Admission criteria
In order to enter the FHNW Master of Arts in Music Pedagogy programme with the Major Music Theory, applicants must be awarded a Bachelor in Music 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 and have passed the first round of the entrance exam will be invited to play a live audition. For further information on the admission criteria, please see the Studienreglement of the Master of Arts FHNW in Music Pedagogy.
Required skills
- Basic theoretical and practical knowledge of different musical and compositional techniques.
- Solid thoroughbass abilities and knowledge of the basics of partimento-playing.
- Applicants who do not have a BA in Music Theory from the HSM Basel must provide proof that they have achieved an above-average grade in ear training.
- Familiarity with using/consulting scientific literature.
- Submission of advanced stylistic exercises and a written analysis.
- Advanced level of piano proficiency.
- Ability to engage reflectively with music, to speak on the subject in a clear and well-informed way, and to contextualise these thoughts and ideas within the historico-cultural and societal framework.
- Ability to perform an independent and complete analysis of musical works and present the findings in an appropriate manner.
- Pedagogical aptitude
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 at least 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. The required certificate B1 must be submitted with the confirmation of admission but not later than Mai 31. Exceptions will be decided upon by the head of degree programme.
Entrance exam
The entrance exams is split into several parts:
Procedure
Written exam by mail (duration: three hours)
Four-part movement: choral excerpt. Out of a given tone sequence, you must develop two different themes (single or various part, free choice of genre and stylistics). Analysis of a work which was written between 1700 and 1900
Oral exam (online, approx. 45´)
Analysis of a short movement from the 20th/21st century by online meeting (preparation time one hour).
Oral presentation (10´) about a freely chosen or given topic (one week in advance) by online meeting
Short analysis of a piece of music according to musical-didactic aspects
Online meeting with the jury
Ear training
Only for applicants who do not hold a BA in Music with a Music Theory Major from the HSM Basel and who have no ear training qualifications from their previous studies: written and oral exam with the same level of difficulty as the third-year final exam in the Bachelor of Arts with a Classical Music Major.
Examples (in German):
Pedagogical exam
The pedagogical exam can only be taken after successfully passing the artistical entrance exam (or, for enrolled students, after a previous evaluation by the head of programme). If the pedagogic exam is delayed due to organizational reasons, there will be some special restrictions. The trial lesson is held in German. The pupils will be assigned by the didactical teaching staff and after the trial lesson, there will be a conversation about the self- reflection.
Dates
The written and oral exam of the theoretical part will take place at the end of April. The exact dates may be seen here.
The date of the pedagogical aptitude test will be communicated individually.
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, the school leaving qualification, the Bachelor Diploma. In case that the applicant already holds a Master Diploma, we also need a copy of that.
- Furthermore you need to submit a written analysis (free choice of genre and stylistics), exercises in style, editorings, exercise of composition, concepts, digital music programmes, projects, essays, documentations, scientific or music theoretical papers, etc.
- A recording of a two short, chosen works of the upper intermediate level which you play on the piano.
Upload your video onto YouTube and insert the link to your list of works. Please upload the list of works 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.
Examples entrance exam Music Theory (in German):
Hörbeispiel
