Situated within the attractive garden campus of St Peter’s Chapel at Rhodes University, the Department of Music and Musicology is located in the Beethoven House in Somerset Street, Makhanda (Grahamstown). Beethoven House comprises teaching rooms, practice rooms, a sound library, a sound studio, and the Beethoven Room concert venue. In addition, rehearsals and lectures take place in the newly renovated Nuns Chapel (situated within walking distance next to Eden Grove) as well as ILAM (situated off Prince Alfred Street).

St. Peter's is close to the rest of campus, and a short walk from the town centre. Makhanda offers a range of cultural activities for music students. The Department currently has 8 full-time staff members and a large complement of part-time staff.

Rhodes Department of Music and Musicology has two main areas of specialisation: African music and Western art music. Undergraduate courses offer tuition in instrumental and vocal performance, music theory, music culture and history, and sound technology. Postgraduate degrees offer expert supervision in research, performance and composition.

Please use this link to access the Rhodes University Calendar 2024, which will provide the most up-to-date information regarding courses.

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Why Study Music at Rhodes?

• Being a small Department, students enjoy all the advantages of individual attention, with abundant opportunities to be musically active in the vibrant Makhanda performing scene.
• Our facilities offer you everything you need, including studying in an aesthetically and culturally stimulating environment.
• Our in-house library is well-resourced with music scores, literature, CD and LP collection and computer and listening facilities, enabling you to tackle all research work and projects from within the department.
• We have an outstanding and committed staff of both national and international experience and standing.
• You can tailor your course around music to include other interests and ambitions.

Musical Life at Rhodes

The performance scene at Rhodes is as vibrant as it is diverse, and many students get actively involved throughout the year in a variety of creative endeavours. The Department has ensembles that musicians can join by audition without needing to take any music subjects at all, such as the RU Chamber choir, Makana Community Orchestra, RU string ensemble, RU wind band, and the RU Vocalists.

In addition to the beautiful performance venues at Rhodes such as the Beethoven Room, Nun’s Chapel, ILAM, Rhodes Theater, students are encouraged to perform in local concert venues such as Amazwi (NELM), Guy Butler Hall Settlers Monument and various churches. Student participation in some of the town’s prestigious events such as the National Arts Festival or the Makhanda (Grahamstown) National Music Competition is encouraged in order for students to gain valuable exposure and performance experience.

In addition, there are local choirs such as Kwantu Choir which offer wonderful choral training and performance opportunities to anyone who is passionate about choral singing.

Life after Music at Rhodes

A Rhodes music qualification can lead to career opportunities in many diverse areas of the music industry. Most music graduates create their careers from more than one of these options: teaching, either privately or at a school; lecturing at a tertiary institution; research; performing; conducting; composing and arranging; sound engineer (studio or live); arts administration, management, and publicity (in community, private, or state structures); music publishing; and arts journalism.

Last Modified: Fri, 26 Jan 2024 07:54:40 SAST