MASARA (Musical Arts in South Africa: Resources and Applications) was established as a research niche area in November 2008. The focus for 2008–2012 was on selected musical arts of South Africa, specifically referring to Setswana and other local music cultures of the North-West Province. After the International Music & Wellbeing Conference of 2013 and subsequent strategic planning sessions, the entity’s focus gradually shifted from the conservation and use of indigenous music to music and wellbeing, which does not exclude the previous focus. The dandelion has been a symbol for MASARA since the 2013 conference and refers to power, strength, cooperation, flexibility, wellbeing, growth, diversity and individuality. The quality and impact of MASARA's research and creative outputs led to the entity's upgrade to a Focus Area in 2024.
Researchers in MASARA who specialise in the music sub-foci Musicology (including African Musics), Music Education & Instrumental and Vocal Pedagogy, Creative Practice and Artistic Research, Community Music, Music and Spirituality, Music Theory, Composition and Aural Training, and Music and Positive Psychology are working together symbiotically in the collective focus area of Music and Wellbeing. The research that results from this combined focus contributes to the enhancement of various contexts such as music teaching and learning, music in everyday life, music in communities, music in religious and other spiritual contexts, and music performance and composition.
Postgraduate study
MASARA hosts the following postgraduate degree study programmes:
- Master of Music (MMus) in Musicology: a full dissertation on any topic falling within the entity's sub-foci;
- Master of Music (MMus) in Musicology with Applied Music Studies: a modular programme that requires studying Community Music, a capita selecta Applied Music Studies module, and writing a mini-dissertation;
- Master of Music (MMus) in Music Performance: three concerts and a mini-dissertation;
- Master of Music (MMus) in Composition: three portfolios and a mini-dissertation;
- Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Visual and Performing Arts with Music: a full thesis on any topic falling within the entity's sub-foci;
- Doctor of Music (DMus), with specialisation options in Music Performance and Music Composition: various options for presenting concerts, lecture-recitals, lectures, and composition portfolios that culminate in a written formal assignment or thesis.
All dissertations, theses, and formal assignments can be substituted with a set number of journal articles, sometimes requiring extended introductions and conclusions, depending on the programme.
Our vision:
Our vision is to establish MASARA as a leading research entity on music and wellbeing in South Africa.
Our mission is to:
- Expand collective knowledge of diverse musical experiences.
- Develop relevant research and creative outputs in music and wellbeing in national and international settings.
- Pursue a cooperative research culture that is socially relevant and scientifically recognised.
The strategy that supports our mission is to develop research and creative outputs innovatively by enhancing the quality and increasing the quantity of research in relation to required capacities and skills.
