You are welcome to the Department of Music, a department poised to make a difference in career pursuits. Come with us as we take you through the expedition of learning and achievements. Below is a run-down of programme description. Overview This is a four-year Degree Programme or a three-year Programme (in the case of Direct Entry candidates) intended for students with, at least, a little background of Rudiments of Music. The first three years will be followed more or less by all students, with most of the courses being required of all student majors. In the last year, however, the student will take all the courses pertinent to his/her concentration or area of specialization/interest but only elect courses from other areas to complement or complete his/her programme. It should be noted that in the second semester of the third year of the Programme, students are expected to embark on Industrial Work Experience at a Music Studio or electronic media (radio or television) house to study Music Production and Commercialisation. Furthermore, each student is expected to participate in at least two performing groups each year – preferably one vocal and one instrumental. A student may of course take more, even if not (necessarily) for credit towards graduation. In addition to the overall outcomes of the Programme, the descriptions and outcomes of each of the courses are outlined against them. The knowledge acquired in the study of Music equips the graduate of the course, as expected, to standout in the portrayal of contemporary social realities using performance for change and development. These graduates are teachers, entrepreneurs in different artistic endeavours such as Music Technology, Composition, Performance, Production and Management, Music Media, Music Business, Dance experts who express both the scientific and artistic dimensions of music with grace and integrity, codify the cultural traditions of Nigeria at home and outside its shores. Thus, a Music graduate displays a well-grounded knowledge of his/her profession, studies, and engages in business in diverse fields of human endeavours. Admission Requirements Because of the specialized nature of musical training, students of music should meet the following minimum standards prior to admission: Entry to Part One (100Level) In addition to passes in five subjects at Credit level including English language and an acceptable score in the UTME, candidates may have any one of the following: 1. a credit level pass in music at the senior secondary school level; 2. a pass at grade v or higher of the associated board of the royal schools of music (ABRSM), musical society of Nigeria (MUSON) or other comparable body; or 3. a pass at an audition or aptitude test in music set by the admitting department. The test will normally include a demonstration of the ability to play an instrument or sing. Direct Entry (200 level) Five SSC (or its equivalent) credit pass including English, two of which must be at the Advanced Level. A minimum of a credit at the University/National Diploma or NCE in Music with other three SSC credits passes. Graduation Requirements The requirements for graduation are the same as those stipulated for other Arts Discipline. A student shall qualify for the award of a degree when he/she has: 1. completed and passed ALL the courses he/she registered for, including all compulsory courses and required/elective courses as may be offered by the University/Faculty; 2. Obtained a minimum CGPA specified by the University but not less than 1.0; and 3. Earned the minimum credit units of not less than 120 for UTME. In order to prepare holders of the B.A. (Music) with lifelong skills and versatility the approach to the study of Music should cover six (6) major areas, namely: i. Theory of music; ii. History, form and literature of western and oriental music; iii. African music and ethnomusicology; iv. Practical musicianship – performance; v. Specialisation – stress area; and vi. Other related courses. The student will be judged by the combination of theoretical and practical attainments appropriate to Music in the usual categories of Excellent (First Class), Very Good (Second Class Upper), Good Enough (Second Class Lower), Fair (Third Class). Philosophy The fundamental concern of setting up a B.A. (Music) Degree Programme in an African university should be to possess an African focus while, at the same time, striving to attain international standard. The philosophy of the B.A. Degree Programme in Music is to provide a solid foundation for the student in the different areas of Music, namely: 1. acoustics and music technology; 2. rudiments of music; 3. theoretical courses – harmony, counterpoint, analysis; 4. history and form of western music; 5. African music and ethnomusicology; 6. keyboard work – piano, keyboard harmony; 7. individual performance – instrument/voice; 8. group performance – ensembles, chorus, bands; 9. Music education courses; and 10. Aesthetics and criticism courses. Objectives The Music programme is designed to prepare the students for the development of creative skills for performance, education, cultural development, job creation and other national goals. Consequently, the objectives of the Programme are, among others, to: 1. Prepare and produce graduates of music who will be competent to musicianship both in the international sense