Master of Music

*to equip students with a sophisticated knowledge and understanding of the issues and problems pertinent to a particular field of music study as part of the humanIties (including the social sciences), including music performance, and of past and current approaches to these and to prepare students to participate succesfully in the searvch for reliable and innovative approaches;

*to enable students to do advanced and independent research through rigorous in research methods, and to introduce them to the world of scholarly communication;

*to ensure that South Africa has sufficient specialists music practioners by equipping students with a comprehensive set of specialised and focused skills applicable achosen area of speciality within the broader field of the performing arts, teaching proffesiion, music journalism and related fields;

*to prepare students for doctoral study;

*to provide students with opportunities for attaining proffessional artistic fulfilment and making an artistic contribution to the South African and international community;

Senior Certificate with Matriculation Endorsement or equivalent university admission qualification.

In the case of the two-year MMus, BMus degree, or a qualification regarded by the Senate as equivalent as well as supplementary modules equivalent to an Honours degree, BMus degree, or a qualification that is regarded by Senate as equivalent.

Generic/ Critical cross-field outcomes

Depending on the chosen sub-field, the successful MMus student will have

1. The ability to think in terms of theory, and to integrate such knowledge with an understanding of the practicalities and problems of the arts and humanities;
2. The ability to work systematically, independently and creatively, yet be able to function within a production team;
3. The ability to organise ideas and communicate them effectively using visual, linguistic and kinetic skills in oral, written, musical and media formats;
4. The ability to participate in scholarly, artistic, policy-making and other debates in the humanities.

Specific outcomes

The successful MMus student will have

1. Comprehensive knowledge of the theoretical and methodological traditions in musicology or music education or music performance, within the appropriate contexts;
2. The ability to identify and define complex problems of a theoretical, musicological or performance nature, and provide solutions for these;
3. Mastery of performance or/and research skills and of the art of scholarly or/and artistic persuasion;
4. Familiarity with the standards in the relevant discipline;
5. The ability to proceed with an advanced level of professional and academic training at doctoral level; and
6. (Where applicable) the skills and aesthetic ability to perform professionally in public.

The assessment of the MMus is based on one of two possible formats: a purely academic study (option I below) or a combined practical and research option (a combination of I and 2 below).

1. The assessment of scholastic skills and knowledge, which takes the form of written and oral examinations, essays and research projects leading to an integrated thesis on a chosen topic of specialisation. Competence in this category will be demonstrated when the information and conceptual content of the work submitted by the student is correct, innovative and when the student demonstrates a clear ability to interpret questions, to analyse and interpret information, to communicate the resulting deductions clearly and logically, utilising the appropriate discipline-specific conventions.
2. The assessment of creative, performance, technical, administrative and other practical skills, which takes the form of an assessment of practical work assignments. Competence in this category will be demonstrated if the student demonstrates a significant degree of competence in the specific skills required of the student's particular area of specialisation, a thorough knowledge of the related theoretical concepts and conventions, and a clear ability to apply these skills, theories and conventions in a persuasive and creative manner within the broader context of a practical performance.

Integrated Assessment

Integrated assessment takes place on the basis of a full thesis or on a public performance plus smaller thesis, submitted for examination at the end of the period of study. Competence in both thesis and performance will be demonstrated by the student's ability to integrate and activate such skills and knowledge in a comprehensive work of scholarly and/or musical communication.