Choral conducting

Choral Conducting Minor – Course content:

• Evaluating and honing one’s own conducting practice and methods
• Development of an individual and expressive conducting idiom based on the technical knowledge and skills acquired to date
• Expanding one’s conducting repertoire in preparation for a future career (repertoire for equal or mixed voices; a cappella and instrument repertoire; sacred and secular works; works of varying degrees of difficulty)
• Practical work with university choirs, student ensembles and an external orchestra
• Extensive exposure to and examination of historical performance practice, relevant source material and academic literature, writing a term paper
• Conducting a concert of one’s own devising (Master’s qualification)

The FHNW Master of Arts in Specialised Music Performance Choral Conducting is aimed at musicians who wish to specialise in choral conducting.

Holders of a FHNW Master of Arts in Specialised Music Performance Choral Conducting are qualified to lead choirs and other vocal ensembles, whether amateur, semi-professional or professional, and different line-ups.

Structure MA SP Klassik Choral Conducting 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.

Admission criteria
In order to enter the FHNW Master of Arts in Specialized Musical Performance programme with a Major in Choral Conducting, applicants must be in possession of a Bachelor in Music  (or an equivalent degree) as well as they must have passed the entrance exam and were offered a free place at the Academy (limited places of admission). Applicants who have submitted all the necessary registration documents in time will be invited to a live audition. For further information on the admission criteria, please see the Studienreglement of the Master of Arts FHNW in Specialized Music Performance.

Required skills

• Experience of reading choral scores of different musical styles and eras
• Basic conducting skills
• Ear training qualification (minimum mark of 4.8, or Grade C)
• Excellent piano proficiency and basic score-playing/reading skills
• Basic knowledge of early musical notation/clefs and transposing vocals
• Choral and/or solo singing experience
• Pedagogical abilities, leadership qualities

Language Skills
We expect students to have sufficient 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 into two parts.

Procedure
A. Individual exam (approx. 45 minutes, not public)
Piano
Sight-reading of a chorale by Johann Sebastian Bach (with up to four systems and using modern clefs)
Playing a technically challenging solo piece
Playing an instrumental part in early clefs (soprano, alto, tenor clefs) or for voice transposition (clarinet, trumpet, horn)
Singing
Singing of a "Lied" either a cappella or accompanied
Interview
Score work
Conducting two preprepared choral scores from different eras of the applicant’s choosing, e.g. madrigal, simple motet from the Baroque era or a Romantic choral Song, playing these on the piano, and singing the different parts thereof
B. Choir rehearsal (approx. 20 minutes, internal to the university)
Prerequisite
Passing part A
Choir rehearsal
Conducting a vocal ensemble (provided by the university) based on one or both scores presented during the technical exam.

Evaluation
The jury consists of the lecturers of the respective major and a member of the directional board and they will evaluate the major exam.

Dates
The live auditions 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, the school leaving qualification, the Bachelor Diploma.
In case that the applicant already holds a Master Diploma, we also need a copy of that as well as the scores for the "Lied" pieces and the piano pieces.

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

Degree
MA FHNW in Musikpädagogik, Studienrichtung instrumental/ vokal, Zweites künstlerisches Hauptfach Chorleitung

Teaching language
German/English
Level B1 is required for the German language in the MA MP.

Semester fee Second major
800 CHF

Registration for the second artistic Major Choral Conducting as part of the Master of Arts FHNW in Music Pedagogy requires a completed Master's degree in vocal or instrumental performance.
In addition to the professional training in choral conducting, the practice-oriented, concentrated pedagogical training enables the students to teach the instrument or voice studied in the first master's programme professionally in individual and group lessons at musical educational institutions like music schools, grammar/upper level schools or independently at all levels.

