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12 July 2023 | Story Dr Anchen Froneman | Photo Supplied
Odeion
Odeion School of Music (OSM) at the University of the Free State (UFS) will offer two new qualifications, namely the Advanced Diploma in Opera Studies and the Postgraduate Diploma in Music Performance from next year.

Over the past decade, the Odeion School of Music (OSM) at the University of the Free State (UFS) has been active in designing new qualifications and restructuring current offerings. The OSM introduced the Higher Certificate in Music Performance (in 2017) and a restructured Diploma in Music in 2018 to admit students without the necessary admission requirements for degree studies and develop the necessary skills in that regard. The purpose of these qualifications was to promote inclusivity in providing access to tertiary studies to students who developed musical skills at a more mature age for the first time. 

From next year, OSM will offer two new qualifications, namely the Advanced Diploma in Opera Studies and the Postgraduate Diploma in Music Performance. Applications are currently open and will close on 30 September. Classes will commence in February 2024. 

Dr Anchen Froneman, Programme Director and Senior Lecturer at OSM, says since the commencement of the Higher Certificate in Music Performance (in 2017) and the restructured Diploma in Music, the student intake included a high number of talented vocalists or late-developing instrumentalists. Many students in these programmes were already in their 20s, but through these programmes could develop their inherent talents and passions. Upon finishing the Diploma in Music, the students could then enter a degree qualification in music studies.

“However, the degree programmes are academically oriented while the Higher Certificate in Music Performance and Diploma in Music are vocational in nature. This disjunction led to the design of the Advanced Diploma in Opera Studies to provide a programme through which the students can access a NQF 7 level qualification in a shorter time than the current existing route through the degree programmes that requires another three or four years of study,” says Dr Froneman. 

The Advanced Diploma in Opera Studies

According to her, the Advanced Diploma in Opera Studies aims to prepare students completing the Diploma of Music for professional practice within a single academic year. This specialisation option attempts to enable students with the skillset to partake in Opera productions both locally and internationally as well as to develop an understanding of operatic activities within local communities and specifically to continuously develop young talent for future operatic careers. The modules in the programme include Performance Studies, Vocal Ensemble, Stage Craft and Language for Singers. To serve the teaching duties which are often carried out simultaneously with an operatic career, the modules of Repertoire and Method and Keyboard Skills are included. The Arts Management module serves the management of a professional opera and/or teaching career. The Introduction to Research Skills develops research and academic writing skills in view of possible further postgraduate studies. 

The Postgraduate Diploma in Music Performance

The Postgraduate Diploma in Music Performance, explains Dr Froneman, is a one-year qualification but has dual aims. Firstly, the programme will add to the offerings of the UFS that aims to widen access to tertiary education, especially considering the linear progression within vertical articulation possibilities from the Higher Certificate in Music Performance to the Diploma in Music, followed by the Advanced Diploma in Opera Studies that can eventually lead to the PGDip (Music Performance). Secondly, this qualification is partly directed at individuals with active careers in the music industry (both public and private sectors) who wish to advance performance skills and research ability. The qualification is designed to make a positive contribution towards expanding existing career opportunities for individuals completing the qualification. 

The ability to present two public concerts of high quality as a soloist or chamber musician will be developed using two recital modules. The Main Recital comprises of an approved programme 35 to 45 minutes (for vocalists and brass instruments) or 60 to 70 minutes (for all other instruments) as well as a Short Recital comprising an approved programme approximately 20 minutes (for vocalists and brass instruments) or 30 minutes (for all other instruments). Performance experts oversee and guide the preparation for these public concerts. The Viva Voce module will develop and evaluate a student’s ability to critically reflect upon and discuss musical works presented during the Main Recital.

The expert musician supervising the recital modules oversees this process in which understanding is fostered through practical experience, research, and application. The Structure Research Essay develops the student’s ability to contribute to performance-related scholarship by applying appropriate research methods and writing skills to reflect upon performance practices in, amongst others, historical, analytical, cultural, social or pedagogical aspects.

For more information on these qualifications and applications, please contact: 

Dr Anchen Froneman 
Programme Director and Senior Lecturer: Odeion School of Music 
Faculty: The Humanities
+27 51 401 2526

News Archive

Compassion improves psychological well-being and reduces emotional distress
2017-09-27

Description: TEDxUFS   Tags: TEDxUFS

Participants in the Kindness Project sharing a
Random Act of Kindness with the cleaning staff,
Mathabiso Sehlabaka and Madineo Mokoena.
Photo: Thabo Kessah

Various studies have reported that the cultivation and practice of compassion may result in improved self-esteem, a decrease in depression and anxiety, increase in subjective well-being, and overall improvement in physical and psychological health. This is according to Counselling Psychologist, Tobias van den Bergh, during the Kindness Project (KP) on the Qwaqwa Campus.

“Students that are involved in this project have shown statistically significant improvements in overall well-being and compassion towards themselves and others,” said Van den Bergh, the project leader and Head of Department: Student Counselling and Development, Qwaqwa Campus.

“In addition, student participants of the compassion-based intervention showed a decrease in their experience of debilitating emotions and depressive symptoms, as well as a significant increase in measurements of positive affect (an indication of life vitality), self-compassion, and well-being. Humans appear to be genetically programmed to be kind. Studies have shown that the same brain structures that are activated when we procreate (i.e. have sex) or eat chocolates, are activated when we are kind. Thus, it means showing an instinctive predisposition towards compassion for our kin and others. Kindness also appears to be contagious. Whenever we observe kindness or experience kindness ourselves, we are much more likely to be compassionate towards our fellow human beings,” he said.

The KP is based on the Science of Compassion, with participants completing a four-week compassion-based intervention where they learned about and practised self-compassion and compassion towards others. In the last week of the programme, participants completed various Random Acts of Kindness off and on the campus.

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