Duration                                                      4 years

Minimum Credit Load                                  480

Maximum Credit Load                              530

Maximum MBK Credit Load                        384

ZNQF Level                                                 8

1.0 PURPOSE OF PROGRAMME

The programme intends to:

1.1 expose students to current business and technical skills required in the music industry globally.

1.2 enable students to explore through practical hands-on experience in setting up, manipulating of audio and video recording, and live sound reinforcement equipment.

1.3 expose students to music entrepreneurship, marketing, entertainment, performance, and management skills relevant in the music industry globally.

1.4 enhance academic research skills through theory and practice in music business musicology and technology. 

2.0 ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

2.1   Normal Entry

5 ‘O’ Levels including English language and 2 relevant ‘A’ levels subjects Candidates with ‘O’ Level music have an added advantage.

2.2   Special Entry

A relevant certificate/ Diploma in line with ZNQF

2.3   Mature Entry

5 ‘O’ level, At least 25 years or more for males and 23 for females with relevant experience.

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES AND FURTHER EDUCATION

Employability: Bachelor of Science in Music Business, Musicology and Technology graduates may become acousticians, audio/video engineers, applied ethnomusicologists, ethnomusicologists, audiologists, composers, concert organizers, curators, copyright administrators, disc/video jockeys, live sound or studio mastering/mixing engineers, instrument designer/manufacturers, instrument repairers, lyricists, music agent/critics, music director/marketers, editors, music journalists, music librarian/archivists, music distributor/marketers, music educator/instructors, music license administrators, music performers, music programmers, music promoters, music publishers, music salespersons, musicologists, music stores managers, radio/television broadcast technicians, researchers, stage managers, talent managers, technical writers,

Further Studies: Master of Musicology, Master of Music Composition, Master of Music Performance, Master of Music Technology, Master of Ethnomusicology, Master of Music Business.

5.0 PROGRAMME DELIVERY

Teaching and Learning Methods: Lectures, tutorials, laboratory activities, seminars, group work, field-based activities, work-related learning, dissertation, individual independent study.

 Assessment Methods: Written and oral examinations, tests, written and practical assignments, laboratory reports, field reports, seminar presentations, work-related learning reports, dissertations, continuous assessment.

PROGRAMME STRUCTURE

Module                                                                                                                                   Credits

Level 1 Semester 1                   

 CS131 Communication Skills                                                                12

HCS135 Introduction to Information Communication Systems                12

MBMT142 Performance Practice – Voice and Aerophones                      12

MBMT132 Theory of Western Music 1                                                  12

MBMT133 History of Western Music                                                    12

MBMT134 Musicology                                                                         12

 

Level 1 Semester 2                   

MBMT135 Performance – Idiophones and Membranophones                  12

MBMT136 Theory of Western Music 2                                                 

MBMT137 Ethnomusicology                                                                 12

MBMT138 Music Law and Ethics                                                         12

MBMT139 Acoustics and Live Sound Reinforcement                            

MBMT140 Music Tourism and Culture                                                  12

MBMT141 Music and Community Development                                                          12

                         

Level 2 Semester 1                   

GSSS201 Gender Studies for Social Sciences                                         12

ENT 205 Entrepreneurship 1                                                                        12

MBMT 231 Performance Practice: Chordophones                                       12

MBMT232 Music Technology                                                           12

MBMT233 Zimbabwe Indigenous Music Genres, Styles and Dances       12

 MBMT234 Music Management and Marketing                                       12

MBMT235 Performance Practice:  Electrophones                                          12

 

Level 2 Semester 2                   

MBMT236 Performance Practice: Instrument(s) of Minor Specialisation                                   12

MBMT237 Music Innovation, Creativity and Entrepreneurship                12

MBMT238 Research Methods

MBMT239 Music Methods                                                                   12

MBMT240 Music Production                                                                12

 

Level 3 Semester 1

MBMT 330 Work- Related Learning Placement Report                                 40

Level 3.2                                                                                                                   

MBMT341 Work- Related Learning Report                                            30

MBMT342 Academic Supervisor’s Report                                             20

MBMT343 Employer’s Assessment Report                                            30

