- Music in the College Curriculum
- Music in the Preparatory School Curriculum
- Music in the Pre-Preparatory School Curriculum
- African Music
- Choral Ensembles
- Contemporary Music
- Organ
- Piano
- Strings
- Woodwind
» Music in the College Curriculum
 Bennie Oosthuizen
Director of Music
Music forms part of College life on three levels: as part of the general Arts and Culture curriculum (Remove – Lower IV); as a formal academic subject in its own right (Remove – Upper V); as an extra-mural activity with individual lessons and participation possible in a host of ensembles.
All learners are encouraged to consider taking music as an academic subject in the College. Currently 60 learners take Music as a subject (Remove to Upper V). Each boy has one practical lesson per week on his chosen instrument and at least four periods of music theory, music history or aural training. Practical lessons are taught by 9 full-time members of staff and 26 visiting teachers. In 2008, Music as a subject in Remove and Lower IV will be taken instead of a third language. The final choice for the matric subjects is only made at the end of Lower IV. In every year group, each boy taking music as subject is required to play one piece in each term’s concert. This is examined together with technical exams and a second exam piece each term. A high practical standard is encouraged, and several pupils have successfully been entered for Board examinations on Licentiate level over the years.
As far as Theory of Music is concerned, the first aim is, by the end of Lower IV, to complete the theory syllabus for Grade 5 (Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music), which will enable pupils to play practical examinations right up to Grade 8 level. The second aim is to prepare pupils for the aural aspects of the practical examinations for Grades 3 and 4. The third aim is to start with a computer based compositional course that will encourage creativity in every pupil.
A Pupil should attain a practical standard of at least Grade 4 and have passed Grade 5 Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music theory at the end of his Lower IV year in order to continue with Music to matriculation level. From Upper IV (Grade 10) to matric, training continues in the practical, theoretical and historical aspects of music, with Grade 7 being the practical level required for matric. For matriculation the College Music Department offers only the Trinity College of Music option ie. candidates for matriculation are required to play the Trinity Grade 7 practical examination and sit the Trinity Grade 6 Theory examination instead of the Independent Examinations Board music examinations. This option is provided for in the Education Department’s current National Curriculum Statement.
Theory and History Teachers
Lower IV: C. Upchurch, S. Nyamezele
Upper IV – Upper V: B. Oosthuizen, A. Thompson
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