DEPARTMENT OF MUSIC AT UNIVERSITY OF GHANA
COURSE DESCRIPTIONS
BA/BFA Level 100
MUSC 131: Introduction to Music
Musical Sound (pitch: duration, intensity, tone colour) Musical Relationship (Melody, rhythm,
harmony, and tonal relationship) Musical organization (texture, structure, and musical style)
Performing media (Musical instruments and ensembles), Staff Notation, Basic Rhythms, Intervals,
Time Signatures, Key Signatures, Seales, Transposition, Basic Chord Progression, Primary Triads
in root position, inversion and cadences.
MUSC 132: Introduction to Harmony and Part Writing
(18th and 19th Century Common Practice) Diatonic triads in major and minor keys and their
inversions, the chord of the Dominant 7th and 9th, figured Bass, modulations, (Pivot Chord) Non-
Harmonic tones.
MUSC 133: Practical and Ensemble I
Progressive individual and instrumental instructions ranging from elementary to advanced. It
covers the study of Western and African musical instruments and voice.
MUSC 134: Practical and Ensemble II
Progressive individual and instrumental instructions ranging from elementary to advanced. It
covers the study of Western and African mus8cal instruments and voice.
BA/BFA LEVEL 200
MUSC 231: Harmony and Counterpoint I
Secondary Functions, Modulations using diatonic common chords. Some more modulatory
techniques. Mode mixture, Neapolitan Harmony, Augmented Sixth chords, Enharmonic spelling
and Modulation. Further elements of Harmonic vocabulary.
MUSC 232: Harmony and Counterpoint II
Advanced form of secondary functions, modulations using diatonic common chords, some more
modulatory techniques, mode mixture. Neapolitan Harmony, augmented sixth chords, enharmonic
spelling and modulations, further elements of the Harmonic vocabulary.
MUSC 233: Practical and Ensemble III
Progressive individual and instrumental instructions ranging from elementary to advanced. It
covers the study of Western and African musical instruments and voice
MUSC 234: Practical and Ensemble IV
Progressive individual and instrumental instructions ranging from elementary to advanced. It
covers the study of Western and African musical instruments and voice.
MUSC 235: Musicianship I
The course covers the following domains:
Aural skills: Recognitions of major and minor scales, Chords and Intervals.
Reading skills: Sight reading simple rhythmic and melodic materials (Western and
African).
Writing Skills: Rhythm, harmonic and melodic dictation
MUSC 236: Musicianship II
The course covers the following domains:
Aural Skills: Recognition of major and minor scales, Chords and Intervals.
Reading Skills: Sight reading simple rhythmic and melodic materials (Western and
African).
Writing Skills: rhythm, harmonic and melodic dictation.
B.Mus./BA/BFA LEVEL 300
MUSC 331: Harmony and Counterpoint III
Study and Analysis of J. S. Bach’s two-part and three part inventions. Quick review of favorite
examples of 18th century contrapuntal writing. Elementary two-part writing and with imitation.
Three and Four-part contrapuntal writing. Invertible counterpoint.
MUSC 332: Harmony and Counterpoint IV
Fugue: Basics: Writing contrapuntal textures in the 18th century styles: imitation, invertible
counterpoint, subject and answer, counter subject. Exposition of the fugue: the complete fugue,
development writing of episodes, inversions, augmentation, diminution stretto devices.
195
MUSC 333: Practical and Ensemble V
Continued individual instrumental instruction. A higher level of study is required.
MUSC 334: Practical and Ensemble VI
Continued individual instrumental instruction. A higher level of study is required.
MUSC 335: History of Music of the Baroque and Classical Periods
Principal forms, their rise and developments: Opera, the Masque, the Chorale, the Oratorio
(including the Cantata); Occasional Music. Baroque instrumental music; the Thorough Bass;
Handel and Bach; Classical period – Transition and break with Baroque. The sons of Bach,
Mozart and contemporaries. The Symphony; Chamber music; The Concerto.
MUSC 336: History of Music of the Romantic Period
Social foundations of Western Romanticism. Heritage of Romantic composers and performers.
Precursors to Romanticism in Western music. Prevailing course of development in the period:
orchestral, structural and architectonic developments in Opera, symphonic music and song form.
Selected composers: Berloiz, Schumann, Schubert, Wagner, Verdi and Brahms.
MUSC 337: Contemporary Music in Ghana
The course is designed to introduce students to the development and current state of Ghanaian art
music, neo-traditional and popular music.