Level 4 Semester 1                   

MBMT431 Performance Practice: Instrument(s) of Major Specialisation 12

MBMT432 Popular Music                                                                     12

MBMT433 Compositional Techniques                                                   12

MBMT434 Theory of African Music                                                      12

MBMT435 World Music Cultures                                                         12

 

Level 4 Semester 2

MBMT436 Performance Practice: Concert Recital                                  12

MBMT437 Interpretation of Musical Practices                                        12

MBMT438 Dissertation/Project Portfolio/Performance Recital                    2                     

14.0 MODULE SYNOPSES

 MBMT132 Theory of Western Music

The module is intended to develop the students’ fundamental knowledge and skills to practically interpret and write notations to music in terms of its rhythm, pitch, scales and keys up to seven sharps and seven flats up to ABRSM Grade 3. The module explores concepts related to musical space, including intervals, triads, chords, cadences, modulation and transposition. It further stretches the study of the theory of Western art music through the study of major, minor and chromatic scales in as much as they relate to music performance.

MBMT133 History of Western Music

The module equips students with the knowledge of Western music history and form.

 MBMT134 Musicology

The module introduces students to the discipline of musicology by focusing on its nature, scope, method and significance. It examines the criticism of the discipline for its exclusiveness drawing from the scientific approach applied to it, which provides the discourse grounded on empirical observation. The module also explores the social power upon which traditional musicology was premised in conjunction with its contestation in postmodern thought to account for the value of the discipline in the present and the future.

 MBMT135 Performance Practice: Idiophones and Membranophones

The module equips students with foundational knowledge about and basic performative skills in demonstrating a general understanding of self-sounding musical instruments as well as those that use membranes as sound-producing devices. The students shall be expected to display elementary proficiency and musicianship qualities that resound with the conventions of various musical practices when manipulating the studied instruments in solo and ensemble performances.

 MBMT136 Theory of Western Music 2

The module explores concepts related to musical space, including intervals, triads, chords, cadences, modulation and transposition. It further stretches the theory of music through the study of minor, and chromatic scales in as much as they relate to music performance up to ABRSM Grade 6.

 MBMT 137 Ethnomusicology

The module studies the origins and definitions of ethnomusicology. It also explores different approaches to the study of the discipline that has been grounded in theories drawn from various disciplines including anthropology, psychology, sociology, philosophy and biology as propounded by different scholars. This module further focuses on theories for ethnomusicology that account for its dual nature as a method (Applied Ethnomusicology) and a field of study (Theory for Ethnomusicology). It also exposes students to discussions that focus on the application of selected theories to the study of particular music genres for them to understand what the ethnomusicological theoretical framework entails.

MBMT 138 Music Law and Ethics

The module explores music law and ethical issues embracing musical values ranging from the imagined as enshrined in intellectual property rights which relegate indigenous music to the public domain to the music that is communally composed and performed as articulated in indigenous musical practices. It challenges students to think of and propose interventions to the ravaging piracy within the music industry locally, regionally and internationally.

 MBMT 139 Acoustics and Live Sound Reinforcement

The module explores the scientific and practical experience of students to listen, define and analyse the quality of musical sound, and explore audio frequency identities through critical listening to a wide variety of musical genres from different musical cultures of the world. The students are exposed to the production, propagation, perception and characteristics of sound in enclosed environments of various shapes and sizes, and how to apply scientific knowledge of acoustics to solve and treat problems of sound in enclosed spaces.

 MBMT 140 Music Tourism and Culture

The study examines the connection between music tourism and culture, the benefits of music tourism to the economy, and the value of music in the tourism sector, it exposes students to forms of music tourism and how to exploit them. It enables students to explore tourism organisations, start-ups of music tourism centres and national monuments.

 MBMT141 Music and Community Development

The module encourages students to discuss issues around community development programmes, coordination of music conferences, festivals, shows and how these enhance the music industry. It intends to equip students with skills to organize community-based programmes tailor-made to revive and sustain music in the community. It also exposes students to various ways of preserving the dying musical legacies and promoting talent in the community.

