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Tertiary education in popular music in South Africa : a needs assessment

Thesis (DMus (Research))--University of Pretoria, 2022.

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Other Authors: Vermeulen, Dorette
Format: Thesis
Language:English
Published: University of Pretoria 2023
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access_status_str Open Access
author2 Vermeulen, Dorette
author_browse Vermeulen, Dorette
author_facet Vermeulen, Dorette
collection Thesis
dc_rights_str_mv © 2022 University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria.
description Thesis (DMus (Research))--University of Pretoria, 2022.
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institution University of Pretoria (South Africa)
language English
last_indexed 2026-06-10T12:38:04.955Z
license_str Other — see source repository
provenance_str_mv Harvested via OAI-PMH from UPSpace — University of Pretoria Institutional Repository
publishDate 2023
publishDateRange 2023
publishDateSort 2023
publisher University of Pretoria
publisherStr University of Pretoria
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spelling oai:repository.up.ac.za:2263/89408 Tertiary education in popular music in South Africa : a needs assessment Vermeulen, Dorette jannielategan@hotmail.com Lategan, Jan Nico Popular music degree Tertiary music education Popular music education Popular music pedagogy Popular music programme Authentic learning Informal learning Vocational skills UCTD Music theses SDG-04 SDG-04: Quality education Music theses SDG-08 SDG-08: Decent work and economic growth Music theses SDG-09 SDG-09: Industry, innovation and infrastructure Music theses SDG-10 SDG-10: Reduced inequalities Thesis (DMus (Research))--University of Pretoria, 2022. Internationally, popular music is developing at an ever-increasing pace and, even though there have been some advances regarding education in popular music in South Africa, these programmes remain the exception at primary, secondary, and tertiary levels of institutionalised music education. South African universities are based on a western model of organisation and remain largely Eurocentric. Although eleven South African universities offer music as a specialised degree option, the music departments predominantly focus on classical music and to a lesser degree, jazz, both music styles offering limited career opportunities. As popular music is the most dominant form of music worldwide with relevancy to the largest audience, this study aimed at obtaining a deeper understanding of the needs in South Africa regarding a tertiary degree offering in popular music. I identified relevant stakeholders who would benefit from a tertiary degree in popular music. These included learners who selected music as a subject in the FET phase; students studying music at tertiary level; secondary school music educators presenting music at FET level; music lecturers in popular music at South African tertiary institutions; and professional musicians from the music industry. Using a mixed methods investigation, I discovered the general needs of music learners in secondary schools regarding options to study popular music at tertiary level, and the specific needs of qualitative stakeholders to answer the research questions posed in this study. The theoretical framework underpinning the study is authentic learning. This theory suggests that learning connects concepts and theory to real-life complexities and events, encouraging students to absorb and merge knowledge through realistic and genuine situations. Informal learning practices are a vital part of popular music; at its core is authentic music-making. Authentic learning facilitates musical identity development and provides students with the tools to function effectively within the wider popular music community. Internationally, there has been a push in tertiary curricula for more student-centred courses with pedagogy and curricula that include vocational skills development. An authentic learning approach could aid the successful development and implementation of a tertiary degree in popular music. This study identified an urgent need for a specialised degree programme in popular music in South Africa. The development of such a degree may attract more students; increase the economic viability of music departments at universities; address issues of decolonisation; meet the needs of the local music industry as a whole; and deliver employable graduates that can effectively manage a portfolio career in a diverse and ever-changing environment. ae2025 Music DMus (Research) Unrestricted SDG-04: Quality education SDG-08: Decent work and economic growth SDG-09: Industry, innovation and infrastructure 2023-02-10T10:40:55Z 2023-02-10T10:40:55Z 2023 2022-11 Thesis * A2023 https://repository.up.ac.za/handle/2263/89408 https://doi.org/10.25403/UPresearchdata.22067609 en © 2022 University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria. application/pdf University of Pretoria
spellingShingle Popular music degree
Tertiary music education
Popular music education
Popular music pedagogy
Popular music programme
Authentic learning
Informal learning
Vocational skills
UCTD
Music theses SDG-04
SDG-04: Quality education
Music theses SDG-08
SDG-08: Decent work and economic growth
Music theses SDG-09
SDG-09: Industry, innovation and infrastructure
Music theses SDG-10
SDG-10: Reduced inequalities
Tertiary education in popular music in South Africa : a needs assessment
title Tertiary education in popular music in South Africa : a needs assessment
title_full Tertiary education in popular music in South Africa : a needs assessment
title_fullStr Tertiary education in popular music in South Africa : a needs assessment
title_full_unstemmed Tertiary education in popular music in South Africa : a needs assessment
title_short Tertiary education in popular music in South Africa : a needs assessment
title_sort tertiary education in popular music in south africa a needs assessment
topic Popular music degree
Tertiary music education
Popular music education
Popular music pedagogy
Popular music programme
Authentic learning
Informal learning
Vocational skills
UCTD
Music theses SDG-04
SDG-04: Quality education
Music theses SDG-08
SDG-08: Decent work and economic growth
Music theses SDG-09
SDG-09: Industry, innovation and infrastructure
Music theses SDG-10
SDG-10: Reduced inequalities
url https://repository.up.ac.za/handle/2263/89408
https://doi.org/10.25403/UPresearchdata.22067609