HISTORY OF THE MUSIC DEPARTMENT

At inception in 1988, the Department offered Music with Fine and Applied
Arts, and in 1991, the Department of Music was fully established in the
main campus of the College of Education with Mr Lapaz Akpa as it’s first
Head of Department. It then offered Music/English, Music/Religious
Studies and Music/Primary Education at the N.C.E. level. Later Mr. Toye
Agboola, became the head of department with Miss Monica Okeke and
Mr. Nah-kofie as members of academic staff. In 1993, Miss Bernadette
Uwakwe joined the department, followed by others. In 1993/94 session,
the department started its degree (B.Ed.) programme and produced its
first graduates in 1997.

These programmes passed through the supervision and moderation of the
University of Ibadan until the 2009/2010 academic session, when the
Rivers State Government in its enacted Act established the Rivers State
University of Education (latter renamed Ignatius University of Education)
to award B.A. Ed. degree in various disciplines. With inception of the new
University of Education, the twenty seven years of affiliation with the
premier University of Ibadan came to an end, and the first set of music
graduates in the new University of Education was produced in 2013/2014
academic year.

BACHELOR OF ARTS IN MUSIC EDUCATIO N
ACADEMIC CONTENT

Philosophy

Philosophers of all ages agree that music in all its ramification that Music
is an integral part of life and one of the most universal human needs. Music,
says Plato (427-347 B.c.) is the movement of sounds to reach the soul for
the education of its virtue. Music, he continues, is a moral law, it gives
sound to the universe and charm and gaiety to life and to everything.

The German-Swiss philosopher, Friedrich Nietzsche (1844-1900) believes
that without Music, life would be a mistake. Back home in our indigenous
African society, Music is an integral part of life itself. The African child is
born, bred and buried with Music.

In today’s shrunken world of a global village, music plays a greater and
more cohesive role in people’s lives irrespective of differences in age,
clime, creed, culture, education, gender, habitat, occupation and social
strata. Music education is therefore, crucial as we move forward into the
21^st  century.

As a school discipline, the teaching and learning of Music satisfies all the
traditional strategies and objectives of the aesthetic, affective, cognitive
and most importantly the psychomotor domains. It is a sine qua non
towards demonstrating skills in creativity, communication technology and
team work.

In a nutshell, the study of Music and Music education goes beyond the
practice and mere enjoyment of Music. It touches significantly on the
following factors:

1. The Economic: acquisition of knowledge, talents and skills relating
   more directly to the use of tools and conventions of civilized life to
   create an enviable most lucrative vocation.
2. The Ethical: A higher concept of truth, morality, justice, a development
   of the principles of right conduct and their application in daily life.
3. The Social/Political: A better understanding of man’s relationship to
   man, of the interdependence of men in civilized lands.
4. The Cultural: Nationalism and the appreciation of the fine things of life.

Mission Statement

The Department of Music shall develop and run programmes that meet
a variety of institutional needs as well as the needs of artistes,
teachers, scholars, planners and implementers of development
programmes in music, arts and culture. It shall also be an archival
centre for the development of communication signals, advanced
training programmes in clearly defined areas of research, music
technology, special concerts, demonstrations documentations,
workshops, outreach programmes, the preparation and circulation of
music and music-related materials.

Objectives
Students will:

1. Acquire and understand the common elements and organizational patterns
   of music and their interactions, and their ability to demonstrate this
   understanding in aural, visual and verbal analysis.
2. Acquire and develop the ability to compose and/or to improvise at a basic
   level in one or more musical styles or genres.
3. Develop the ability to select the best musical methods and materials for
   meeting the objectives of the learning experience.
4. Become aware of the diverse cultures in our society and thereby develop
   more curiosity in the life, music and culture of other societies in historical
   and contemporary perspecti
5. Demonstrate a working knowledge of the appropriate historical and
   stylistic performance practice
6. Work independently and co-operatively on a variety of musical problems,
   form and defend value judgments about music.
7. Have a basic overview understanding of how technology serves in the field
   of music as a whole and a working knowledge of the technological
   developments applicable to their area of specialization.
8. Acquire knowledge and skills sufficient to work as leaders and in
   collaboration on matters of musical interpretations, including rehearsals,
   conducting skills as appropriate to the particular music specialization and
   degree program.
9. Acquire experience both on the keyboard and one or two secondary
   instruments and/or performance areas such as dance, theatre arts etc.
10. Be prepared as music teachers who can stand tall in their professional
    competence to function effectively as constructive, socio -economic,
    moral and spiritual change agents needed to promote goodwill, peace
    and progress in Nigeria and in the 21^st century world.