The portfolio presented comprises of five binaural acousmatic works composed primarily for headphone reproduction but also for multi-channel loudspeaker concert diffusion. The commentary traverses the programmatic and aesthetic considerations involved in the construction of the portfolio and the influence of the in-ear binaural method of recording and reproduction thereof. The spectral watermark (the effect of the recordist on the resulting recording), negative space (the space left by the recordist, subsequently occupied by the listener), spatial strategy and the contextually rich results of the method are discussed, along with their creative applications within the portfolio.

This Master thesis is about applying creative production methods and principles of design (from applied- and fine arts) to a music production process. The aim is to analyse and describe a musical process where instead of music theory-based principles and thinking; principles and aesthetics of design were converted to musical ideas through cross-disciplinary thinking and analysis. This thesis is mostly delving on the editing and mixing aspects of creative music production: how a change of perspective and principles influenced the musical results. / <p>Bilaga: 1 audio-CD och 1 data-CD</p>

Thesis (MMus (Music))--University of Stellenbosch, 2010. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Music teaching in groups is an important aspect of the development of the child in Foundation Phase teaching. Early childhood has been described as the most critical period in the child’s musical development. With the introduction of Outcomes based Education in South Africa, the curriculum regarding the presentation of music classes has changed. Similarities between music group classes and Gestalt Play Therapy were investigated, with the aim of incorporating concepts of Gestalt Play Therapy into music group classes. Legislation was studied in order to determine the expectations of the South African government, and specifically the education departments, relating to music teaching. In the present curriculum, the weight allocation for music in the Foundation Phase was significantly reduced from what it was previously. Teachers must structure their own music programme into their curriculum. Investigation into the presentation of creative music group classes, with the incorporation of the principles of Gestalt Play Therapy, was undertaken in this research study. Gestalt Play Therapy is a holistic approach that combines the principles of Gestalt theory with Play Therapy. Research was undertaken to investigate whether specific stages in Gestalt Play Therapy could be successfully combined with music group classes. This research emphasizes that the developmental stages of the child, specifically physical, neurological, cognitive and language development, should be taken into account when presenting lessons, and that children may be guided towards a higher level of integration and balance in themselves. Research into OBE principles suggests that the way forward could be a continuation of the OBE model, but with certain amendments. An inductive study of practical observation and presentation of creative group classes was undertaken. It was found that most teachers were not adequately qualified to present music classes, and creativity was not satisfactorily addressed in their lessons. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Musiekonderrig in groepe is ‘n belangrike aspek rakende die ontwikkeling van die kind in Grondslagfase onderrig. Vroeë kinderjare word beskryf as die mees kritieke periode in die kind se musikale ontwikkeling. Met die inwerkingstelling van Uitkomsgebaseerde onderrig in Suid-Afrika, het die kurrikulum aangaande die aanbieding van musiekklasse verander. Ooreenkomste tussen musiekonderrig in groepe en Gestalt Spelterapie is ondersoek, met die doel om konsepte van Gestalt Spelterapie in musiekonderrig in groepe te inkorporeer. Wetgewing is bestudeer om die verwagtinge, aangaande musiekonderrig, van die Suid Afrikaanse regering, en spesifiek die onderwysdepartemente, te bepaal. Binne die huidige kurrikulum is die gewig toegeken aan musiek, binne die Grondslagfase, aansienlik verminder van voorheen. Onderwysers moet self hul musiekprogramme binne hulle kurrikulum struktureer. ‘n Ondersoek is geloods om die aanbieding van kreatiewe musiekonderrig in groepe te kombineer met die beginsels van Gestalt Spelterapie. Gestalt Spelterapie is ‘n holistiese benadering wat die beginsels van Gestalt teorie kombineer met Spelterapie. Navorsing is gedoen om te bepaal of spesifieke stadia in Gestalt Spelterapie suksesvol gekombineer kan word met musiekonderrig in groepe. Hierdie navorsing benadruk dat die ontwikkelingsstadia van die kind, spesifiek fisiologies, neurologies, kognitief en taalontwikkeling, in ag geneem moet word wanneer lesse aangebied word, en dat kinders hierdeur gelei kan word na ‘n hoër vlak van innerlike integrasie en balans. v Navorsing gedoen betreffende die beginsels van Uitkomsgebaseerde onderrig is aanduidend dat hierdie onderrigmodel wel voortgesit sou kon word, maar met bepaalde aanpassings. ‘n Induktiewe studie van praktiese waarneming sowel as aanbieding van kreatiewe groepsklasse is onderneem. Daar is bevind dat die meeste onderwysers nie voldoende gekwalifiseerd is om musiekklasse aan te bied nie, en kreatiwiteit is ook nie bevredigend in hulle lesse aangespreek nie.