and also in their own African and National tradition. Graduates must have an understanding of the Arts and Science of Music as tools for the appreciation, analysis and practice of world music, and be able to communicate these principles to others; 2. increase the understanding and fluency in writing within the musical language of “common practice tonality” as well as various techniques for composing and performing music over the centuries; 3. develop creative skills and talents in students with a view to preparing them for self-employment and entrepreneurship in music industry, broadcasting, communications, entertainment, film cinematography and allied professions; 4. lay a foundation for further studies at post-graduate levels leading to advanced engagements in music research laboratory studio and functional exploration of music in relevant organisations and institutions such as Museums, Arts Councils, Religious organizations, Teaching/Pedagogy and Mass Communication Media etc.; and 5. Prepare students for professions in the practice and/or teaching of Music at various levels of education, broadcasting, media houses and other avenues of private and public music use, and in entertainment. Unique Features of the Programme Other unique features of the B.A Music Programme are: 1. cognitive abilities and skills: relating to intellectual tasks including problem solving in the specific discipline; the graduate of Music should be able to have cognitive abilities and skills in the specific area and the ability to appreciate appropriate contents in Music; 2. practical Skills: relating to the conduct of laboratory or fieldwork or both in the specific discipline; the graduate of Music should be either skilled in vocal and/or instrumental performance or in its appreciation; 3. general skills: relating to non-subject specific competencies, e.g., computer literacy, numeracy, problem solving, communication skills interpersonal skills, organizational skills, IT skills and life-long learning abilities; and 4. the Long Essay, as a project that inculcates in the student the skills and techniques of research, information gathering, organization of ideas, project-writing, referencing, bibliography, etc. Employability In the last year of studies, the student may have a concentration in one or more aspects or branches of music, to enable him/her take his/her place as a practitioner of the art of Music. The Nigerian situation suggests the following possibilities or areas of specialisation: 1. music education – for the teaching of music at the primary, secondary and teacher training levels; 2. theory and composition – the music creator who will compose new music for community use and for posterity; 3. musicology – the researcher into traditional and other music, who will discover and disseminate information concerning music to other, specialists and non-specialists; 4. music technology – the builder of musical instruments and maintainer/repairer of existing ones, who may design and develop authentic and “new” instruments for public use, taking into account the need to “standardize” African instruments; 5. music production and management – the music producer and sound/studio engineer in recording studio or electronic media houses, who is competent with regard to arranging, sequencing, laying of tracks, mixing and mastering recorded music; and 6. performance – a person who will reach a professional standard of performance as an instrumentalist, singer or conductor (musical director), to take his/her place in the world of music making for the entertainment and edification of the community and the world at large. STRESS AREA FOR PROJECT/DISCIPLINE/BIAS Students are to choose topics from any of the following stress areas of their choice; 1. African Music/Ethnomusicology 2. Composition/Theory of Music 3. Music Technology 4. Music Pedagogy 5. Music Media 6. Music Business/Music Production 7. Music Therapy 8. Performance • African – Vocal/Instrumental • Western - Vocal/Instrumental • Conducting • Dance Key to Courses 0 General Courses (Rudiments); 1 Theoretical Courses – Harmony, Counterpoint, Analysis; 2 Acoustics and Music Technology; 3 History and Form of Western Music; 4 African Music and Ethnomusicology; 5 Keyboard work – Piano, Keyboard harmony; 6 Individual performance – instrument/voice; 7 Group performance – ensembles, choirs, bands; 8 Music Education Courses; and 9 Aesthetics and Criticism Courses Related Courses In addition to General Studies and other specified requirements for each university, students of Music should take courses, where possible and available, in related areas including: 1. education; 2. linguistics; 3. philosophy and logic; 4. English and/or other European languages and literature; 5. African languages and literatures; 6. theatre arts and dance; 7. mass communication; 8. sociology; 9. fine arts and architecture 10. religious studies. Apart from assisting the students in a better understanding of his/her own Discipline of Music; these necessary requirements will ensure a balanced education in the student. 21st Century Skills The graduate of Music of our new twenty-first century should take full advantage of technological development especially the computer revolution that has advanced the study of Music. He/she should also be innovative in being a problem-solver, a good communicator and organiser.