SUMMARY OF THE MUSIC PROGRAM
Because very few secondary schools in Uganda offer music education, there are a number of students that join the university although with musical skills and abilities, have never had the opportunity to study music academically. This program, which is constituted into two strands, offers training in the fields of music to both students who have had prior background in music education and those who have not. Students with an academic Music background are offered a more conventional critical and theoretical approach to the appreciation, composition and performance of music and research. Students without academic music background are focused on training in popular and community music. Community Music is a term borrowed from community theatre to refer to music used beyond the stage performance contexts or applied contexts. Popular and Community music emphasize the practical experience of music as it is used in the day-to-day life. Training in the use of technology in creating and producing music is core to all students. The training in the performance of music, with areas of specialization, is core to all students as well. Below are the descriptions of the program structure:
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
Admission to the program does not require one to have had prior music education, although some of the courses are offered only to students with the required music background. The program has two strands: Academic Music and Popular and Community Music. Depending on the student’s music background, there is an option to major either in Academic Music or Popular and Community Music. Only those students holding UACE certificates with music as a subject or have a diploma in music or its equivalent, where they specialized in music, can opt for the Academic Music strand. Students with no music education background can only opt for the Popular and Community Music strand.
Entry into the program is through any of the following schemes:
Direct Entry: applicants must have obtained the ordinary level certificate, or it’s equivalent; two advanced level passes in any arts or science subject of the Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education or its equivalent obtained at the same sitting.
Diploma Holders Scheme: the applicant must hold at least a second-class diploma in music to qualify for the Academic Music Strand or in any field for the Popular and Community music strand, from a recognized institution.
Mature Age Scheme: the applicant must have passed the mature age examination set by Makerere University.
Courses for First Year: There are 6 core and 6 elective courses, which are chosen depending on whether the student is offering Academic Music or Popular and Community Music strand.
Courses for Second Year: There are 4 core and 8 electives courses, which are chosen depending on whether the student is offering Academic Music or Popular and Community Music strand.
Courses for Third Year: There are 5 core and 7 elective courses, which are chosen depending on whether the student is Academic music or Popular Music strand.
COURSES
YEAR ONE
SEMESTER I
Core Courses
MUS 1107: Performing Ethnic Music and Dances from Western Uganda
(5 Credits)
MUS 1108: Music Careers and Business (2 Credits)
MUS 1120: Introduction to Ethnomusicology (3 Credits)
Electives
Academic Music Option
MUS 1109: History, Literature and Analysis of Baroque Music (4 Credits)
MUS 1110: Elementary Harmony, Counterpoint and Ethnic Music Writing (4 Credits)
MUS 1111: Piano for Beginners (3 Credits)
MUS 1112: Classical Guitar for Beginners (3 Credits)
MUS 1113: Voice for Beginners (3 Credits)
Popular and Community Music Option
MUS 1113: Voice for Beginners (3 Credits)
MUS 1114: Keyboard for Beginners (3 Credits)
MUS 1115: Contemporary Guitar for Beginners (3 Credits)
MUS 1116: Percussion for Beginners (3 Credits)
MUS 1117: Introduction to Musical Language (4 Credits)