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), the current diagnostic label for children and adults presenting with significant problems with attention, impulsivity and excessive activity is one of the most prevalent childhood psychiatric disorders (Barkley, 2014:3). This qualitative research study, situated at a school for children with ADHD, explores how involvement in Group Creative Music Therapy can promote social skills in six and seven year old children diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. Four weekly music therapy sessions were conducted with one class consisting of 10 students in the second grade. The class teacher was interviewed prior to and after the music therapy process and attended all music therapy sessions. An interesting component of this research was that the teacher was a music teacher who already had a wealth of experience of using music in her own life and with her classroom. The research data included interviews as well as video excerpts showing interaction between the children during music therapy sessions. The findings from the qualitative analysis of interview transcripts and video excerpts indicate firstly the value of music itself as a tool for promoting social skills. There were also many similarities between how the teacher and music therapist used music to benefit children socially, such as exposing the children to music from different cultures or using turn-taking or movement activities to encourage the children to work together. Secondly, this study also highlights the differences between the work of music therapists and music educators. The main differences include the distinctive aims, particularly in this study where the music therapist’s aim was the development of social skills and the teacher’s aim was music education - with social influences as an added benefit to the educational process. Based on their aims, music therapists and music teachers use alternate methods and ways of managing and drawing children in. The findings show how music therapy can influence the development of social skills in children with ADHD - as the music therapist uses specific clinical skills to help children engage freely and spontaneously with others, while also offering them new experiences of themselves and one another. Therefore, the findings also show helpful complementary relationships between music therapists and teachers, as music therapists can help teachers use tools and techniques from music therapy in their classes and teachers can also suggest certain music for therapists to utilise in therapy sessions. This study strongly advocates for both music education and music therapy, as the findings indicate that both fields are beneficial for this client group. / Mini Dissertation (MMus)--University of Pretoria, 2016. / Music / MMus / Unrestricted

The study deals with creative music making in the compulsory comprehensive school’s music instruction. This is an educational effort and is carried out within the framework for the research area Educational work. The objective is, in investigations, steering documents, and teaching material, from 1945 and onwards, as well as through observations of classroom practice today, to describe the discourse about creative music making in music in the Swedish compulsory comprehensive school, and discuss its importance for the field of music and music instruction. The problem area encompasses questions about how generation of knowledge and practice is regulated in the instruction. The empirical material in form of transcriptions from interviews with teachers and students, as well as field notes and recordings from classroom observations together with general texts compose the inter-textual chains that form the discourse about creative music making. The study has a historical beginning inspired by Michel Foucaults’ discourse concept. The regulating and normalizing procedures are used as analytical tools that create the discourse. The study puts in focus the recommended practices in the cited texts. The qualitative differences and similarities, continuities and discontinuities are sought, as well as the definitions and categorizing that is done in the texts. Information which is repeated in several sources, and deviates or breaks with frequently occurring content in the texts is noted. “Creative music making” has been categorized in relation to the individual, socially and in musical contexts. Analysis has been carried out as change over time related to the subject of music and from creative music making’s suggested goals and functions. Access to current school practice has been made through observations and interviews with teachers and students during lessons that contain creative music making activities as well as analyses of these in relation to the texts. In the analysis work, keywords are sought that provide a foundation for categorizing the material. With the establishment of the discourse a descriptive analysis about the remarks that have been registered is made. The classroom studies were carried out at 4 different schools where the four teachers who have been followed were interviewed. Shorter interviews were made with some of their colleagues and with those students, whose work has been followed. The result shows that the power which is exercised in the discourse affects both planning and organization of music instruction, like choice of content and work forms. In the discourse the categories freedom as recreation, creating music making as a we can and you can, the classroom as a musical practice room for the individual and social cultivation, contemporary culture orienting and to play is to create are constructed. The discourse about creating in music instruction functions as a tool for the changes in school that prepares the compulsory comprehensive school’s actualization. The reform and learning by doing ideas together with ideas about aesthetics and social cultivation of the individual towards democracy, and an active participation in society and cultural life is a part of the discourse. Today, this makes up the structural elements in the description of creative music making. The musical style and genre appears to be important as musical frames in the creative music making activities but also for the working methods and contents. In the discussion, the discourse on creative music making is linked to the larger space that ensemble music making has received in music instruction. Creative music making’s culture-oriented functions are linked to music as important phenomenon for the individual and society. Keywords: creative music making, discourse, music instruction, educational work, school, history of education, creativity, aesthetics, popular music, youth