MBMT142 Performance Practice: Voice and Aerophones

The module equips students with foundational knowledge about and basic performative skills in demonstrating a general understanding of the human voice and other musical instruments which use air as sound-producing devices. The students shall be expected to display elementary proficiency and musicianship qualities that resound with the conventions of various musical practices when manipulating the studied instruments in solo and ensemble performances.

MBMT 231 Performance Practice: Chordophones

The module equips students with foundational knowledge about and basic performative skills in demonstrating a general understanding of musical instruments that use strings as sound-producing devices as well as electric instruments. The students shall be expected to display elementary proficiency and musicianship qualities that resound with the conventions of various musical practices when manipulating the studied instruments in solo and ensemble performances.

 MBMT 232 Music Technology

The module provides students with a solid foundation and basics of audio technology through the use of computers and dedicated software packages, audio interface, microphones, Music Instruments Digital Interface (MIDI) protocol, and direct recording. Candidates will be required to engage in signal processing and plug-in applications in mixing, mastering, and post-production.

 MBMT 233 Zimbabwean Indigenous Music Styles and Genres

The module lays the foundation for the students’ academic study of Zimbabwe’s indigenous music and dance genres that exist in oral tradition. It explores the historical background, performance practice, role, function and the different geographical locations and different ethnic groups of Zimbabwe in which they are performed. It equips students with theoretical knowledge and performance techniques in singing, dancing, drumming, and clapping with different songs and instruments accompanying the dances. The thrust of this module is to develop students’ skills in presenting Zimbabwean dances by following their specific dance patterns and structure.

 MBMT 234 Music Management and Marketing

The module relates to the management and marketing of business in the entertainment and music industry. It equips students with the requisite knowledge and skills for managing musical events, artists, and musical products. It enlightens students on aspects of designing musical contracts and business plans.

MBMT 235 Performance Practice Electrophones

The module introduces students to elementary keyboard techniques and musicianship, aiming at laying a formidable foundation for a professional career in keyboard performance. Students are exposed to key theoretical aspects necessary to guide them in developing a repertoire of songs and pieces in various forms and styles. The students shall be expected to display elementary proficiency and musicianship qualities that resound with the conventions of various musical practices when manipulating the studied instruments in solo and ensemble performances

 MBMT 236 Performance Practice: Instrument(s) of Minor Specialisation

The module develops students’ interpretive knowledge about and intermediary performative skills in demonstrating a deeper understanding of musical instrument(s) of their choice from those they were exposed to in the preceding semesters. The students shall be expected to display average proficiency and professional musicianship qualities that resound with the conventions of various musical practices when manipulating the studied instrument(s) in solo and ensemble performances.

MBMT 237 Music Innovation, Creativity and Entrepreneurship

The module approaches entrepreneurship as primarily a creative discipline. It nurtures learners to develop a positive mindset, knowledge, and insights required to pursue an entrepreneurial career, whether as the steward of their career or as the founder of a new business in any creative music field. Throughout the module, parallels will 35 be drawn between musical creation and organization with the entrepreneurial process as a way of embracing popular ideas on how to start, establish, and run a music business. This module affords learners the opportunities to connect with the best practice and most up-to-date musicians in the music industry as they interact, share, feel, and learn through hands-on activities.

 MBMT 238 Research Methods

The module develops students’ knowledge of research designs on which social science research, which is targeted at providing a deeper understanding of areas of concern on musical arts as human behaviour, is premised. It explores the systematic interaction between theory and data elicited through literature review and the use of particular research techniques. The module equips students with a range of methods in order to interpret a vast breadth of social phenomena embedded in musical arts. It also challenges the students to construct research proposals on selected fields of musical study.

MBMT 239 Music Methods

The study seeks to expose students to various modes of teaching music and apply these to the Zimbabwean situation in primary, high schools and tertiary institutions. The module covers the foundations of music (philosophical, psychological and sociological issues), various traditional and modern methods of teaching music, scheming, planning, curriculum issues and practical instruction.

 MBMT 240 Music Production

The module exposes candidates to theory and practical music production processes taking care of various recording models. It is coupled with applications of mixing and mastering principles of the 21^st century about different music styles, and genres. The study engages in the practical use of hardware and software to produce music to commercial standards. Students will have to pursue individual research projects under supervision and gain experience in audio production in a professional work environment.