MUSC 338: Traditional Music in Ghana
Context of traditional music making in Ghana. Performing groups and their music/social
organization of traditional music. Recruitment and training of traditional musicians. Instrumental
resources of Ghanaian traditional music. Students will watch video tapes and listen to audio
cassette recordings of music and dance with emphasis on performance and its organization.
MUSC 339: The Orchestra and Orchestral Techniques
Recognition of instruments, traditional roles, ranges and capabilities. Scoring for Strings,
Woodwinds, Brass, Percussion and Voice. The Orchestra: the Western Orchestra: past and
present, the instruments of the Western orchestra: Strings, Woodwinds, Brass, Keyboard and
Percussion instruments. Orchestral music; Conducting and conductors. Orchestral techniques:
Listening to programmes with strategic exercises to rest students’ grasp of illustrated principles of
orchestration. Aspects covered will include: texture, intersectional blends, balance, influence of
dynamics and selection of instruments. Selections will cover Baroque, classical, Romantic and
20th century models. Critical reviews of ensembles of African instruments.
MUSC 341: Music of West and Central Africa
West and Central Africa as geo-cultural areas and the concept of musical cultures. Historical
background of music in West and central Africa. Interaction of musical traditions in the precolonial
period. A survey of the musical practices with particular reference to musical
forms/styles, instruments and aesthetics and the relationship of music to its culture. Contemporary
trends in West and Central African Music.
MUSC 342: Orchestration I
The Small Orchestra: Scoring for Brass and Percussion. The full orchestra tutii Re-arrangement of
music for various sets of transposing instruments including African Instruments,. Reducing
orchestral scores for the Piano. The full Orchestra: Advanced scoring for a full orchestra. This
includes African ensemble.
196
MUSC 343: Introduction to Music Studio
The uses of analog and digital recording devices, special signal processing and digital and analog
mixing.
MUSC 344: Music of Southern Africa
Southern Africa as a geo-cultural area and the concept of musical cultures. Historical background
of music in Southern Africa. A survey of the music practices with particular reference to musical
forms/styles, instruments and aesthetics and the relationship of music to its culture. Contemporary
trends in Southern Africa music.
MUSC 345: Musical Cultures of the World
Stylistic characteristics of music in major geo-cultural regions of the world, illustrated through
selected recordings, performance organization, musical instruments, concepts of aesthetics, artistic
and philosophical values. Survey will include Africa. Native America, Black America, Caribbean,
South America, Eastern Europe, South India, Indonesia, china and Japan.
MUSC 346: Process of Art
Exploration of elements, forms, expressions, functions, meaning and production of music in its
socio-cultural context. It includes an outreach programme that involves obtaining experience in
the field of work, discovering potential career opportunities in the music field, and writing out the
findings in a professionally made report.
MUSC 347: Ghanaian Popular Music
Evolution and development of Ghanaian Popular Music and performance since the 19th century to
the present. Impact of traditional and imported performance norms.
MUSIC 348: African Popular Music
General introduction to the popular music of Sub-Saharan Africa: popular music in terms of
stylistic areas; relation of popular music to traditional performance and modernization.
MUSC 349: Musical Form and Analysis I
Analytical study of form and structure of musical types in Western and African music. An
examination of the different musical elements: melody, rhythm, texture and harmony.
MUSC 351: Research Methods
Students are taken through the process of researching areas and topics in music and musical
traditions and history including the collection of data, sources, technology, methodology, process
of evaluation and assessment, references and bibliography, research proposal and report writing,
recordings and transcriptions.
MUSC 352: Composition I
The course is designed to introduce students to the art and craft of composition. Resources will be
drawn from students’ knowledge and competencies in harmony and counterpoint, and form and
analysis. Students will be expected to compose in the styles of the common practice period.
MUSC 355: Music in African Cultures
The social context of African music; general characteristics of style. Devices and procedures of
music organization. Instrumental resources. Techniques and devices of music organization in
Africa: tonal and rhythmic procedures: instrumental resources Structural organization and
analysis of selected musical types.
197
B.Mus/BA/BFA LEVEL 400
CORE
MUSC 430: Long Essay/Composition
Students have the opportunity to write a long essay on a chosen subject matter and theme in
music, or create an original composition for presentation at a major concert.
MUSC 442: Introduction to Musicology
This course introduces the student to musicology and its branches namely; Historical Musicology,
Systematic Musicology, and Ethnomusicology. It also introduces the student to comparative
musicology, which is gaining more ground in current musicological thought or thinking.
