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Faculty of Culture, Creative and Performing Arts

Programmes

BFA Music

BFA Music.png

About the Programme

This Programme begins August 2022

The Bachelor of Fine Arts Major in Music is designed to facilitate students in the development of the skills, knowledge and discipline needed to succeed as musicians, while gaining a critical appreciation of Caribbean musical forms. Students will perform, critically listen, review and assess music from across musical genres and traditions while developing technological skills for recording and distribution.  In addition, they will learn to apply these skills to other media including film, studying in an environment of artistic practice that nurtures creative expression, cultural understanding and an entrepreneurial mindset as important elements in a society’s development.

What Will I Study?

The overall objectives of this programme is to produce graduates who: - Have knowledge of the region’s diverse musical forms
- Adopt a disciplined creative process in the composition of music - Can compose and perform music individually and in groups - Competently use technology in the creation and distribution of music in a changing digital business environment - Can create new music for various media including film and gaming.

Why Study in Barbados

An internationally accredited programme introduces our international students to the creative arts from a Caribbean perspective, while providing fundamental knowledge and developing skills suited for a professional career at the global level.

See why you should study in Barbados from our International Office
https://www.cavehill.uwi.edu/international/international-students/why-study-in-barbados.aspx 

At a Glance

  • Degree Level: Undergraduate
  • Qualification: BFA
  • Duration: 3 years Full-Time; 4 years Part-Time

Contact


Programme Details

Students pursuing this programme must take a minimum of 90 credit hours. Here are just some of the courses included in the programme structure:

LEVEL I
MUSC 1010 Introduction to Critical Listening
MUSC 1020 Caribbean Popular Music and Society
MUSC 1025 Introduction to Harmony 
MUSC 1031 Introduction to Music Technology
MUSC 1035 Ear Training
MUSC 1036 Private Lessons 
One (1) Level I Elective from any Faculty
One (1) Beginners’ Foreign Language course* OR Level I elective from within the Faculty, but outside of this Major 
**FOUN 1006 Exposition for Academic Purposes 
Either **FOUN 1003 Introduction to Creative Non-Fiction or FOUN 1004 Introduction to Argument

LEVEL II
MUSC 2010 Harmony and Orchestration 
MUSC2110 Jazz Harmony and Orchestration (New)
MUSC 2025 Music Ensemble I
MUSC2030 Composing Caribbean Music
FOUN 1210 Science, Medicine and Technology in Society
FOUN1301 Law, Governance, Economy and Society in the Caribbean
MUSC 2115 Music Technology II (New)
MUSC 2025 Private Lessons II 
One (1) Level II Elective from any Faculty
One (1) Level II Elective from any Faculty

LEVEL III
MUSC 3XXX Repertoire for Recital 
MUSC 3XXX Private Lessons III
MUSC 3010 Music Ensemble II 
MUSC3505 Music for Moving Images (NEW)
MUSC 3000 Music Business
THEA 3206 Musical Theatre
One (1) Level III Elective from any Faculty
MUSC 3020 Conducting for Large Ensemble 
HUMN 3901 Capstone/Research Project

For full details on programme costs, follow the link https://www.cavehill.uwi.edu/financial/fees.aspx

A. University Matriculation Requirements

Before registration, and before beginning the courses leading to the degree in the Faculty of Culture, Creative and Performing Arts, candidates must have satisfied:

1. The University Matriculation requirements for entry to a degree course—

    EITHER:

  • (a) Full Matriculation: Passes in five subjects of which, at least two are CAPE/GCE ‘A’ Levels, or an Associate Degree with a GPA of 2.50, while the remainder may be an acceptable pass in CSEC/GCE/BGCSE examinations (including English) on entry to UWI;
      OR:
  • (b) Lower Level Matriculation: At least five (5) acceptable passes at CSEC/GCE/BGCSE examinations (including English) including one of the following: a foreign language, mathematics, geography, or an approved science subject
AND

2. The English Language Requirement: English Language is compulsory for admission to all programmes of The University of the West Indies. Candidates who do not possess one of

(i) Grade I in CSEC,
(ii) English A,
(iii) a Grade A in GCE ‘O’ Level English Language,
(iv) a Grade 1 in CAPE Communication Studies OR
(v) a Grade A or B in the GCE General Paper

are required to take the English Language Proficiency Test (ELPT) before entry.

B. Faculty Entry Requirements

3. The entry requirements of the Faculty of Culture, Creative and Performing Arts are:

(a) a minimum of five (5) passes in CSEC General Proficiency Grade I, II or Grade III (Grade III if done after 1998), or GCE ‘O’ Levels at least Grade C, or BGCSE examinations including English Language;

(b) the entry requirements of the particular academic department in which they propose to take courses.  These are as follows for the Creative Arts undergraduate programmes:

C. Programme Entry Requirements

In addition to fulfilling University matriculation and Faculty entry requirments to the Faculty of Culture, Creative and Performing Arts applicants must have completed an Associate Degree in Music or Grade 7 ABRSM (Associated Board Royal Schools of Music). In addition, candidates must also submit a portfolio of work and attend an interview.