MBMT 330 Work-Related Learning Placement Report

As part of their examination, students will be expected to submit a comprehensive report of how they would have settled at the institution.

 MBMT 341 Work-Related Learning Report

As part of the examination, the students will be required to submit a comprehensive academic report of their work-related learning experience to the department and it will be marked and awarded a mark that will be ratified by the departmental examinations board.

MBMT 342 Academic Supervisor’s Report

As part of the examination, the students will be assessed and awarded a mark by the academic supervisor and this will be presented to the departmental examinations board for processing of final marks.

 MBMT 343 Employer’s Assessment Report

The employer will assess the student and award a mark which will be presented to the departmental examinations board for processing of final marks.

 MBMT 431 Performance Practice: Instrument of Major Specialisation

The module challenges students to broaden research on musical instruments to exhibit innovative thinking about and highly technical skills in either instrument of Minor Specialisation or the construction of their own musical instrument. The students shall be expected to display advanced proficiency and high-end musicianship qualities that resound with the conventions of various musical practices when manipulating either instrument of Minor Specialisation or their own constructed instrument in solo and ensemble performances.

 MBMT 432 Popular Music

The module engages students in the study of the modern and the postmodern popular music of the contemporary era. It exposes students to a broader view of contemporary music by gleaning it from a non-Western perspective informed by its pluralist nature. The module discusses the characteristics of contemporary music of various nations around the world in conjunction with its cultural inclinations as well as its creators, the performing artists.

 MBMT 433 Compositional Techniques

The module focuses on the practical application of compositional theories. The students will engage in advanced practical projects using compositional techniques in a variety of musical styles/genres. Students are required to present and demonstrate their mastery of such skills in a mini-portfolio. The module also equips students with skills in arranging 36 musical scores either in staff or tonic solfa notation for choral performances and/or other musical instruments.

 MBMT 434 Theory of African Music

The module focuses on the normative grammar of creativity rationalized and prescribed by various African musical cultures. Students are exposed to culturally authoritative analysis and interpretation of oral musical cultures informed by the intrinsic theory embodying meaning, form and social organization, philosophy of life and world view. Both pre-colonial and post-colonial theories related to the study of African musical arts will be extrapolated. The module will merge the theoretical discussion of the music of Africa with the performative and experiential perspective to assist students in developing the sense and meaning of the musical heritage.

 MBMT 435 Performance Practice: Concert Recital

The module challenges students to engage with prominent artists as a means of organising and managing their own solo and ensemble recitals highlighting the hard work of coordinating and rehearsing their works of art during the semester. The concert recital programme and the advert for publicizing it will constitute the coursework assessment whilst the solo and ensemble performances by each student will comprise the examination mark.

MBMT 436 World Music Cultures

The module explores the histories of non-Western musical traditions, which have been defined by the Europeans as African and exotic or Oriental musical practices, spanning from the pre-colonial through the colonial to the postcolonial periods. The module focuses on the African and Asian theoretical models of music connected to, but not limited to the historical, social, and cultural backgrounds, traditions, and the interrelations between music, language and dance among different culture owners.

MBMT 437 Interpretation of Musical Practices

The module intends to equip students with knowledge and skills on how to analyse and interpret musical practices of different communities around the world. It explores the expressive motivation behind musical structures and ways in which listeners and performers interpret musical works and practice. It incorporates theories of interpretation and aesthetics. It covers issues of musical meaning, textual analysis, coding system, expression, musical motion and the role of practice in the acquisition of skills.

MBMT 438 Dissertation/Project Portfolio/ Performance Recital

The student is expected to submit a dissertation based on concepts learnt theoretically in the Research Methods module. The length of the dissertation shall be 20 000 to 25 000 words. The dissertation carries double the credits of a module. For practical projects which include composition, studio work and performance including the submission of a portfolio or recital which must be accompanied by a write-up of 10 000 to 15 000 words. Composition must include three creative works, recording studio project should include a complete album with at least five tracks and a performance recital shall last for an hour which must be accompanied by a detailed report.