ELECTIVES
MUSC 430: Long Essay/Composition
Students have the opportunity to write a long essay on a chosen subject matter and theme in music
or create an original composition for presentation at a major concert.
MUSC 431: Harmony and Counterpoint V
A study of basic compositional skills in diverse instrumental and vocal combinations in the
African idiom Fugue: Writing contrapuntal textures in the 18th century style imitation, invertible
counterpoint, subject and answer. Countersubject. Exposition of a fugue; the complete fugue
Development: Writing of episodes, inversion, augmentation, diminution, stretto devices, canon
Fugue with not more than two subjects.
MUSC 432: Harmony and Counterpoint VI
A study of advanced compositional skills in diverse instrumental and vocal combinations in the
African idiom. Fugue: Writing contrapuntal textures in the 18th century style: imitation, invertible
counterpoint, subject and answer. Countersubject. Exposition of a fugue: the complete fugue
Development: Writing of episodes, inversion, augmentation, diminution, stretto devices, canon
Fugue with not more than two subjects.
MUSC 433: Practical and Ensemble VII
Continued instrumental study. Commanding performance level shall be the goal of the student at
this stage of study. And to present a public recital for assessment lasting not less than twenty
minutes.
Focus on ensemble directing. Students are given the opportunity to perform key leadership roles in
performance and directing experience.
MUSC 434: Practicals and Ensemble VIII
Continued instrumental study. Commanding performance level shall be the goal of the student at
this stage of study, as well as presenting a public recital for assessment lasting not less than twenty
minutes.
The Focus will be on ensemble directing. Students are given the opportunity to perform key
leadership roles in performance and directing experience.
MUSC 435: Musical Form and Analysis II
Advanced structural analysis: The form, tonal structure and thematic-motivic structure of Western
and African Music will be analysed.
198
MUSC 436: Music of East Africa
East Africa as a geo-cultural area and the concept of musical cultures. Historical background of
music in East Africa. A survey of the music practices with particular reference to musical
forms/styles, instruments and aesthetics and the relationship of music to its culture. Contemporary
trends in East Africa music.
MUSC 437: Musical Traditions of the African Diaspora
The musical heritage of the African-Americans: Blues, Spirituals, Gospel, Ragtime and Jazz;
Caribbean and Latin American Music. Popular (calypso, skar, reggae, soca, etc.). Religious (cult)
and other music genres. Retentions and reinterpretation. Early and contemporary African-
American composers and performers.
MUSC 438: Music of North Africa
North Africa as a geo-cultural area and the concept of musical cultures. Historical background of
music in North Africa. A survey of the music practices with particular reference to musical
forms/styles, instruments and aesthetics and the relationship of music to its culture. Contemporary
trends in North Africa music.
MUSC 439: Music Studio
Music sequencing. General concepts Tracks/channels, assigning instruments, data input, time
signatures, tempo/tempo change quantizing, loops and editing. Students will realize two midi
composition projects.
MUSC 441: Choral Repertoire and Directing
Techniques and interpretation through the preparation of western and African choral composition
repertoires.
MUSC 442: Introduction to Musicology
This course introduces the student to musicology and its branches namely: Historical Musicology,
Systematic Musicology, and Ethnomusicology. It also introduces the student to comparative
musicology which is gaining more ground in current musicological thought and thinking.
MUSIC 443: Orchestration II
The Small Orchestra: Scoring for Brass and Percussion. The full orchestra tutti; Re-arrangement
of music for various sets of transposing instruments including African Instruments. The full
orchestra. Advanced scoring for a full orchestra. This includes African Ensembles. Expanding a
piano or choral score for the full orchestra.
MUSC 444: History of Music of the Twentieth Century
The course introduces the student to developments in music of the twentieth century. It gives an
overview of the most important tendencies and trends of new music in the twentieth century with
historical and aesthetic detail. It also focuses on analysis of reference works which have had an
impact on composers up to the present day. Topics to be covered include: secundal, tertial, and
quartal harmony, Dodecaphony, Microtonal, Minimal and Aleatory music. Analytical studies of
various styles of African composers in the 20th century will be included.
MUSC 445: Composition II
Harmonic textures in not more than six voices using both diatonic and chromatic harmony.
Writing for strings, woodwinds, brass instruments and the piano. Piano accompaniment. Setting
words to music. Unaccompanied choral composition including text-tone relationship in African
199
music. Detailed knowledge and understanding of music theories contained in music treatises and
other writings by such theorists as Rameau, Helmholtz, Schenker, Hindemith, Stravinsky, Meyer,
Amu and Nketia. Student’s original composition(s) required.