Music Theory Major

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

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.

The FHNW 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 or another programme that leads to the necessary professional qualification.

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

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.

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

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. 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
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.

• Portfolio: 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 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.

At Hochschule für Musik Basel, students have the opportunity to participate in various project and ensemble programmes.
To the overview of the recurring offers.

• Welcome: A brief overview
• Studying in Switzerland
• Tuition fees & Financing
• Scholarship
• Module descriptions

• Dates Entrance Exam on Site
• List of works for Entrance Exam
• Study Regulations
• Semester dates