This study programme includes the following content:

• Evaluating and honing one’s own conducting practice and methods
• Development of an individual and expressive conducting idiom based on the technical knowledge and skills acquired to date
• Expanding one’s conducting repertoire in preparation for a future career (repertoire for equal or mixed voices; a cappella and instrument repertoire; sacred and secular works; works of varying degrees of difficulty)
• Practical work with university choirs, the study ensemble and an external orchestra
• Extensive exposure to and examination of historical performance practice, relevant source material and academic literature, writing a term paper
• Conducting a concert of one’s own devising (Master’s qualification)
• Pedagogical training for one’s own instrument or voice, which includes theoretical content (psychological and pedagogical basics) as well as specific didactics and various internships and practical seminars and workshops

This programme is aimed at students who have completed a Master's degree in vocal or instrumental performance and who wish to combine a specialisation in choral conducting with a Master's degree in pedagogy for their own instrument or voice.

The Master's degree in Music Pedagogy instrument/voice (second artistic Major Choral Conducting) allows students to acquire a dual profile:
Graduates of this degree programme are qualified to lead choirs and other vocal ensembles, whether amateur, semi-professional or professional, and different line-ups.
Furthermore, graduates will acquire a Master's degree in instrumental and vocal pedagogy for their own instrument or voice and will then be qualified to teach this subject in music education institutions as well as independently.

Second Major: Choral Conducting
Structure MA MP Klassik instrumental/vocal 2Major Choral Conducting 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.

Admission criteria
In order to enter the FHNW Master of Arts in Music Pedagogy programme with a Choral Conducting Major, applicants must be awarded a Master in Music Performance 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 and have passed the first round of the entrance exam will be invited to 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

• Experience of reading choral scores of different musical styles and eras 
• Basic conducting skills 
• Ear training qualification (minimum mark of 4.8, or Grade C) 
• Excellent piano proficiency and basic score-playing/reading skills 
• Basic knowledge of early musical notation/clefs and transposing vocals 
• Choral and/or solo singing experience 
• Pedagogical abilities, leadership qualities

Language Skills
We expect students to have sufficient German language skills at the beginning of the studies. Students who are not German native speakers must at least 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. 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 exam consists of several parts.

Procedure
A. Individual exam (approx. 45 minutes):
Piano: Sight-reading of a chorale by Johann Sebastian Bach (with a min. of two systems and using modern clefs) Piano: Playing a technically challenging solo piece Piano: Playing an instrumental part in early clefs (soprano, alto, tenor clefs) or for voice transposition (clarinet, trumpet, horn) Singing of a “Lied” either a cappella or accompanied Conducting two pre-prepared choral scores from different eras of the applicant’s choosing, e.g. madrigal, simple motet from the Baroque era or a Romantic choral Lied, playing these on the piano, and singing the different parts thereof

B. Choir rehearsal (approx. 20 minute)
The jury consists of the lecturers of the respective major and a member of the directional board and they will evaluate the major exam.

Pedagogical aptitude assessment
The pedagogical aptitude assessment refers to the instrument of the first Master’s major. 

Pedagogical aptitude assessment (external applicants)
Candidates who are invited to the second round (on-site audition) are asked to submit a video of a demonstration lesson of 20' duration with a student of their own instrument. The student can be beginner or advanced and there is no age limit. If possible, the lesson should be held in German. If this is not possible for organizational reasons, the lesson must either be held in English or the video must be subtitled accordingly. The recording must not be older than 6 months. Please upload the video onto YouTube and send the following information/documents by April 10 to registration.hsm@fhnw.ch by mail:

• the link
• information about the student (age and characteristics, since when)
• copies of the sheet music used (if applicable)
• a short written reflection of your lesson

Pedagogical aptitude assessment (internal applicants)
For internal applicants, the pedagogical aptitude test takes place on-site during the spring semester (after the head of degree programme has been able to check whether a place is available). The dates will be communicated individually.
The pedagogical aptitude test consists of a demonstration lesson of 20' duration (the allocation of students is taken on by the subject didactics teachers) in German language and a reflection talk following the lesson

Evaluation
The jury consists of the lecturers of the respective major and a member of the directional board and they will evaluate the major exam.

Dates
The exact dates for the live auditions 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, the school leaving qualification, the Bachelor Diploma and the Master Diploma as well as the scores for the choral pieces, the “Lied” and the piano pieces.

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