Music Program Offered at Kenyatta University

KU

Kenyatta University (KU)

Kiambu County

Certificate 1 year Fulltime Fee: on application Intake: Ongoing

Certificate (Accredited by: Kenyatta University)

About Music Certificate program.

MDT 001 Basic Music Theory and Aural Skills I (Revised): Introduction to the rudiments of music theory including pitch and time; Music notation on staff and solfa;  Major and minor scales and intervals up to an octave; Key signatures of major keys up to four sharps and four  flats; and their relative minor keys. Aural recognition of pitch and duration of notes.

MDT 002 African Dance Practice (Revised) : A study of the concept of dance in Kenya. Elements of dance including movement, dance steps, patterns. Practical component involves selection of traditional songs: one mixed, one male or female dance from selected from Kenyan communities.

MDT 003 Introduction to Song Writing (New): Creating coherent melodies with appropriate punctuations and cadential points, setting text to music for solo voice, following basic rules of syllabic placement, rules of idiomatic setting, writing four to eight bar melodies, with suggested chordal placement.

MDT 004 Introduction to History of Kenyan Folk Music (Revised): Folk music genres of various Kenyan communities. Socio-cultural background of Kenyan music; Factors that have shaped the songs, dance, costumes and instruments of different communities; Relationship between song and dance; Recognition of musical styles and types through listening, and viewing, analysis. A Comparative analysis of music genres of at least two communities. Recognition of musical styles and types through listening, and viewing, analysis, learning and performance of selected communities.

MDT 005 Performance Tuition I (Revised) : One Kenyan and one western Development of technical ability, manipulation of instrument, fluency and tone control, range extension, enhanced proficiency in the instrument, solo and ensemble playing, performance of at least two contrasting pieces for each instrument.

MDT 006 Basic Music Theory and Aural Skills II (Revised): Introduction to the rudiments of music theory including pitch and time; Music notation on staff and solfa;  Major and minor scales and intervals up to an octave; Key signatures of major keys up to four sharps and four  flats; and their relative minor keys. Aural recognition of pitch and duration of notes.

MDT 007 Contemporary Kenyan Music (New):  Contact with external cultures and the Development of contemporary music in Kenya. Art and popular music (both secular and Christian) in Kenya. Recognition of musical styles and types through listening, and viewing, analysis, learning and performance of selected genres of contemporary music in Kenya.

 

MDT 008 Computer Aided Music Notation (Existing): Introduction to basic computing skills in music such as Noteworthy, FINALE software, Sibelius. Negotiating through music scores, provision tempo marks, dynamics, change of clefs. Knowledge of music notation software, production of music scores  using knowledge gained, completing of given melodies of appropriate length, application of play back functions and page formatting, other related activities.

MDT 009 Performance Tuition II (Revised): One Kenyan and one western Development of technical ability, manipulation of instrument, fluency and tone control, range extension, enhanced proficiency in the instrument, solo and ensemble playing, performance of at least two contrasting pieces for each instrument.

MDT 010 Introduction to Western Music (Revised): Historical context of Western music types and styles.  Guided listening to selected music and discussion of elements that characterize music such as meter, tonality, form, phrasing and instrumentation, and the way these are used in different styles of music.

MDT 011 Elements of Harmony (New): Introduction to intervals and triads in major keys. Aural recognition of harmonic intervals; triads; first and second inversion of triads; cadences. Understanding of basic  harmonic rules. Use of primary triads in root position and first inversion for harmonizing melodies in major keys. Keyboard knowledge of primary chords.

MDT 012 Applied Ethnomusicology (Revised):  Social-cultural background of song-dance traditions of Kenya; Performance of songs and dances, listening, viewing and analyzing of selected Kenyan songs and dances; text  transcription and video recording of selected Kenyan songs and dances.        

Entry requirements for Music

To be eligible for admission into the Certificate in Music programme at Kenyatta University, candidates must meet either of the following:

  • Be holders of either KCSE agrregate C-(minus) or its equivalent.
  • Have proof of musical activity e.g. choral training for Kenya Music Festival at regional or national level, membership to Armed Forces marching band, Symphony Orchestra, Church Choir, indegenous dance groups, or any other performing ensembles.
  • Performance experience at the level of cerficate in Piano, Guiter or Voice or Choral directing from a recognized authority.
  • All applicants will be auditioned to verify their profiency / qualification for admission into the Certificate Course.

About Kenyatta University

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