Faculty of Humanities

The Tshwane School of Music (TSOM) offers accredited music training to school children from the Eersterust Township and provides the UP students with valauble practical training.

The Eersterust is a township situated North of Pretoria with high levels of unemployment, drug abuse, and violence.

The school provides music education to a broad base of children and youth. It has been operating since March 2013 and has over 140 students in individual classes and 200 children in group classes.

TSOM follows the UNISA jazz curriculum and is an exam centre for UNISA’s graded instrument, theory and performance exams.

“We believe that as a school, we need to normalise access to a space where children can have justice and are exposed to the best for the development and future.”

“We are working with UP and the ultimate relationship is to bring an aspect of bad influence out of the children and allow them to breathe from within their hearts,” said Wayne Bosch, Music Manager Tshwane School of Music.

The relationship involves the TSOM students working together with the UP students and lecturers.

“We offer coaching, mentoring and we give the TSOM students opportunities within the department of music. We do a lot of activities, exchanges, workshops and master classes,” added Prof Megeshan Naidoo, Associate Director Jazz Studies UP

The TSOM students are getting great exposure and experience.

“I got an opportunity to go to Kuwait and it was a phenomenal experience,” said Irvan Steenkamp, Student Tshwane School os Music.

Prof Megeshan explained that social responsibility is an integral part of UP Department of Music. It is very important that all activities within the department interface with the community and make a difference.

“The music program keeps us busy and out of trouble and bad influence,” said Dominic Spuyt, Student Tshwane School of Music.

“My son is doing theory and practical and plays very well. This is impressing and I am so grateful to TSOM,” added Lynton Cooke, Parent of one of the students.

TSOM is a bridging programme for the first year degree, in the 5 year degree course, for the UP prospective students.

TSOM continues to provide music therapy, facilitates exposure to and training in the music industry and technology and music business and also provides music performances platforms.

“Mahatma Ghadhi gave a beautiful statement which says that evil flourishes in the absence of good. We have decided to make sure that music becomes accessible to all the children in the township.”

“The philosophy of the school is that “purpose kills addiction” and we want music to give a preventive measure to the children and make a difference in our society,” concluded Mr. Bosch.