When we look back on our achievements of the third quarter it feels like a dream come true!
[1] Colloquium: Prof Heidi Westerlund, Dr Sari Levänen and Dr Albi Odendaal ~ 11 August 2016
We had an extraordinary opportunity to meet and listen to Prof Heidi Westerlund (Sibelius Academy of the University of the Arts, Helsinki) and Dr Sari Levänen (neuropsychologist in the Helsinki and Uusimaa Hospital District). They presented a colloquium on their ArtsEqual project. Dr Albi Odendaal is collaborating with them on this project. Prof Westerlund is often a keynote speaker at conferences and she is doing ground breaking research in music education.
[2] Postgraduate Open Day ~ 13 August 2016
Potential students were invited to the third NWU Open Day for postgraduate study. We enjoyed the morning on campus and the students made use of the opportunity to acquaint themselves with post-graduate (M&D) studies offered by the NWU.
[3] Colloquium: Prof Jonathan L. Friedmann ~ 25 August 2016
Jonathan L. Friedmann, PhD, is a Postdoctoral Fellow in MASARA. He presented a colloquium on Davidian Chant: A Musical Reading of the ‘Psalm of David’ Superscription.
[4] SASRIM Conference: Odeion School of Music, University of the Free State ~ 25-27 August 2016
The South African Society for Research in Music held its annual congress at the Odeion School of Music, University of the Free State. This year, they were celebrating the tenth anniversary of the society, as well as the centenary of the birth of South African composer Arnold van Wyk. The keynote speakers were Stephanus Muller (University of Stellenbosch) and Guthrie Ramsey (University of Pennsylvania).
Below are some presenters from MASARA:
[5] Seminar: Prof June Boyce-Tillman ~ 30 August 2016
It was our great privilege to have Prof June Boyce-Tillman with us on 30 August. She presented some of her own work, and also listened to and commented on some of our students’ work. This seminar was open to all of our postgraduate students and provided a fantastic opportunity to get feedback from a world-renowned scholar.
[6] Colloquium: Dr Etienne Viviers ~ 15 September 2016
Our new postdoctoral fellow, Dr Etienne Viviers, presented a very creative, relevant and interesting colloquium with the topic: Some thoughts on musical diversity and social well-being in #MustFall academic environments.
[7] WITS and NWU Symposium ~ 17 September 2016
The NWU School of Music had a combined research seminar with the School of Music, University of the Witwatersrand.
- Monique Schoeman (BMus IV, NWU) — The construction of identity in cabaret burlesque dancing: a case study. [Supervisor: Prof Jaco Kruger]
- Emeka Nzelu (Hons BA Mus, NWU) — The decolonisation of musical practice in the black congregation of RCSA: a case study. [Supervisor: Prof Daleen Kruger]
- Eljé van der Walt (BMus IV, NWU) — Understanding students’ lived experiences of their teachers’ music education strategy in individual lessons. [Supervisor: Dr Mignon van Vreden]
- Jaco Jacobs (BMus IV, NWU) — The application of Dalcroze-inspired activities in the young beginner’s piano lesson. [Supervisor: Dr Mignon van Vreden]
- Chris Norwie (BMus IV, NWU) — Potchefstroom music teachers’ perceptions about technology in secondary school music theory teaching. [Supervisor: Dr Albi Odendaal]
- Gerdus Steenberg (BMus IV, NWU) — The interpretation of Impundulu from “From the Poets” by Peter Klatzow: a critical hermeneutic analysis. [Supervisor: Dr Waldo Weyer]
- Sibusiso Dlamini (MA, Wits) — Post-apartheid jazz pianism: a critical biography of Matshawandile Yenana.
- Michelle Lubbe (PhD, Wits) — A critique of celebrity culture in the field of contemporary music theatre.
[8] Graduation ~ 27 September 2016
Engelette Kruger received her MMus degree. The title of her dissertation is: An exploration of transformative piano teaching in Pretoria: a case study. Dr Waldo Weyer was the supervisor and Dr Alvin Petersen the co-supervisor.
[9] NRF rating ~ 30 September 2016
We finish the third quarter on a high note with the wonderful news that Prof Jaco Kruger received an NRF rating.