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January 2025

Music Theory Major

Training the professional music theorists of tomorrow

Key data

Degree: Bachelor of Arts FHNW in Musik, Studienrichtung Musiktheorie
Study mode: Full time
ECTS points: 180
Start of semester: Beginning of September
Duration: 6 semesters
Teaching language: German, B1 level required
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

You may apply between 15th December and 15th February.

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 20^th and 21^st 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.

Overview

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

Structures

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.

Module descriptions

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 Studienreglement 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.

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 short movement from the 20th/21st century (spezialised in contemporary music/composition) or before 1700 (spezialised 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
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.
At least three compositions (may be submitted optionally as MP3 a/o 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 a 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. Please also add the worklist in the registration tool.

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

Ear training test
Written and oral test. The level of difficulty corresponds to that of the ear training test at the end of the second year of the Bachelor of Arts in Music with a Vocal/Instrumental major.

Examples (in German):

Examples Entrance exam Musiktheorie (in German):

Hörbeispiel