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The Odeion School of Music launches two new qualifications

12 July 2023 | Story Dr Anchen Froneman | Photo Supplied

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

Student leaders 2012/13 announced

2012-08-30

Ready for the task - Sabelo Khumalo, SRC President of the Qwaqwa Campus and William Clayton, SRC President of the Bloemfontein Campus.
Photo: Johan Roux
31 August 2012

The 2012/13 elections for the Student Representative Councils (SRC) of the University of the Free State were completed successfully and show meaningful support for the changes in student governance adopted by students across campuses over the past two years.

The SRC elections at the Qwaqwa Campus were completed on 23 August 2012, while the elections at our Bloemfontein Campus took place on 27 and 28 August 2012.

The SRC Elections at our Bloemfontein Campus showed a voter turnout of 4516 votes (30.8%), with the elections at the Qwaqwa Campuses showing 1753 votes (46%) – both campuses reached the required quorums and the IEA (Bloemfontein Campus) and IEC (Qwaqwa Campus) declared the elections free and fair and announced the results as a true reflection of the will of the student bodies at the campuses.

The full SRC at Bloemfontein Campus now consists of 62% black and 38% white, and 53% female and 47% male members.

In the Qwaqwa elections, SADESMO achieved 46, 38% of the vote, with SASCO, PASMA and NASMO each achieving 30,23% and 8,39% and 14,26%, respectively.

The successful elections at Bloemfontein Campus show that the detailed transformation of student governance introduced by students at the Campus in 2010 and adopted by the university in 2011, succeeded in mobilizing greater participation of students in governance and representation. These changes in the main included a shift to independent candidacy for elective portfolios (12 seats) and organizational candidacy in nine sub-councils that holds ex officio seats on the SRC. Changes also included the establishment of student representative seats in faculty governance and management forums and the adoption of a reviewed Central SRC Constitution. Ex officio seats hold full and equal constitutional authority in the SRC.

Students at Qwaqwa Campus introduced additional portfolios to its SRC, including ex-officio seats for academic affairs, arts and culture, commuter students, Rag Community Service, religious affairs, residences and sports.

A joint sitting of the Campus SRCs will establish the Central SRC 2012/13 on 9 September 2012.

As a further opportunity for participation in and the development of student governance and representation, the current Central SRC herewith also announces its recent adoption of a student governance advisory programme, namely the UFS Student Elders Council (SEC).

The SEC is established as a combined programme between the Central SRC and the Dean of Student Affairs and will consist of selected senior student leaders from all campuses who completed their terms of office, apply and are appointed to the Elders Council by the Central SRC.

The Council will serve as an advisory structure to the Central SRC and other student structures in support of the continuous development of student governance and representation of the student body at the university.

The SEC will advise the Central SRC to be constituted following the constitution of the respective Campus SRCs.

The SRC members at the Bloemfontein Campus are:

President: Mr William Clayton

Vice-President: Mr Bonolo Thebe

Secretary: Ms Karis-Robin Topkin

Treasurer: Mr Pieter Coetzee

Arts & Culture: Ms Chanmari Erasmus

Accessibility & Student Support: Ms Gene McCaskill

First-generation Students: Ms Tanya Calitz

Legal and Constitutional Affairs: Ms Nokuthula Sithole

Media, Marketing & Liaison: Ms Neo Chere

Sport: Mr Tshepo Moloi

Student Development & Environmental Affairs: Ms Thabisile Mgadi

Transformation: Ms Koketso Mofokeng

Dialogue & Ex officio: Associations Council: Mr Anesu Ruswa

Academic Affairs & Ex officio: Academic Affairs Council: Ms Nombuso Ndlovu

Residence Affairs & Ex officio: Residences Council: Mr Johann Steyn

City Residence Affairs & Ex officio: Commuter Council: Mr Michael van Niekerk

Postgraduate Affairs & Ex officio: Postgraduate Council: Mr Fadeyi Akinsuyi

International Affairs & Ex officio: International Council: Ms Tumelo Moreri

Student Media Affairs & Ex officio: Media Council: Mr Jamal-Dean Grootboom

RAG Community Service & Ex officio: RAG Fundraising Council: Mr Jaco Faul

RAG Community Service & Ex officio: RAG Community Service Council: Ms Keneue Mahloana

The SRC members at the Qwaqwa Campus are:

President General: Mr S Khumalo

Deputy President: Mr P T Lenka

Secretary General: Mr D Khethang

Treasurer General: Mr S I Sithole

Media & Publicity: Mr S N Ntombela

Politics & Transformation: Tbc

Student Development & Evironmental Affairs: Tbc Academic Affairs: Mr T Molawude

Arts & Cultural Affairs: Mr T Nkohli

Off-Campus Students: Mr B Mtshali

RAG, Community Service & Dialogue: Ms S F Mlotya

Religious Affairs: Ms D C Khau

Residence & Catering Affairs: Ms Z Mzolo

Sports Council: Mr S Mngomezulu

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