Content and structure

Pop is an extensive design art in a wide range of styles that develops the musical framework with myriad ideas and an eye to the future. The current musical environment requires highly qualified musicians with individualized artistic ideas who can work stylistically flexible and at the same time are able to operate economically. The Major in “Pop” rises to this challenge and offers up-and-coming talent the opportunity to become consummate professionals. 

Course content.

The degree programme gives you considerable creative freedom. You work largely independently and are involved in numerous bands, seminars and projects both within and outside ZHdK. Besides the core tuition in one or more optional Majors and a Minor, you organize your weekly schedule yourself – electives, seminars, workshops, project weeks and internships in the music industry make up the content framework. You can also undertake interdisciplinary work with artists from different areas of study and explore new paths at ZHdK. The degree programme is rounded off with regular concert work, studio sessions and master classes.

Course structure.

The course consists of three module areas:

Core

The focus is largely on the practical individualization and artistic professionalization of your instrumental, vocal and/or electroacoustic performance as well as the creation/production of your own music. A wide range of mentored study paths and courses are offered. The comprehensive self-study element offers you plenty of creative freedom and is combined with individual tuition that can be spread over different Major and Minor instruments, songwriting, producing, etc., as well as internal/external lecturers of your choice. 

Extension 

The module also aims at artistic individualization and professionalization, while broadening the range of content. As an individualized study area in the Major, this module supplements the subject-specific individual tuition with elective and genre-specific, stylistically broad workshops that are curated in a range of courses that changes every semester. Advanced seminars on different musical, educational and scientific topic areas as well as interdepartmental and extracurricular projects/internships are also available. Apart from attending the compulsory “Music Business – advanced” module, students plan the module area themselves. 

Graduation exam/project

In the Master’s project, students devise, organize and produce an audio and/or video production, design a digital press kit, develop a live presentation and present it in public. 
They have creative freedom in terms of music and presentation form; heterogeneous artistic content is encouraged and is part of the evaluation process of the Major.
During the presentation of their individual profile, students formulate and present their individual identity as a musician in a creative, reflective and personal manner.

Module plan:

Skills acquired in the programme.

  • Ability to develop and hone your own performance 
  • Ability to plan your own artistic projects, including the creation, production, performance and marketing of your own music 
  • Ability to comprehensively explore and develop your own artistic identity

Admissions requirements.

You hold a Bachelor’s degree in pop or are a lateral entrant with a Bachelor’s degree in another area  and have proven pop-artistic and professional expertise.

Further requirements:

  • Advanced technical and artistically unique expression with the voice, an instrument or electronic devices
  • Relevant, varied experience in music performance (instrumental/vocal or electronic), in the creation and/or production of music and in the common creative techniques of different types of pop music
  • An understanding of music that includes exploring your own relationship with the world, internationality, diversity, society and art

Benefits of studying at ZHdK.

Studying at ZHdK offers a wealth of unique benefits:

  • In the Master's in Music Performance, you can look forward to a lively degree programme with approx. 120 musicians. 
  • You will enjoy an inspirational environment with colleagues and partners from around the world for discussion and collaboration in a variety of ensembles.
  • You will benefit from outstanding infrastructure, live electronics and multimedia, audio productions with in-house sound engineers instrumental collections and an excellent library.
  • You will study at the Toni Campus – a public cultural and university campus for all artistic disciplines that is unparalleled in its dimensions anywhere in Europe.
  • You will meet students from other artistic disciplines on a daily basis, make contacts and enjoy stimulating collaboration. 
  • You will have opportunities to undertake exchange semesters and various possibilities to explore other cultures thanks to ZHdK Music’s international network. 
  • The self-designed final projects will motivate you to organize your work independently. 
  • You will gain extensive practical experience and have many opportunities to perform thanks to the diverse relationships with the regional cultural scene and its event organizations.