Table of Contents

The Complete Guide to Performing Arts (Music) Curriculum

Introduction to Performing Arts
Core Content Areas
Assessment Framework
Career Pathways
Key Takeaways

Introduction to Performing Arts <a id=”introduction”></a>

Ghana’s rich performing arts tradition blends indigenous practices with contemporary forms. This guide breaks down the music curriculum’s key competencies from notation to cultural impact.

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Core Content Areas

1. Music Fundamentals <a id=”music-fundamentals”></a>

Essential Skills:

Staff ↔ Tonic solfa transcription (movable doh)
Scale construction (major/minor)
Interval calculation

Notation Cheat Sheet:

G Clef Lines: Every Good Boy Does Fine (E-G-B-D-F)
Spaces: F-A-C-E

Practical Exercise:
Transpose “Yɛn Ara Asaase Ni” from F to G major

2. Creativity in Performance <a id=”creativity”></a>

Theoretical Framework:

4Ps of Creativity: Person, Process, Product, Press
Barriers to innovation in Ghanaian music
Creative process stages (preparation → verification)

Case Study:
How highlife evolved from traditional rhythms

3. Historical Development <a id=”history”></a>

Key Milestones:

1962: Establishment of Ghana Dance Ensemble
1975: National Theatre movement
1990s: Contemporary gospel fusion

Did You Know?
The first music degree program began at the University of Ghana in 1962.

4. Societal Roles <a id=”societal-roles”></a>

Functional Categories:

Ceremonial (Funerals, festivals)
Artistic (Concert performances)
Communal (Social cohesion)

Current Trend:
Hiplife as social commentary

5. Instrument Classification <a id=”instruments”></a>

Hornbostel-Sachs System:

Category	Ghanaian Examples
Idiophones	Bell, xylophone
Membranophones	Fontomfrom, kpanlogo
Chordophones	Gonje, seprewa
Aerophones	Atenteben, algaita

Listening Exercise:
Identify instruments in Osibisa’s “Woyaya.”

6. Ghanaian Artistes <a id=”ghanaian-artistes”></a>

Legends to Know:

E.T. Mensah (Highlife pioneer)
Amakye Dede (Soulful highlife)
Ohemaa Mercy (Gospel icon)

Impact Analysis:
How Azonto dance influenced West African pop culture

Assessment Framework <a id=”assessment”></a>

Cognitive Weighting:

Content Area	Recall (20%)	Skills (25%)	Analysis (35%)	Evaluation (20%)	Total
Music Fundamentals	5	7	11	6	29%
Instrument Classification	5	4	6	4	19%
Total	20%	25%	35%	20%	100%

Music theory carries the highest weighting

Career Pathways <a id=”career-pathways”></a>

Emerging Opportunities:

Music Therapy (Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital)
Cultural Tourism (Arts Center curation)
Film Scoring (Gollywood productions)
Digital Content Creation (TikTok trends)

Income Range:
GH₵800 – GH₵15,000 monthly (Session musician to star performer)

Key Takeaways <a id=”key-takeaways”></a>

Exam Focus:
- Master notation transposition (movable doh)
- Analyze instrument timbres
Industry Shifts:
- AI music tools (Boomy, Soundraw)
- NFT performances (Selling digital collectibles)
Learning Resources:
- Ghana Music Rights Organization
- The Music of Africa (Kwabena Nketia)