The Dunedin Symphony Orchestra yesterday warned of the potential for "serious consequences" for the orchestra.
Speaking anonymously, the staff member said the cuts would have a devastating impact on cello teaching in particular, but the full impact was unclear.
"They’ve butchered us," the department staff member said.
Long-serving academic staff, some with prestigious reputations, were being treated with "absolute disdain" by the university, the person said.
It is understood 5.5 full-time equivalent roles would be lost - two academic roles, and 3.5 other positions.
It meant about eight people would lose their jobs and another two would have their hours significantly reduced, but the full implications of the proposal were unclear, the person said.
In cello, it is understood the senior lecturer role would be disestablished and replaced with a 0.25 professional practice fellow.
The senior lecturer, Dr Heleen Du Plessis, declined to comment when contacted.
The anonymous staff member said the cuts were having an enormous impact in music.
"For those left, whoever survives this, are going to be spread so thinly. They’re going to have to pick up for colleagues who will have gone. Our viability, how we are going to attract students, I don’t know," the source said.
Eight academic staff, including a professor and three associate professors, would have to apply for just six positions.
"We’re just feeling for the people whose positions are gone if this goes ahead."
The department’s Indonesian gamelan music programme is likely to be affected as the tutor’s position would be disestablished.
Twenty-four people work in the department, but not all are full-time.
Some had been told their positions were safe.
Staff received the proposal on Thursday and have three weeks to respond.
"We’ve got to come up with rational arguments to suggest ways to save money that don’t mean staffing cuts.
"At the moment we are all very emotive, but we’re going to have to cool down for a bit and then put on some cool intellectual responses."
Dunedin Symphony Orchestra general manager Philippa Harris said she had serious concerns about the cuts but wanted more detail about them.
"If there was any reduction in instrumental teaching, that’s likely to lead to a reduction in student player numbers and that could have serious consequences for the orchestra.
"Up to 40% of our players actually have learnt their instruments at one stage or another at the department.
"The flow-on from the instrumental teaching to the orchestra is very strong, so we will be following the developments very closely.
"The orchestra has very many tentacles out there in the community so anything that affects the orchestra also affects all the other musical organisations," Ms Harris said.
Music is one of five humanities departments undergoing cuts.
The others are history, anthropology and archaeology, languages and culture, English and linguistics. Each are at different stages of the process.
A university spokeswoman said it was too soon for the university to comment.
"We can confirm that the departments you have named are correct.
"However, there is no more to add at this point as we work through processes within each department. We will be able to comment further after the process is completed," she said.