This dissertation is a qualitative interview study conducted with staff and residents at Sparrow Rainbow Village, an HIV/AIDS community. The purpose of this research was to explore the perception of the role of music held by members for their community, and specifically its role in creating a sense of community, as well as to investigate the implications these perceptions might have for setting up a community music therapy project. The interviews revealed a struggle with establishing a community identity that embraced health, as well as feeling isolated from the greater community. Music was seen as a means of bringing people together both within the community and serving to bridge the gap with the wider community and in so doing, empowering both communities simultaneously. / Dissertation (MMus (Music Therapy))--University of Pretoria, 2008. / Music / unrestricted

This study explored the process of negotiating music therapy in a community based setting known as The Potter’s House. The Potter’s House was established fourteen years ago as the first non-racial shelter for battered and destitute women and their children in the city of Pretoria. Furthermore, the study considers Community Music Therapy as a possible frame for music therapy practice in South Africa. The study was conducted according to a qualitative research paradigm. Three data collection sources were used to gather information about the way in which music therapy was negotiated at The Potter’s House. Data collection was in the form of interviews (conducted with the manager of The Potter’s House and the music therapy participants) as well as clinical session notes. The aim of the interviews was to explore members’ experiences and views of the music therapy process. The clinical session notes include significant information that relates to my own reflections and experiences of the music therapy process. This study seems to highlight certain factors that appear prominent in the process of negotiating music therapy in this specific shelter for battered women and their children. These factors and how they were negotiated seem to emphasize the value of a Community Music Therapy framework in the shelter context. The study further suggests that Community Music Therapy could be utilized more broadly in the South African context. / Mini Dissertation (MMus)--University of Pretoria, 2007. / Music / MMus / Unrestricted

Musical timbre transfer is the task of re-rendering the musical content of a given source using the rendering style of a target sound. The source keeps its musical content, e.g., pitch, microtiming, orchestration, and syncopation. I specifically focus on the task of transferring the style of percussive patterns extracted from polyphonic audio using a MelGAN-VC model [57] by training acoustic properties for each genre. Evaluating audio style transfer is challenging and typically requires user studies. An analytical methodology based on supervised and unsupervised learning including visualization for evaluating musical timbre transfer is proposed. The proposed methodology is used to evaluate the MelGAN-VC model for musical timbre transfer of drum tracks. The method uses audio features to analyze results of the timbre transfer based on classification probability from Random Forest classifier. And K-means algorithm can classify unlabeled instances using audio features and style-transformed results are visualized by t-SNE dimensionality reduction technique, which is helpful for interpreting relations between musical genres and comparing results from the Random Forest classifier. / Graduate

Multi-instrumentalist, composer, and music philosopher Anthony Braxton (b. 1945) has developed performance practices and notational systems that are frequently disregarded by scholars of music, despite his prolific output and influence. His restructuralist aesthetic blurs the boundaries between philosophy, visual art, and numerous musical genres and stylistic practices to create an amalgam that is often difficult to categorize due to his perpetual quest to avoid confining definitions. The purpose of this dissertation is to draw attention to various facets of Anthony Braxton's notational and performance practices by using them as a springboard for personal creativity. Inspiration for these original works was drawn from a variety of Braxton's methods, particularly from his quartet music of the 1980s and his Ghost Trance Music, and drew heavily from his concepts of "moment time" and "individual presence," which are key themes arising throughout his music and the literature. Specific compositional techniques were either used verbatim or as inspiration for the development of original practices and are accompanied by an analysis and discussion.