The target competences of the Bachelor's degree programme in Music Theory are a broad education in music theory, extensive knowledge of literature and repertoire, a reflective approach to different compositional techniques and musical styles and the ability to present musical and artistic issues in a structured, written and linguistically competent manner.
Music Theory can be studied with two specialisations:

• Specialisation in contemporary music/composition (in cooperation with sonic space basel)
• Specialisation in Early Music/Historical Composition (in cooperation with the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis)

In the Master of Arts in Music Pedagogy with focus in Music Theory, students consolidate the basic skills acquired in the Bachelor's degree programme. They expand their skills individually and bring them to professional maturity. This is achieved on the one hand through a strong focus on courses in music theory and on the other hand through a sound pedagogical education. The intellectual and reflective level of the studies includes aspects of research, while the technical and practical level includes the writing of stylistic exercises and smaller compositions, score playing, and improvisation. The level of communication and presentation in speech and writing is of great importance, and graduates of this degree programme will teach music theory in private lessons, at music schools and as a compulsory subject at music colleges.

Even though the theoretical approaches, concepts and discourses of the 20th century are extensive, diverse and well-documented, music theory of the 20th and 21st centuries has only played a minor role in university teaching so far.
The specialized Master's degree in New Music Theory completes the Music Theory program at the Basel Academy of Music. This new program combines theory, practice, science and artistic research.
The Master's degree focuses on theory in the 20th and 21st centuries and its application. It extends the concept of theory in an inter- and transdisciplinary way and repositions the approaches, methods and knowledge of the discipline. The studies combine an aesthetic and scientific discourse and a practical and artistic approach. New Music Theory, situation in the broad field of contemporary music practice of the sonic space basel, is a unique study program in the international landscape of music academies.

Prof. Uli Fussenegger in conversation with Dr. Christoph Haffter about the new Master's programme 'New Music Theory'