Music

Teachers in Department

Mrs A Lovell (Head of Department)

Miss E Gormley

External Examinations:

GCSE/AS/A2 Music (CCEA)

Associated Board Royal School of Music (Vocal, Instrumental &Theory)

Trinity Guildhall, London (Instrumental and Rock School)

London College of Music (Musical Theatre)

Description of Department:

The Music Department is a very busy area of the School.  All pupils in Years 8, 9 & 10 study music; with emphasis on the three skill areas of Performing, Composing, Listening and Appraising.  Music is offered as a GCSE option in Year 11, an AS in Year 13 and as an A2 in Year 14. 

Aims of the Music Curriculum

The music curriculum aims to empower pupils to achieve their potential and to make informed and responsible choices and decisions throughout their lives. It is about helping all pupils prepare for life and work.

1.   As individuals by:

• Giving pupils opportunities to create personal meaning through composing, performing and listening activities;
• Enabling pupils to express their own feelings through music;
• Building an appreciation of the diverse musical tastes of others;
• Encouraging pupils to explore and experiment creatively in a variety of situations.

2.   As contributors to society by:

• Developing the skills central to understanding and responding to music;
• Developing pupil’s awareness of how music influences behaviour;
• Developing an understanding of music from different periods, styles and cultural traditions that are different from their own;
• Developing an understanding of the power of music in evoking mood and atmosphere

3.   As contributors to the economy and the environment by: 

• Developing pupil’s ability to be discriminating consumers of music as a result of their own experiences in making and responding to music;
• Developing pupil’s awareness and understanding of the skills required to be successful within the music industry (and how those skills and qualities are also highly valued throughout the world in all types of employment).

The fundamental aim of the music curriculum is to develop pupils’ musical ability. All pupils are potentially musical and should be provided with learning experiences which develop their knowledge, understanding and skills in making and responding to music through active engagement in the core musical activities of composing, performing and listening.

Overview of Curriculum

Pupils in Years 11-14 who decide to pursue music follow the CCEA Music Specification for GCSE Music and AS / A2 Music.

Extra-curricular activities

• Junior Choir
• Senior Choir
• Choral Group
• Chamber Choir
• Orchestra
• Brass Group
• String Group
• Wind Group
• Theory Club

Music Tuition

Our peripatetic staff offers tuition in a wide number of Instruments to pupils of all ages:

• Piano
• Voice – Musical Theatre and Classical
• Strings – Violin, Viola, Cello
• Woodwind – Flute, Clarinet, Saxophone
• Brass – Cornet, Trumpet, Trombone, Horn, Tuba
• Guitar – Acoustic, Electric and Bass                                                                                     

All our staff are professional musicians, many of whom are still performing as well as teaching, so have a breadth of experience.  They are enthusiastic teachers, full of fun and energy, ready to encourage the pupils and teach them in both examination material, and also ‘fun’ material which interests the individual pupil.

Events in the Music Department

• Annual School Prize Night
• Annual Christmas Carol Service
• Local Music Festivals
• Biannual Musical Production
• Biannual Spring Concert
• GCSE/AS/A2 Performance Recital
• Trips to the Grand Opera House, the Odyssey, and the Waterfront
• Participating in local Church services, in local nursing homes, and other community events
• Ulster Youth Choir Workshop and Auditions
• The Band of the Royal Marines Performance and Workshop

We greatly encourage all pupils to take advantage of all the activities that the Music department has to offer.