Yearbooks

Programme: BMus Music

Kindly take note of the disclaimer regarding qualifications and degree names.
Code Faculty
01132001 Faculty of Humanities
Credits Duration
Duration of study: 4 years Total credits: 572
Contact:
Prof AF Johnson
[email protected]
+27 (0)124202316

Programme information

This programme is aimed at the acquisition of specialist music skills and knowledge. The programme can be compiled in such a way that, on its completion, students are qualified for a wide variety of music-related occupations, including the following: solo performer, orchestral or chamber musician, music teacher at all levels (for individual and group tuition), musicologist, music technologist, entrepreneur and impressario.

Closing date for applications: 30 June (late applications on request).

Admission requirements

  •  Candidates who achieved an APS of 30 in Grade 11 and comply with the minimum subject requirements and achievement levels of these study programmes will automatically be granted placement in the study programmes subject to the availability of space. The above-mentioned is not applicable to selection programmes.
  • To retain admission learners will be expected to obtain an APS of at least 28 in Grade 12. Prospective students who have already been granted provisional admission in these study programmes but obtained at least an APS of 27 in Grade 12 will be considered by the Admission Committee should space be available. The Admission Committee of the Faculty of Humanities will consider these students once the results of the National Benchmark Test (NBT) are available and depending on the availability of space.
  • The Faculty will assess satisfactory performance in the NBT in the light of its commitment to ensure that an appropriate proportion of the applicants will be drawn from the historically disadvantaged category of the population.
  • Applicants with an APS of 30 but who do not comply with the subject requirements must write the NBT.
  • Life Orientation is excluded when calculating the APS.
  • Required subjects: Music with at least a 4 as Grade 12 subject or Grade VII Practical and Grade V Theory (Unisa/Royal Schools/Trinity) as well as knowledge of music notation.
 
 

Minimum requirements for 2016

Achievement Level

APS

Afrikaans or English

NSC/IEB

HIGCSE

AS-Level

A-Level

5

3

C

C

26

 

 

 

 

 

Additional requirements

Departemental selection is required for this programme.

Admission is subject to tests in the first instrument, music theory and harmony. Level 4 in Music as a Grade 12 subject or Grade VII Practical and Grade V Theory (Unisa, Royal Schools, Trinity) serves as a guideline of the expected standard.

Other programme-specific information

  • Students who are deemed NOT to be at risk of their level of academic literacy, are exempted from ALL 110 and ALL 125.
  • MME 400 can only be taken if the first instrument is piano.
  • MEI 403 is performing art, with a public concert of 1 hour in the second semester.
  • The choice of instrument is based on the availability of an appropriate teacher. The University does not accept responsibility for providing a lecturer of these instruments where teaching costs exceed the normal.
  • In order to be admitted to MTI 100 (Second instrument) in any instrument other than percussion, organ, harpsichord or singing, a student should have reached at least Unisa Grade V or a comparable standard in that instrument; in the case of organ, harpsichord, percussion and singing, admission is at the discretion of the head of the department.

Practical music

Students choose a first and a second instrument from the following: Voice, piano, keyboard, organ, harpsichord, violin, viola, cello, double bass, flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, French horn, trumpet, trombone, tuba, percussion, harp, guitar, recorder, saxophone and ensemble. Jazz and/or classical streams are allowed, according to availability.

Attendance modules

(i)    In addition to the modules mentioned in the learning programme, students are obliged to attend the weekly recital classes and fortnightly seminars.

(ii)   Students who play orchestral instruments as their first instrument must play in the UP Orchestra or other ensembles, and it is an academic component of their practical module. Students will have to play excerpts from the Orchestra or Ensemble repertoire for the June and November examinations, and it will count 10% towards their final mark. Students are expected to attend at least 80% of the rehearsals and must be available for the concerts. See also the relevant module description.

(iii)  Unsatisfactory attendance at the recital classes, seminars or orchestral rehearsals may, at the discretion of the head of the department, lead to a lowering of the student’s MEI/MPM year mark.

Promotion to next study year

Admission to the second year of study

Must obtain at least 108 credits for music modules at year level 1.

Admission to the third year of study

Obtain all credits at level 1 (142 credits), as well as at least 130 credits for music modules at yr level 2.

