The Role of Kabarak University in the Development of the Music Industry in Kenya

Abstract

Music in Kenya since 2000 has been neglected in the education system. After the implementation of the 8-4-4 system of education (8 years in primary school, 4 years in high school and 4 years in university), music was not made a compulsory and examinable subject in primary school while in Secondary School and university levels, it is an elective and examinable subject. This has hindered the development of the music industry in that very few people have background information on the subject. Moreover, according to Mindoti (2010), the Development of Music as an academic discipline in Kenya may suffer a set-back due to schools putting more focus on what will improve their overall mean score. Furthermore, very few universities offer music as a course. This is a very serious problem at hand that if it is not dealt with will lead to the poor standards of music education in Kenya. Interviewing and administering Questionnaires were used indata collection in this paper. Descriptive statistics method of analysis was used because it summarised the information collected and described how the music schools in Kenya specifically, The School of Music and Performing Arts (SMPA) in Kabarak University, could assist in producing professional musicians and fill the ever widening gap in the music industry. Gifted students in music who suggested the way forward in developing their talents werealso identified and interviewed. Furthermore, questionnaires were interviewed and administered to music students in Kabarak University who are pursuing music as a full time course or as a short course. Focus was on the students pursing music in the university but did not pursue it in either primary or secondary school in order to find out how the university is helping in inspiring young people talented in musical arts to pursue music in order to nurture their talent and in turn to develop the music industry in Kenya.