Course content.
The “Contemporary Music Practices” minor is dedicated to music from classical modernism to the 21st century in its various facets, styles and performance forms. It addresses fundamental elements of contemporary music: the mastery of extended playing techniques, the execution of intricate rhythms, the use of electroacoustics, the interaction with media, language or the performance space.
Your focus subject can be instrumental, vocal or chamber music lessons, but also mentorships in composition, improvisation, music theory, music technology or pedagogy.

Skills acquired in the course.
In the “Contemporary Music Practices” minor, you will learn to handle contemporary music autonomously and confidently. You will sharpen your own profile (as a performer, composer, music theorist, tonmeister or pedagogue), learn the ability to scrutinise your notion of music, and develop new and innovative communication formats for music..

Admissions requirements.
The minor is open to all interested BA and MA students at ZHdK. Performative, compositional or music-theoretical skills and experience at an advanced level are required.

Language skills required.
You need the following languages to take this minor:
–  German and English: to be able to follow a discussion
–  German or English: to actively participate in a verbal exchange
–  German and English: to understand a text
–  German or English: to write a text

Benefits of studying this minor.
The minor discusses examines various music terms from a critical perspective, and helps students to perform challenging contemporary music and develop new communication formats.

Time structure.
In consultation with the lecturers/mentors, the students decide when the specialisation is to take place - parallel to the major semester and/or in the minor weeks.
All group courses take place cursorily in the major semester. Compulsory electives allow students to enrol for courses that fit in with the timetable of the major.

→ More information about this minor (PDF download)

At ZHdK, students choose a Major. In addition to this core subject, they can choose one or two Minors to deepen or expand their major skills and knowledge across various disciplines. This wide choice of courses is unique in Europe and enables students to develop and sharpen their individual profile.