Content analysis of music curriculum for the Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE)

Abstract

The philosophy of music curriculum for the Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE) developed by the National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE) is conceived from the background of Western music. It impacts little on the learning of Nigerian music. Music is an essential, inseparable and a fundamental part of African cultures. The traditional systems of the Nigerian society consider music to be an indispensable part of education and some families were renowned with long traditions of music making. The mode of training notably involved a long period of apprenticeship with an imitation approach as a major method of the teaching-learning process. Against this background, this paper examines the content of the music curriculum for the Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE) in relation to its stated philosophy and objectives and that of the Nigerian cultural system. It further examines the possibility of replacing most of the repertoire of imposed Western musical tradition with Nigerian musical heritage, in order to make it more relevant to the student's social environment and for the economic advancement of its graduates and the society at large.