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January 2025

Composition

Cultivating a creative approach to music composition through the exploration of instrumental, vocal, performance and electronic aesthetics and forms of expression.

Key data

Degree: Master of Arts FHNW in Komposition/ Musiktheorie, Studienrichtung Komposition
ECTS points: 120
Start of semester: Beginning of September
Studying mode: Full time
Duration: 4 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.

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The Composition Major provides student composers with the tools to forge their own distinctive and independent creative personality This advanced course of study that builds on the foundational knowledge and skills acquired in the BA in Composition. Courses combine knowledge transfer, reflection and project development and draw on a wide range of appropriate teaching techniques. Through exposure and exploration of music composition aesthetics, students learn to develop their own ideas and opinions on the subject.
Within the sonic space basel platform, students explore a wide variety of formats and work with performers and electronic musicians from the Musik-Akademie Basel campus and beyond to develop their own approach to the creative and implementation process.

Overview

a comprehensive knowledge of different compositional techniques;
the ability to compose independently in different fields of instrumental, vocal, electronic and/or audiovisual music;
professional-level notation and rehearsal of one's own compositions;
requisite communication skills to present one's own works and contribute to general contemporary music discourse professionally and persuasively;
knowledge of prevailing cultural trends (e.g. new technologies and means of production).

Structure

Structure MA Composition/Music Theory Major 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

Admission criteria
In order to enter the FHNW Master of Arts in Composition/Music Theory programme with a Composition Major, applicants must be awarded a Bachelor in Composition or equivalent as well as they must 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 online entrance exam by mail and online meeting. For further information on the admission criteria, please see the Studienreglement of the Master of Arts FHNW in Composition/Music Theory.

Required skills

Sound basic knowledge of composition, harmony, counterpoint, analysis, ear training and music history of honours’ degree standard.
Advanced level of piano proficiency or basic vocal proficiency/proficiency in a different instrument.
Ability to engage reflectively with music and to contextualise one’s own thought and ideas within a historico-cultural and societal framework.
Ability to perform an independent and complete analysis of musical works and present the findings in an appropriate manner.
Ability to write/adapt one’s own works for different formations.

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 consists of several parts.

Procedure
Written exam by mail (duration approx. four hours)

Short compositional exercise by mail. The exercise is based on various materials or concepts (you may also choose from electronical materials). In case of electronic concepts, you must submit a sound file including a written documentation.
Written analysis of a short movement from the 20th/21st century (preparation time one hour).

Online Oral exam

Quick oral presentation (5-6 minutes) of an example of the submitted composing works by video*
You will listen to an example from the 20th/21st century and report explicitly on the techniques, pitches, rhythms, timbres, etc.
Online meeting

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 short biography
The school leaving qualification, the Bachelor Diploma
In case that the applicant already holds a Master Diploma, we also need a copy of that.
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.

Upload your video onto YouTube and insert the link in the registration tool.

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

Example Examination Assignments Composition (in German):

Audio example (in German):