difficulty

Guideline for the admission procedure
The admission procedure of the Academy of Music/FHNW for the Bachelor of Arts in Music Jazz with main subject composition place in several phases:

Preselection: Video-DossierPreselection: Video-Dossier
An audiovisual (video/sound) recording of three pieces accompanied by an ensemble must be submitted. One of the pieces should be a personal composition of the applicant. The selection of the recorded music should highlight both the interpretative and improvisational skills and show familiarity and affinity with jazz as well as possibly with related musical genres.

Additionally, at least two notated personal compositions of the applicants and a short written description of at least one of these notated compositions have to be submitted along with the audiovisual recording.

Criteria for the creation of the videos

All excerpts should be recorded in their entirety, in their original state and uncut.
We recommend using a stereo microphone and placing it in the best possible position. If none is available, the microphone of a camera, computer or smartphone can also be used.
The video should be shot from a static perspective, hands and face should be clearly visible.
Public recordings can be used as long as they meet the above criteria and have not been edited.
The recordings should be recent and in no case older than one year.
The individual pieces can be recorded separately.

Upload and transmission

To upload the video, please choose either the Vimeo (https://vimeo.com) or YouTube (https://youtube.com) platform.
Access to the video must be provided until the end of June of the application year.
The links to the videos (instrumental/vocal performances) are submitted at the same time as the application by15 February at the latest.

Audition
Ensemble and/or solo performance (duration: 30 minutes)

The audition consists of three parts:

Performance with an ensemble: Two pieces of free choice, one personal composition of the applicant, one composition by a different composer (the committee selects)
Solo performance of a personal composition of the applicant or a piece of free choice
Presentation of two notated personal compositions of the applicant with short prepared explanations (optional also including excerpts to listen to)
Written assignment (60 minutes)

The written assignment will be communicated on the day of the audition.

Pieces that have already been submitted for the preselection (video dossier) may also be performed at the audition.

At the audition, the candidate must submit an extensive list of the (jazz) pieces he/she has performed so far and can preferable play by memory (without sheet music).

Specific requirements for the online audition:

If possible, the online audition should be completed with an independently organized ensemble (at least in duo).If possible, the online audition should be completed with an independently organized ensemble (at least in duo).
Care must be taken to ensure the best possible conditions for good transmission quality of the stream, for which we use the ZOOM platform. We recommend registering on http://zoom.us beforehand and familiarizing yourself with the platform.

Basics of Harmony:

Recognizing intervals
Recognizing major, minor, and so-called church modes
Harmonizing a melody
Analyzing of a chord progression
Analyzing and ciphering three- and four-part chords
Listening to and analyzing cadences and typical harmonic progressions

EarTraining:

Listening to and identifying intervals
Listening to and identifying tetrada (tonal and free)
Singing a melody at sight
Melodic dictation
Singing and naming church scales (so-called modes of the major scale)

Rhythm:

Singing / clapping binary and ternary exercises from the page, in 4/4 and 3/4 time up to 16th notes, 8th note triplets and quarter notes
Rhythm dictation at the same level of difficulty

Overview

The Bachelor degree programme aims to produce versatile and multifaceted jazz musicians who are able to work independently and put the skills they have acquired into practice. Students will hone their musicianship skills, acquire a solid grounding in the history of jazz and music in general, and become well-versed in the basics of music theory and improvisation. They will also be able to to communicate and reflect critically on the subject of music.

Graduates will be equipped to develop and expand their existing means of artistic expression, launch and carry out their own projects, as well as play a constructive role in the projects of other creatives. Holders of a BA in Music with an instrumental/vocal Jazz major have the qualifications required for a wide range of work as a professional musician and for further study at Master’s level.

Structure

Structure BA Jazz Instrumental/Vocal or Composition 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.

Module descriptions

In order to be considered for entry to the Bachelor degree programme with an instrumental or vocal major, applicants must hold a school-leaving qualification (Swiss Baccalaureate, Swiss Professional Baccalaureate or equivalent); exceptions may be made for applicants with exceptional artistic talent.
Applications will not be considered from individuals who already hold an undergraduate music degree or similar qualification from a Swiss education provider.
Only applicants who have submitted the required registration documentation duly completed and on time will be invited to take the entrance examination. A good basic knowledge of English is required at the beginning of the course.