Students wishing to pursue a major in music must choose one of three streams: performance; theory and composition; or research. Those who opt for either the performance or theory and composition streams must have passed music as a subject for matric (with an equivalence of at least Grade 5 practical and/or theory), and need to be auditioned by the music faculty before acceptance. The research stream does not require candidates to have studied music for matric, nor does it require an audition. Normally such research candidates would register for Introduction to Music Fundamentals A and B in their first year. However, if a student has completed music as a subject for matric, or has an equivalent theory background, this requirement may be waived at the discretion of the Discipline of Music after a competency test.
NOTE: The Discipline of Music does not offer tuition in all musical instruments and has a limited number of places for the instruments it does offer. Those registered for a BA in Music receive first preference for practical instrumental training.
Structure of the performance major
| Semester 1 | Semester 2 |
| Level 1 | |
| MUSC116 Practical Studies 1A (16C)MUSC113 Music Fundamentals A (16C) | MUSC118 Practical Studies 1B (16C)MUSC115 Music Fundamentals B (16C) |
| Level 2 | |
| MUSC222 Practical Studies 2A (16C) | MUSC224 Practical Studies 2B (16C) |
| Level 3 | |
| MUSC322 Practical Studies 3A (16C)MUSC311 Instrumental Teaching Method A (16C) or MUSC310 African Music Outreach A (16C)* | MUSC324 Practical Studies 3B (16C)MUSC313 Instrumental Teaching Method B (16C) or MUSC312 African Music Outreach B (16C)* |
* In the 3rd year, those who are studying African Music and Dance must register for African Music Outreach A in the 1st semester and African Music Outreach B in the 2nd semester.
Structure of the theory and composition major
| Semester 1 | Semester 2 |
| Level 1 | |
| MUSC110 Theory and Perception 1A (16C) | MUSC112 Theory and Perception 1B (16C) |
| Level 2 | |
| MUSC214 Theory and Perception 2A (16C) | MUSC216 Theory and Perception 2B (16C) |
| Level 3 | |
| MUSC330 Theory and Perception 3A (16C)MUSC318 Composition A (16C) | MUSC332 Theory and Perception 3B (16C)MUSC320 Composition B (16C) |
Structure of the research major
| Semester 1 | Semester 2 |
| Level 1 | |
| MUSC113 Music Fundamentals A (16C) | MUSC115 Music Fundamentals B (16C)MUSC111 Music and Society 1 (16C) |
| Level 2 | |
| MUSC210 Music and Society 2A (16C) | MUSC212 Music and Society 2B (16C) |
| Level 3 | |
| MUSC322 Music and Society 3A (16C)MUSC334 Musicology A (16C) | MUSC324 Music and Society 3B (16C)MUSC336 Musicology B (16C) |