Admission to the fourth year of study

Must obtain all credits at level 2 (155 credits), as well as at least 110 credits for music modules at yr level 3.

Pass with distinction

In order to be awarded the degree with distinction, a student has to obtain a weighted average of at least 75% for the final-year modules.

Minimum credits: 134

Fundamental modules

Core modules

  • Module content:

    *Closed – requires departmental selection
    Rhythmical and pitch development. Viva voce. One-part dictation.

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  • Module content:

    *Closed – requires departmental selection
    Research skills.

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  • Module content:

    *Closed – requires departmental selection
    African music.

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  • Module content:

    *Closed – requires departmental selection. Technical work, recital pieces, sight reading.

    An overview of the theories on the teaching of African languages as home, first or second additional languages. The implication of OBE for the teaching of African languages. Emphasis is placed on the importance of the usage and development of relevant terminology.
    It is an academic requirement either for students whose First Instrument is an orchestral instrument, to play in the UP Symphony Orchestra, and for those who cannot be accommodated in the Orchestra, or who do not audition successfully for inclusion in the Orchestra ,to play in other ensembles as determined by the Music Department. Students will have to play two excerpts (selected by the conductor) during the June and November examination periods as part of their repertoire for the examination, and this will count 10% of the final mark. An 80% attendance of orchestral rehearsals is also expected, and students should be available for the concerts of the Orchestra and ensembles.

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  • Module content:

    *Requires departmental selection
    *Requires knowledge of music notation.
    The Classical period.

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  • Module content:

    *Requires departmental selection
    *Requires knowledge of music notation.
    The Baroque.

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  • Module content:

    *Closed – requires departmental selection
    Melody, harmonic concepts, diatonic triads, cadences, diatonic quartads, secondary dominants, contrapuntal techniques in a two-part texture, phrase structures, one-part, binary, ternary forms; inventions and variation forms.

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Elective modules

Minimum credits: 155

Core modules

  • Module content:

    *Closed – requires departmental selection
    Rhythmical and pitch development. Viva voce. Seventh chords. One and two-part dictation.

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  • Module content:

    *Closed – requires departmental selection. Technical work, recital pieces, sight reading.

    It is an academic requirement either for students whose First Instrument is an orchestral instrument, to play in the UP Symphony Orchestra, and for those who cannot be accommodated in the Orchestra, or who do not audition successfully for inclusion in the Orchestra ,to play in other ensembles as determined by the Music Department. Students will have to play two excerpts (selected by the conductor) during the June and November examination periods as part of their repertoire for the examination, and this will count 10% of the final mark. An 80% attendance of orchestral rehearsals is also expected, and students should be available for the concerts of the Orchestra and ensembles.

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  • Module content:

    *Requires knowledge of music notation.
    The nineteenth century.

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  • Module content:

    *Requires knowledge of music notation.
    Twentieth-century music.

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  • Module content:

    *Closed – requires departmental selection
    Modulation with any key relationship, general chromatic chords, complex chord structures, contrapuntal techniques in a three-part texture, rondo form, sonata form, canon, fugue.

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  • Module content:

    *Closed – requires departmental selection
    Apply knowledge about World music studies  as discipline through the study of the music traditions of  non-Western European cultures.

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Elective modules

Minimum credits: 125

Core modules

  • Module content:

    *Closed – requires departmental selection. Technical work, recital pieces, sight reading.

    It is an academic requirement either for students whose First Instrument is an orchestral instrument, to play in the UP Symphony Orchestra, and for those who cannot be accommodated in the Orchestra, or who do not audition successfully for inclusion in the Orchestra ,to play in other ensembles as determined by the Music Department. Students will have to play two excerpts (selected by the conductor) during the June and November examination periods as part of their repertoire for the examination, and this will count 10% of the final mark. An 80% attendance of orchestral rehearsals is also expected, and students should be available for the concerts of the Orchestra and ensembles.

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  • Module content:

    *Requires knowledge of music notation.
    South African Art Music.

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  • Module content:

    *Requires knowledge of music notation.
    Jazz and contemporary pop music styles.

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Elective modules

  • Module content:

    *Closed – requires departmental selection
    Orchestration in classical and romantic idioms. Own compositions: works for small and bigger ensembles – jazz or contemporary idioms.

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  • Module content:

    *Closed – requires departmental selection
    Aspects of chamber music (the history of chamber music, general repertoire knowledge, practical performance) or African music.