MUS 1118: Introduction to Song Writing (4 Credits)
Audited Course for all
MUS 1119: Choir Performance (2 Credits)
SEMESTER II
Core Courses
MUS 1207: Performing Ethnic Music and Dances from Central Uganda (5 Credit)
MUS 1219: Appreciation of World’s Musics (3 Credits)
MUS 1209: Ethnomusicology of Music in Selected Cultures in Uganda (3 Credits)
Academic Music Option
MUS 1210: History, Literature and Analysis of Classical Music (4 Credits)
MUS 1201: Advanced Harmony, Counterpoint and Ethnic Music Writing (4 Credits)
MUS 1211: Intermediate Piano (3 Credits
MUS 1212: Intermediate Classical Guitar (3 Credits)
MUS 1213: Intermediate Voice (3 Credits)
Popular and Community Music Option
MUS 1213: Intermediate Voice (3 Credits)
MUS 1214: Intermediate Keyboard (3 Credits)
MUS 1215: Intermediate Contemporary Guitar (3 Credits)
MUS 1216: Intermediate Percussion (3 Credits)
MUS 1217: Enhanced Musical Language (4 Credits)
MUS 1218: Enhanced Song Writing (4 Credits)
Total credit units in year one= 45
YEAR TWO
SEMESTER 1
Core Courses
MUS 2120: Performing Ethnic Music and Dance from Eastern Uganda (5 credits)
MUS 2119: Research Methods in Music, Dance and Drama (3 Credits)
Electives
Academic Music Option
MUS 2109: History, Literature and Analysis of Romantic Music (3 Credits)
MUS 2101: Introduction to Writing Inventions and African Songs (4 Credits)
MUS 2110: Advanced Piano (3 Credits)
MUS 2111: Advanced Classical Guitar (3 Credits)
MUS 2112: Advanced Voice (3 Credits)
Popular and Community Music Option
MUS 2112: Advanced Voice (3 Credits)
MUS 2113: Advanced Keyboard (3 Credits)
MUS 2114: Advanced Contemporary Guitar (3 Credits)
MUS 2115: Advanced Percussion (3 Credits)
MUS 2116: Foundations of Ugandan Popular Music (3 Credits)
MUS 2117: Foundations of Jazz Music (4 Credits)
MUS 2118: Theory and Practice of Theatre for Development (4 Credits)
Audited Course for All
MUS 1119: Choir Performance (2 Credits)
SEMESTER II
Core Courses
MUS 2216: Performing Ethnic Music and Dance from Northern Uganda (5 Credits)
MUS 2219: Basics in Audio Music Recording (4 Credits)
Electives
Academic Music Option
MUS 2218: Foundations of Atonal Music (4 Credits)
MUS 2220: Invention and African Song Cycle Writing (4 Credits)
MUS 2210: Basic Skills for a Music Archivist (3 Credits)
MUS 2211: Chamber/Ensemble Music (3 Credits)
Popular and Community Music Option
MUS 2212: Band Music (3 Credits)
MUS 2213: Creating and Performing Rap Music (4 Credits)
MUS 2214: Basics for Jazz Improvisation (4 Credits)
MUS 2215: Foundations for Community Music (3 Credits)
Total credit units in year two = 47
YEAR THREE
SEMESTER I
Core Courses
MUS 3114: Report Writing and Archival Documentation in Music and Dance (3 Credits)
MUS 3115: Studio Music Production (4 Credits)
MUS 3109: Music in Selected Cultures in Africa (3 Credits)
Electives
Academic Music Option
MUS 3110: History, Literature and Analysis of Serial Music (4 Credits)
MUS 3111: Basics in Writing Fugue and African Song Cycle (4 Credits)
Popular and Community Music Option
MUS 3116: Popular Dance Styles (4 Credits)
MUS 3112: Jazz Improvisation and Playing Techniques (4 Credits)
MUS 3113: Community Music Sessions (4 Credits)
Audited Course for All
MUS 1119: Choir Performance (2 Credits)
SEMESTER II
Core Courses
MUS 3216: Music Video Production (5 Credits)
MUS 3217: Legal Framework for Performing Arts (3 Credits)
MUS 3209: Thematic Studies in Ethnomusicology and Dissertation Writing (4 Credits)
Electives
Academic Music Option
MUS 3201: Fugue and African Song Cycle Project (4 Credits)
MUS 3210: Graduation Recital (3 Credits)
MUS 3211: Choir Music Project (3 Credits)
Popular and Community Music Option
MUS 3212: Managing a Music Business (4 Credits)
MUS 3213: Community Music Project (3 Credits)
MUS 3214: Popular Music on Stage (3 Credits)
MUS 3215: Studio Recording and Production Project (3 Credits)
Total credit units in year three= 46