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  • Module content:

    *Closed – requires departmental selection
    A foundation of music technology tailored towards the educational needs of the musician.

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  • Module content:

    *Closed – requires departmental selection
    Procedures of Romanticism and Impressionism, contrapuntal procedures with c.f. In a three-part and four-part texture, types of song, character pieces, chorale preludes, concerti and form in Romanticism.

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  • Module content:

    *Closed – requires departmental selection
    *Compulsory membership of UP concert choir or Tuks Camerata
    Practically apply music elements in group singing and the facilitation thereof, according to basic and widely accepted criteria for choir conducting. The learner will also develop skills in the practical and theoretical aspects of choir conducting.

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  • Module content:

    *Closed – requires departmental selection
    For piano: Advanced elements of tuition (continuance of MME 200). The schools of technique; rubato and agogics; practice methods; memory functions; study of the repertoire of the Baroque, the Classical and Romantic periods.

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  • Module content:

    *Closed – requires departmental selection
    Practically apply the acquired music facilitation skills in extra-curricular group music activities and productions such as revues, operettas, eisteddfods, choir, etc., on a regular basis and integrate these with other learning areas in school, as well as the community.

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  • Module content:

    *Closed – requires departmental selection
    Technical work, recital pieces and sight reading.

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Minimum credits: 150

Core modules

  • Module content:

    *Closed – requires departmental selection
    Orchestration in a more modern/jazz idiom. Composition of more complex works for bigger ensembles – jazz or contemporary idiom.

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  • Module content:

    *Closed – requires departmental selection
    Aspects of chamber music (theoretical analysis of prescribed works, the historical background to specific works, practical performance of works for various instrumental combinations) or music therapy.

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  • Module content:

    *Closed – requires departmental selection
    Aspects of music technology or African music.

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  • Module content:

    *Closed – requires departmental selection. Technical work, recital pieces, sight reading.

    It is an academic requirement either for students whose First Instrument is an orchestral instrument, to play in the UP Symphony Orchestra, and for those who cannot be accommodated in the Orchestra, or who do not audition successfully for inclusion in the Orchestra ,to play in other ensembles as determined by the Music Department. Students will have to play two excerpts (selected by the conductor) during the June and November examination periods as part of their repertoire for the examination, and this will count 10% of the final mark. An 80% attendance of orchestral rehearsals is also expected, and students should be available for the concerts of the Orchestra and ensembles.

    View more

  • Module content:

    *Closed – requires departmental selection. Public recital of a concert programme.

    It is an academic requirement either for students whose First Instrument is an orchestral instrument, to play in the UP Symphony Orchestra, and for those who cannot be accommodated in the Orchestra, or who do not audition successfully for inclusion in the Orchestra ,to play in other ensembles as determined by the Music Department. Students will have to play two excerpts (selected by the conductor) during the June and November examination periods as part of their repertoire for the examination, and thiswill count 10% of the final

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  • Module content:

    *Closed – requires departmental selection
    Capita selecta.

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  • Module content:

    *Closed – requires departmental selection. Capita selecta and research methodology essay.

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  • Module content:

    *Closed – requires departmental selection
    Capita selecta. Twentieth century.

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  • Module content:

    *Closed – requires departmental selection 
    *Compulsory membership of UP concert choir or Tuks Camerata
    Practical and theoretical aspects of choir conducting.

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  • Module content:

    *Closed – requires departmental selection
    For piano: Advanced elements of tuition (continuance of MME 300). The interpretation of style elements from the Baroque period to contemporary music. Study of Impressionist and contemporary repertoire. Research methodology and essay.
    For singing: Topics in consultation with lecturer.

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  • Module content:

    *Closed – requires departmental selection
    Research methodology and essay. Philosophical grounding. Subject didactics: study of ways of learning and becoming. Class management for subject specialists: syllabi, work schemes, lesson design, subject policy, and resources. Practical experience. Entrepreneurship. Exceptional music education.

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The information published here is subject to change and may be amended after the publication of this information. The General Regulations (G Regulations) apply to all faculties of the University of Pretoria. It is expected of students to familiarise themselves well with these regulations as well as with the information contained in the General Rules section. Ignorance concerning these regulations and rules will not be accepted as an excuse for any transgression.

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